Metro sues KIA and Hyundai over lack of ‘reasonable anti-theft technology’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A lawsuit filed by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County claimed that more than 1,700 Hyundai and KIA vehicle thefts were reported in 2023 alone.

The lawsuit alleges that Hyundais and KIAs accounted for nearly 33 percent of all car thefts that year. The surge was blamed on alleged defects in particular models. Lawyers claimed that the companies intentionally ignored industry-standard practices in the name of profit.

After Tik-Tok videos with instructions on how to steal some KIA and Hyundai models went viral last year, some Middle Tennesseans paid the price. The suit is one of a growing list of those suing KIA and Hyundai over what they call anti-theft defects in certain model year vehicles.

“Two car manufacturers made a business decision not to equip the vehicles they sell with reasonable anti-theft technology, leaving counties and cities across the nation to deal with massive public safety consequences,” the suit reads, in part.

The filing also states that, as a result, the city and county “has been forced to divert funds and risk officer and public safety” to combat the thefts.

Hyundai and KIA dealers across the country now offer anti-theft software and ignition cylinder protector installations for owners.

In response to the lawsuit, Hyundai Motor America sent News 2 a statement that reads:

“ Our customers remain our top priority and we continue to take comprehensive actions to assist customers and communities affected by the persistent thefts of certain Model Year 2011-2022 vehicles that, while fully compliant with federal anti-theft requirements, were not equipped with push-button ignitions and engine immobilizers. Chief among these measures is the development and validation of a no-cost software upgrade for the owners of these vehicles to prevent the theft mode popularized on social media. For eligible vehicles that cannot accommodate the software upgrade, we now install ignition cylinder protectors at no cost to our customers. All Hyundai vehicles produced since November 2021 are equipped with an engine immobilizer as standard equipment.

Hyundai has provided no-cost anti-theft solutions to more than 1.4 million affected vehicles and created a dedicated website ( www.hyundaiantitheft.com ) to support customers with information and resources. Hyundai continues to work with over 1,200 police departments, providing thousands of no-cost steering wheel locks for distribution and connecting law enforcement agencies with local dealers in their area who perform the software upgrade. Our dealers across the country are maximizing the number of anti-theft software and ignition cylinder protector installations that can be performed daily, contributing to steadily increasing completion rates. Hyundai has also collaborated with AAA insurers on a program to offer insurance options for affected owners and lessees. As part of this collaboration, AAA insurers will issue new and renewal policies for eligible affected Hyundai customers. The program will be available in all states except those where AAA does not offer insurance. (e.g., Alaska, Massachusetts, Washington). “

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Kia USA sent the following statement:

“Kia continues to take comprehensive action to enhance the security of our vehicles in an effort to prevent criminals from using methods of theft popularized on social media to break the law and steal or attempt to steal certain vehicle models.

We’re continuing to strongly encourage eligible customers to receive the software upgrade that we developed and rolled out more than 20 months ago that is designed to restrict the operation of the vehicle’s ignition system should a potential criminal attempt to steal a locked vehicle without the key. To date, more than 1.2 million Kia vehicles nationwide have received the upgrade, and we continue to spread awareness about its availability by establishing a dedicated website with detailed information, hosting off-site events in multiple cities to make it easier for eligible customers to receive the upgrade, and partnering with Carfax to inform owners that their vehicle is eligible for the upgrade.

We also continue to provide steering wheel locks to owners of impacted vehicles that are not eligible for the software upgrade at no cost to them. These free steering wheel locks further enhance a vehicle’s security and can serve as a theft-deterrent for potential car thieves. Kia customers can obtain free, Kia-provided locks through their local law enforcement or they can request a steering wheel lock from Kia directly through the dedicated website. To date, we have distributed more than 226,000 locks, and we will continue to provide them as they are needed. We also have developed and introduced a new hardware modification that is designed for the vehicles that are not eligible for the software upgrade that works to combat theft by reinforcing the ignition cylinder body and preventing its removal through the method of theft promoted in videos that have spread across social media encouraging criminal activity.

As we have said from the outset, lawsuits filed by municipalities against Kia are without merit and should be dismissed. Like all Kia vehicles, the specific models at issue in this case are subject to and comply fully with the requirements outlined in applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including FMVSS 114 that governs theft protection measures. Additionally, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has publicly stated that it has not determined that this issue constitutes either a safety defect or non-compliance requiring a recall under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Kia will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and officials in Tennessee and across the country to combat car theft and the role social media has played in encouraging it, and we remain fully committed to supporting our customers.”

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News 2 also reached out to lawyers for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County for comment on the lawsuit, but as of publication, have not heard back yet.

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