Last year, despite Hyundai and Kia conducting a large-scale software (SW) upgrade to address vehicle defects, incidents of their vehicles being stolen continue to occur in the United States, the American daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 30th (local time). Demands for recalls of Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the U.S. are expected to intensify.
According to WSJ on the day, Shanaya Diaz, who lives in Los Angeles (LA), had her Kia Sportage stolen for the third time this April, following thefts in August and December last year.
Last year, across the U.S., crimes targeting Hyundai and Kia vehicles without engine immobilizers spread on social media like a game, and Diaz's vehicle was targeted multiple times. Hyundai and Kia began offering SW upgrades to prevent theft on 8.3 million vehicles in the U.S. starting February this year, and Diaz’s vehicle also received the SW upgrade. However, shortly after, her vehicle was stolen again.
WSJ reported, "Vehicle theft will deal a significant blow to Hyundai and Kia’s brand awareness and reputation, which have been expanding their market share and receiving favorable reviews in the U.S. market."
Calls for vehicle recalls of Hyundai and Kia are also expected to increase. Last month, 17 U.S. states requested the federal safety regulatory authorities to recall Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The companies maintain that they comply with safety regulations and that there are no defects in their vehicles. However, vehicle sellers warn that Hyundai and Kia’s decision not to conduct safety recalls despite demands from several states could further complicate resolving the issue. Unlike recalls, which are widely communicated to consumers, many consumers are unaware of SW upgrades. As of early May, only 7% of the target vehicles have received the SW upgrade.
Additionally, Hyundai and Kia previously agreed to compensate a total of $200 million related to damages suffered by owners of vehicles without anti-theft devices.
Even if owners recover their stolen vehicles, problems remain. If parts are damaged due to theft, older models produced in the early 2010s face difficulties in sourcing parts, causing vehicle repairs to take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
Repair costs are also an issue. Kara Evans, who lives in Oakland, recovered her 2018 Hyundai Tucson a few days after it was stolen in March this year. However, the repair costs were so high that she chose to replace the vehicle entirely. She switched from the targeted Hyundai to a Japanese Mazda vehicle.
WSJ reported, "Owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles who had their cars stolen say their experiences led them to switch brands."
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