New York City this week filed a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai, claiming the automakers’ vehicles are too easy to steal, creating issues including a potential risk for death and injury to the public.
The lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, alleges Korean automakers Kia America and Hyundai Motor America failed to keep up with other automakers by not adopting anti-theft immobilizer technology that makes sure vehicles can not be started without their keys.
According to the 39-page suit filed late Tuesday, some models sold by Hyundai and Kia in the U.S. came without engine immobilizers, a standard feature on most cars since the 1990s.
“This case is a clear example of what happens to public safety when car manufacturers choose not to include standard anti-theft technology in their cars,” the suit reads. “Hyundai’s and Kia’s business decisions to reduce costs, and thereby boost profits, by foregoing common anti-theft technology have resulted in an epidemic of thefts.”
Citing negligence and public nuisance, the city claims the car thefts impede public safety, strain its police department resources and negatively impact other emergency responses.
Videos show how to start cars using USB and screwdriver
Videos circulating on TikTok and other sites explain how to start the cars using a screwdriver and a USB charging cord. It is known as the Kia Challenge. The videos posted showed the “Kia Boys” demonstrating how to steal the vehicles using a USB or other metal object to start the engine.
Hyundai and Kia could not immediately be reached by USA TODAY Wednesday.
“In the 1960s and 1970s, all that was needed for a successful vehicle heist was a little brute force to crack open the ignition column and a key-shaped object to start the car and drive off within seconds,” the suit continues. “Thanks to vehicle immobilizers, this is no longer the case for most cars. Between 2011 and 2022, Hyundai and Kia were nearly unique among…
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