Kia and Hyundai will spend millions fixing old cars to stop ‘Kia Boyz’ thefts
Kia and Hyundai will offer free repairs for millions of cars that lack anti-theft technology as part of a settlement with dozens of US states. The automakers agreed to outfit the roughly nine million eligible cars sold between 2011 and 2022 with a zinc sleeve installed around the ignition cylinder to prevent the viral “Kia Boyz” thefts that required only a USB cable.
The repairs could cost up to $500 million, in addition to several million in restitution to Hyundai and Kia owners whose cars were damaged by thieves, the Associated Press reports. The automakers have also promised that all of their future cars will have an engine immobilizer, a piece of technology that prevents would-be thieves from bypassing the ignition.
The lack of an immobilizer, a relatively standard piece of tech in other cars, is why theft of Kia and Hyundai cars became so popular. Videos explaining how to steal Kia and Hyundai cars with a USB cable jammed into the ignition cylinder flooded social media platforms, as the so-called “Kia Challenge” led to a spike in thefts, and even fatal crashes.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who launched the 2023 investigation resulting in the Tuesday settlement, called the situation a “crisis” that began “in a boardroom, traveled through the internet and ended up in tragic results when somebody stole those cars.”
Kia and Hyundai will offer free repairs for millions of cars that lack anti-theft technology as part of a settlement with dozens of US states. The automakers agreed to outfit the roughly nine million eligible cars sold between 2011 and 2022 with a zinc sleeve installed around the ignition cylinder…
Recent Posts
- Amazon’s new plan for games: James Bond and AI Snoop Dogg
- How to watch France vs Ivory Coast: FREE streams, TV channels for World Cup 2026 warm-up
- Marshall Milton ANC review: Making the rare case for premium on-ear headphones
- Belkin’s new Joy-Con grips also boost the Switch 2’s battery life
- How to watch Spain vs Iraq: Free Streams & TV Channels for World Cup 2026 warm-up match
Archives
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023