Hyundai, Kia Think They've Foiled the TikTok Theft Challenge

Millions of Hyundai and Kia vehicles could be easily stolen—and thousands have—due to a decision not to install engine immobilizers when they were built.Popular TikTok videos challenged people to try to steal a car like this, which has led to all sorts of legal and financial trouble for vehicle owners and the two automakers.Four million Hyundai vehicles—affected Elantras, Sonatas, and Venues—can get a new software fix that introduces a workaround immobilizer starting today. Other affected Hyundais and Kias will get their turn in the coming months.

Millions of Hyundai owners are about to pay a visit to their local Hyundai dealership thanks to a bunch of TikTok videos.

The backstory, if you don’t recall, is that someone figured out that some older Kia and Hyundai models built with a standard key starter, so not a push-button starter, were incredibly easy to steal and created a TikTok “Kia Challenge” encouraging others to try it. The challenge started in Milwaukee before spreading to other parts of the U.S. and forcing Hyundai and Kia to respond.

Hyundai started installing an engine immobilizer in all of its vehicles in November 2021. The company’s first big solution for current owners was a $170 security kit with an alarm and one crucial component that the two automakers didn’t initially build into the cars: a kill switch. The City of Seattle sued the automakers earlier this year, accusing them of failing to install adequate anti-theft technology, specifically that immobilizer, in the affected vehicles. Kia did not offer the security kit but did join Hyundai in providing steering wheel locks at no cost to any affected owners in partnership with local law enforcement agencies.

Today, Kia and Hyundai announced a free, software-based fix for their thief magnets. Kia said the new enhanced security software will “restrict the unauthorized operation of vehicle ignition systems on certain models not equipped with an immobilizer.” For its part, Hyundai said the upgrade makes it so that a key fob is required to deactivate the kill switch. Without the fix, the car could be yours once you’ve smashed the windows. Hyundai said the fix would take dealers less than an hour to install. As a bonus to those prospective window smashers, each fixed vehicle “will be affixed with window decals to alert would-be thieves that the vehicle is equipped with enhanced anti-theft technology,” Hyundai said.

2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport.

Car and Driver

Not all 2011 to 2022 model year Hyundais without an engine immobilizer will be able to accommodate the software upgrade. We hope the owners of these vehicles enjoy their steering wheel locks.

Kia said its software would be available in the next few months. Kia owners should visit the Kia Owner’s Portal or call 800–333–4542 to see if their vehicle is eligible for the fix.

Hyundai has a two-phase release schedule for the new software fix, starting with the 2017-2020 model year Elantra, 2015 to 2019 Sonata and 2020 and 2021 Venue (that’s a 2020 Venue pictured at top). Hyundai said this category of its best-selling models includes almost four million vehicles. The fix for these vehicles is available starting today. Software for other affected models will be available in June. Hyundai owners should visit the Hyundai Anti-Theft website (quite a name) to set up a repair, and the automaker is also reaching out to affected owners.