Over the last two years, car theft incidents for Kia and Hyundai vehicles have increased dramatically. This troubling phenomenon has been dubbed the “Kia Boyz” trend. Criminals have developed truly concerning ways to get into and operate vehicles without keys. This unprecedented discovery shines a light on a major security flaw in the overall design of these cars. Since then, Kia and Hyundai have moved to mitigate the crisis. They entered into a settlement agreement with the coalition of states led by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin to make free and accessible repairs available for affected vehicles.
The complaint reveals a widespread problem. Millions of Kia and Hyundai vehicles—typically not included in national recalls—sold in the United States do not have industry-standard anti-theft technology. These shortcomings have made them particularly vulnerable to theft, which has spurred national outrage among consumers and law enforcement officials as well.
Settlement Agreement Details
The settlement agreement announced just today provides a path forward through a detailed series of steps that ensures that these longstanding security concerns will no longer exist. In response, Kia and Hyundai will provide free repairs for cars with a high risk of theft. This is done in direct reaction to the revealed protection vulnerabilities. This agreement is a positive signal indeed, a step that the automakers have taken on their own to make things right and boost goodwill with consumers.
Additionally, the settlement includes a financial component. The investigation will be funded up to $4.5 million. This funding will allow more state partners to strengthen their law enforcement capacity to address this growing trend in auto theft. In addition, qualified consumers whose cars were destroyed by robbers will be entitled to nearly $4.5 million in reparations. This will bring relief to service members, veterans, and families who have faced these tragic thefts.
Accountability for Auto Theft
Attorney General Platkin stated the need to hold car manufacturers responsible for their contributions to our auto theft crisis.
“Today’s settlement is a key step in our ongoing efforts to prevent auto thefts—and to hold carmakers accountable for their shameful failure to take appropriate action to prevent auto thefts.” – Attorney General Platkin
Most Americans agree that automakers could and should have done more to protect consumers from vehicle theft. They need to believe that a greater effort should have been invested in protecting their vehicles. It seeks to ensure that what has happened at CPD does not occur again.
Consumer Impact and Next Steps
The cumulative effect of all these theft incidents has created a climate in which consumers feel more vulnerable and more frustrated. With millions of vehicles still affected, the need for safer solutions has never been more urgent. The free, publicly-accessible repair program is expected to make thousands of people across the states partying to the settlement whole again.
Consumers are directed to learn more about the forthcoming repair process and their eligibility for restitution. Kia and Hyundai are already hard at work to remedy. Vehicle owners should continue to monitor information coming directly from manufacturers, as well as local and state leaders, on the best types of assistance available.
