Kia and Hyundai are rolling out free software updates to vehicles that may be the target of the “Kia challenge” – a viral TikTok challenge that has inspired car thefts across the country. Software updates will be available free for millions of Kia and Hyundai ownersThe US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Tuesday.
Challenges went viral in 2021, according to CNBC, encouraging young people to steal some brands and models of Kia and Hyundai vehicles from the 2010-2021 model year. The targeted cars lacked immobilizers – an electronic security device that prevents someone from starting a car’s engine without the right keys. Videos on TikTok and other social media channels demonstrate how you can effectively wire one of these cars with a USB cord.
In Los Angeles, the viral challenge has led to an 85% year-over-year increase in thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles by 2022, CNBC reported. Thefts of Kias and Hyundais also spiked in other parts of the country, while thieves posted videos of them stealing cars. Tags like “Kia boys” have raked in tens of millions of views on TikTok, although the social media company has said it will remove any such content it finds.
According to NHTSA, the ordeal has resulted in at least 14 reported crashes and eight deaths.
With the software update, you’ll have to plug the correct key into the ignition to start the vehicle, NHTSA says. The update will also extend the duration of the alarm tone from 30 seconds to one minute.
NHTSA said owners of these vehicles should contact Hyundai (toll free 800-633-5151) or Kia (toll free 800-333-4542) for information about the update. .
Hyundai said in a statement that the free software upgrade will be available for nearly 4 million vehicles, starting with more than 1 million models of Elantra 2017-2020, Sonata 2015-2019 and Venue 2020-2021. The remaining eligible cars will be able to be upgraded this June.
Car owners will have to take their vehicle to a Hyundai dealer for an upgrade. Installation will take less than an hour. The Hyundai installation also comes with a window sticker that warns thieves that the vehicle is equipped with new anti-theft technology.
In www.hyundaiantitheft.comHyundai customers can enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on their vehicle to know when the vehicle is eligible for a software upgrade.
