Hundreds of Vehicles Stolen in Baltimore So Far This Year
The 'Korean car theft challenge' trending among American teenagers is escalating into litigation risks for Hyundai and Kia, the targets of these thefts. The lawsuits claim that Hyundai and Kia sold defective vehicles and have not been proactive in addressing the issue. As vehicle theft incidents surge and more teenagers die in accidents involving stolen cars, the debate over responsibility is intensifying.
Eight local governments, including Cleveland, St. Louis, Seattle, and San Diego, have filed lawsuits against Hyundai Motor Group, alleging that the spike in thefts of vehicles without anti-theft technology has caused financial harm to cities and consumers, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 13th (local time).
In their complaint, they stated that Hyundai and Kia did not install the anti-theft device called the 'engine immobilizer' to cut costs. They further argued that this made vehicle theft easier and compromised city safety. However, the city authorities did not specify the exact amount of damages or compensation sought.
Mara Elliott, the attorney representing the city of San Diego, explained the reason for filing the lawsuit, saying, "Hyundai and Kia have not taken this issue seriously and have not taken any helpful measures." Earlier in February, Columbus, which filed a similar lawsuit, pointed out that "(Hyundai and Kia's) vehicle security systems are so vulnerable that middle school students can steal them."
Since last year, a social media crime game targeting Hyundai and Kia vehicles without the engine immobilizer anti-theft device has become popular across the United States.
This game, popular among American teenagers, involves filming the process of stealing Korean cars on smartphones and posting the videos on TikTok. The videos they recorded show methods of car theft, such as removing the vehicle key holder and starting the ignition using a USB cable, as well as scenes of speeding in stolen cars.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teenagers participating in this challenge caused 14 vehicle collision accidents, resulting in at least eight deaths. The challenge targeted certain vehicles, including about 4.5 million Kia cars and 3.8 million Hyundai cars produced before 2021.
Earlier, Hyundai and Kia announced in February that they would provide free software upgrades for 8.3 million affected vehicles, but the controversy has not subsided.
The challenge, which began last year, has continued into this year, with hundreds of Hyundai and Kia vehicles stolen in the Baltimore area alone, CBS reported.
As the trend spreads uncontrollably, insurance companies have even started refusing to insure certain Hyundai and Kia models. WSJ reported that State Farm, a specialized auto insurance company, recently stopped issuing new insurance policies for some Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
A Kia vehicle severely damaged in a traffic accident on Route 33 in New York State, USA. (Photo by WIVB)
Class-action lawsuits by victims of theft are also spreading. Following Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa, a class-action lawsuit against the two companies is underway in the Orange County court in California.
The victims criticized Hyundai and Kia for failing to warn owners about the risk of theft after the challenge became popular.
In their complaint, they argued, "Hyundai and Kia blatantly prioritize profits over customer safety and security," adding, "Since the vehicle defects are widely known, it is unlikely that theft incidents will stop without active intervention from the companies."
Meanwhile, regarding the local governments' lawsuit, Kia stated, according to WSJ, "Our vehicles meet federal safety requirements, and we are doing our best to ensure quality integrity."
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