Hyundai and Kia have agreed to a $200million (£161million) settlement to drivers after a car stealing challenge went viral on TikTok. The 'Kia Challenge' on the social media app led to hundreds of car thefts across the United States, resulting in at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities, according to government data.
Thieves, who dubbed themselves as 'The Kia Boyz', posted videos on TikTok and YouTube demonstrating step-by-step instructions for bypassing vehicle security systems using basic tools like a USB cable. Theft of many Hyundai and Kia vehicles were easy due to their cars manufactured between 2015-2019 lacking electronic immobilisers.
This would have prevented thieves from simply breaking in and bypassing the ignition. Nearly all vehicles from major manufacturers of the same period had the technology as standard. Just last year, the carmakers said they would charge owners at least $170 (£136) for security kits to fix the issue, but soon climbed down.
Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp have since agreed to a consumer class-action lawsuit settlement which will apply to around nine million vehicles, which do not have push-button ignitions and anti-theft immobilisers.
The car manufacturers said they will reimburse "those who incurred theft-related vehicle losses or damage in addition to reimbursement for insurance deductibles, increased insurance premiums, and other theft related losses."
They will also offer free security software updates and for vehicles which cannot upgrade, owners will be given $300 (£241) for the purchase of steering wheel locks. The resolution to the problem is urgently needed, considering the significant number of owners who have experienced loss of insurance coverage as a result.
As well as consumers, many major US cities have sued the automakers over the thefts, including St. Louis, Missouri, Cleveland, San Diego, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Columbus, Baltimore and Seattle.
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In New York, a particularly tragic consequence of the Kia Challenge occurred, after four of six teenagers who stole a vehicle died in after crashing the car. Children as young as 11 have been reported as trying to steal cars due to the challenge, while in Los Angeles, the trend has been linked to an 85 per cent increase in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in 2022 compared to 2021.
