Hyundai, Kia Cuts “Most Stolen” Cars Theft Rate in Half with Software Upgrade

A few years ago, late model Hyundai and Kia vehicles were in the spotlight — the kind no automaker enjoys. Car thieves found a simple way to steal the cars because there were no immobilizers on them. The issue became such a problem a documentary film about the Kia Boyz was made, revealing the dangerous exploits of the car thieves. The automakers implemented a software update that appears to have put a dent in the problem. Go to Headlight.News for the story.

The impact of the Kia Boyz can be measured in many ways, but the latest method to determine their impact is the simplest: Kia and Hyundai vehicles were the most stolen cars in the U.S. in 2023. They supplanted full-size pickups as the leaders, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s latest report.

The Hyundai Elantra and Sonata took the top two spots while the Kia Optima and Soul were ranked third and fifth on the most stolen list. However, the new upgrade offered to owners of 2011-2022 Hyundai Kia models has cut the rate in half, according to new research from the Highway Loss Data Institute.

According to Kia and Hyundai, about 60% of eligible vehicles have gotten the software update through the middle of July. The upgrade doesn’t work on vehicles without alarm systems.

How does it work

Hyundai and Kia held clinics in several communities to encourage installation of the software, including New York City, Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Rochester, New York. The installation takes 30 minutes. Prior to this, the companies issued steering wheel locks to affected car owners.

All Hyundai and Kia vehicles produced since November 2021 are equipped with an engine immobilizer.

After installing the new software, the affected vehicles will only start if the owner’s key or an identical duplicate is in the ignition. Vehicles with the software also receive a window sticker aimed at deterring potential thieves. The Kia Boyz and other thieves were using UBS plugs to start the vehicles.

Roughly two dozen 2011-22 Hyundai and Kia models are eligible for the upgrade. Those vehicles that received it as of December 2023 — a total of 30% of the eligible Hyundais and 28% of the eligible Kias in HLDI’s database — had theft claim frequencies that were 53% lower than vehicles that didn’t get the upgrade, according to the study.

Those claims aren’t all for thefts of the entire vehicle. They also include claims for damage to vehicles that were stolen and recovered, theft of vehicle parts and items stolen from inside the vehicle.

The frequency of whole vehicle theft, which HLDI calculates by matching the cost of the claim to the amount insurers pay for the same model if it’s totaled in a crash, fell by a larger 64% for vehicles with the upgrade.

“The companies’ solution is extremely effective,” said Matt Moore, senior vice president of HLDI. “If you own a Hyundai or Kia vehicle without an electronic immobilizer, you should call your local dealer about getting the software upgrade today.”

What happened

A few years ago, a group of young men dubbed the Kia Boyz were stealing Kias and Hyundais at an alarming rate. Not only that, but they were also recording the thefts — and subsequent chases afterward sometimes — and posting them on YouTube.

Additionally, they were showing how easy it was to steal those brands using only a USB plug. The USB plug was used in place of a vehicle’s key. The problem was so pervasive — thousands of cars were stolen — a documentary was made about the gang.

The result was a class-action lawsuit against the two companies, and a redesign by Kia and Hyundai to make it more difficult to steal the vehicles including the update.

More Kia and Hyundai Stories

• Kia, Hyundai Surge to Top Spots on Most Stolen List
• Kia’s Tasman Pickup is Big Gamble, How Will It Measure Up Against Rivals
• Hyundai Seven Concept Reappearing as New 3-Row EV Due Later This Year

Problems persist

Despite the upgrade, Kias and Hyundais from model years 2003 to 2023 are still targeted at higher rates by thieves and vandals, according to the data. They were more than eight times more likely to stolen than other brands in the second half of 2023.

Vandalism claims were six times higher during the same timeframe, HLDI analysts note. They suggest the rise in vandalism claims came from unsuccessful attempts at stealing the vehicles.

Notably, claim frequency for both theft and vandalism continued to rise for Hyundai and Kia throughout 2023 despite the implementation of the software upgrade, though the rate of increase for theft tailed off dramatically.

Theft frequency increased to 11.7 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years in July-December from 11.5 claims in January-June, while vandalism frequency rose to 9 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years from 6.8.

“Based on these trends, we expect claim rates for Hyundai and Kia vehicles to gradually drop back in line with those of other brands, as thieves learn they’re no longer so easy to steal and the fad gets stale,” Moore said.