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PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks has joined a group of elected leaders from around the country, demanding a federal recall of Kia and Hyundai vehicles over the alarming theft rate nationwide.
Thefts at Kia increased by approximately 800% and thefts at Hyundai increased by more than 400% between 2019 and 2022.
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Authorities say thieves may have used a USB cable to jump start some Hyundai and Kia cars, which has brought national attention to the social media platform TikTok.
Automakers have been providing software updates and wheel locks since last year, but Brooks and others are now not offering easy new measures to consumers.
“A stolen car can make the difference between getting a task done or wasting it. And car thefts in Philadelphia are skyrocketing, with Kias and Hyundai’s accounting for more than 60% of the problem. And the ruling families shouldn’t be the ones bearing the burden of mistakes made through the makes of those cars,” Brooks said at a virtual news conference Wednesday.
Brooks, along with seven elected leaders from across the country who make up the members of the Council Against Auto Theft (CACT), are now calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to consider a recall.
CACT says such crimes place a burden on law enforcement and that the software updates and wheel locks introduced last year were welcome but insufficient.
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Possibly Antonette Cook. La last spring, she showed us how to get her SUV going.
Cook told Action News that his Kia Sportage L was damaged after updating its software that was intended to increase the duration of the burglar alarm.
“No alarm went off,” he said.
At the time, Cook said she believed if not for her neighbor scaring them off, the thieves would have taken off with her vehicle.
“Here in Philadelphia alone, 21,000 cars were stolen in 2023 and that’s 10 times more than any number of cars stolen in the last few years since 2017,” said Councilmember Brooks. “A stolen car can save you from getting to and from work, which is expensive, you know, repairing that car is an expense and a burden for families, they don’t have money anymore. “
In a statement, Hyundai said it “is committed to continuing our efforts to complete the software update of all affected cars as effectively as possible. We are communicating with NHTSA about our numerous moves with our customers. “
Hyundai Statement:
Hyundai Motor America is committed to ensuring the quality and integrity of our products. A subset of Hyundai cars on U. S. roads today (most commonly “base” or entry-level models) do not come with push-button start or an immobilizer. anti-theft devices. It is vital to note that an engine immobilizer is an anti-theft device and that these cars fully comply with federal anti-theft requirements. Thieves discovered a quick approach to bypass the vehicle’s security features and then documented and promoted their exploits on TikTok and other social media sites.
In response, Hyundai has taken comprehensive action to assist our customers, including: (1) Made engine immobilizers standard on all vehicles produced as of November 2021; (2) Developed a software upgrade to equip these vehicles with an “ignition kill” feature designed to prevent the popularized method of theft; (3) Rolled out the free anti-theft software upgrade to all of the nearly 4 million vehicles involved – two months ahead of the original schedule – through a service campaign to affected customers who own or lease model year 2011-2022 vehicles; (4) Launched a dedicated website HyundaiAntiTheft.com, toll-free number (888) 498-0390 and digital advertising to generate awareness of the software upgrade, help customers determine their eligibility, and schedule an appointment at their local Hyundai dealership; (5) Initiated a program to reimburse affected customers for their purchase of steering wheel locks, including for a smaller group of 2011-2022 model year vehicles that cannot accommodate the software upgrade; (6) Established a program to provide free steering wheel locks to law enforcement agencies across the country for distribution to local residents who own or lease the affected vehicles; (7) Collaborated with AAA insurers on a program to offer insurance options for affected owners and lessees. As part of this collaboration, AAA insurers will issue new and renewal policies for eligible affected Hyundai customers. The program will be available in all states with the exception of those states where AAA does not offer insurance. (e.g., Alaska, , Massachusetts, Washington); (8) Recently piloted mobile service centers in Washington, D.C., St. Louis County, MO, New York City, Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul, upstate New York and Baltimore with plans to replicate in additional markets to further scale and speed installation of the software upgrade.
Hyundai is committed to continuing its efforts to complete the software update of all affected cars as effectively as possible. We partner with NHTSA in our many actions to help our customers.
Kia Statement:
“Kia continues to take comprehensive measures towards our consumers and collaborate with law enforcement authorities in reaction to this scenario created by criminals who employ theft strategies promoted and popularized on social media to borrow or attempt to borrow certain vehicle models.
We continue to strongly inspire eligible consumers to get the software update we developed and implemented last year that is designed to limit the operation of the vehicle’s ignition formula in the event of a potential criminal attempt to borrow a locked vehicle without a key. To date, more than 988,000 Kia cars nationwide have won the upgrade and we continue to advertise its availability by creating a commitment with detailed data and holding external events in multiple cities to allow eligible consumers to reap the benefits of the upgrade more easily. and partnered with Carfax to notify owners that their vehicle is eligible for the upgrade.
We also continue to supply loose idler locks to affected vehicle owners who are not eligible for the software update. These loose wheel locks increase the safety of a vehicle and can serve as a deterrent to would-be car thieves. Kia consumers can download loose locks supplied by Kia from local authorities or can order a guide wheel lock from Kia directly through the relevant website. To date, we have distributed more than 327,000 padlocks and will continue to supply them as needed. We also recently evolved and brought a new hardware amendment designed for cars that are not eligible for the software update, which combats theft by reinforcing the ignition cylinder frame and preventing its removal through the theft approach promoted in videos posted on social media. The media encourages criminal activity. Finally, we announced an agreement last year that will allow consumers affected by vehicle thefts to gain additional perks, and we are confident that those affected will soon be able to access those perks.
Like all Kia vehicles, these express models come with a number of security mechanisms designed to protect against theft and are subject to and fully compliant with the requirements defined in the current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, adding FMVSS 114 that regulates theft protection measures. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has already rejected a similar recall request from 18 state attorneys general and has publicly stated that it has not yet decided whether this factor constitutes a defense defect or a breach. requiring a recall under the law. The National Motor Vehicle Traffic and Safety Act. We will continue to work in cooperation with the company to ensure the protection of the vehicles.
Kia also continues to work with law enforcement agencies across federal, state, and local levels to combat car theft and the role social media has played in encouraging it, and we remain fully committed to supporting our customers.”
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