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Hyundai and Kia car thefts fall sharply after software upgrade, study finds (www.cbsnews.com)

submitted 4 months ago by lemmee_in@lemm.ee to c/technology@lemmy.world

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A social media trend, dubbed the "Kia Challenge," has appeared to compound the automakers' problems in recent years, with people posting videos showing how to steal Hyundai and Kia cars. At its height, the Kia Challenge was linked to at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities, according to figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About 9 million vehicles have been impacted by the rash of thefts, including Hyundai Elantras and Sonatas as well as Kia Fortes and Souls. Hyundai and Kia earlier this year agreed to pay $200 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by drivers who had their vehicles stolen.

Technology is helping foil car thieves making life miserable for owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Hyundai and Kia upgraded their cars' anti-theft tech in early 2023. Vehicles equipped with the enhanced software will only start if the owner's key, or an identical duplicate, is in the ignition.

The rate at which the Korean automakers' cars are stolen has fallen by more than half since the companies upgraded their anti-theft software, according to new research from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). Hyundai and Kia thefts have soared in recent years after criminals discovered that certain car models lacked engine immobilizers — technology that has long been standard in other vehicles.

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[–] ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

A lot of cars in my neighborhood have been using a club to lock the steering wheel. Reminds me of the 80s-90s.

[–] ShepherdPie@midwest.social 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Those do absolutely nothing to stop someone from stealing a car as they attach to your steering wheel made of foam and plastic which takes seconds to cut through. They've only come back in to popularity due to grifters willing to sell people a false sense of security.

[–] mightyfoolish@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

To be fair, they add another minute or two to the time it takes to steal the car.

I also feel these bars make your car harder to steal than the other car on the same block. If everyone is using them, you're car is again only as hard to steal as that other car on the block. This could make it a target again.

However, that update or a third party solution is going to do a whole lot more.

[–] ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

That's how bike security works! Make your bike look a little more annoying to steal than the next guy.

[–] mightyfoolish@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Yes, same idea. Though, I thought we were way past this when it comes to modern cars.