Columbus to sue Hyundai Motor, Kia over rising number of car thefts

Screenshot of a video that shows how to steal Kia cars using a USB cable. [YONHAP]

The city of Columbus, Ohio, plans to sue Hyundai Motor and Kia for the surging number of thefts of the automakers’ vehicles, which is costing the city, Fox Business reported Tuesday.

The number of thefts involving Hyundais and Kias has been skyrocketing in the United States lately, driven by the rapid spread of videos on social media that detail how to steal such vehicles using everyday tools.

The main targets are some Kias produced between 2011 and 2021 and some Hyundais from 2015 to 2021 with physical keys and engines not equipped with immobilizer security systems.

Columbus city attorney Zach Klein pointed out the number of Hyundai and Kia thefts soared 450 percent in the city over the past year, and that these thefts account for nearly two-thirds of all vehicle theft attempts made so far this year.

"For years, Kia and Hyundai cut corners and sold vehicles they knew were so unsafe they could be stolen with ease by a teenager with access to simple tools and a TikTok account," Klein said in a statement.

"Kia and Hyundai's negligence in pursuit of corporate profit is unconscionable.

"It's time we held these automakers accountable for cheating customers and passing the buck and responsibility to clean up the mess they made onto the rest of us."

This makes Columbus the second city that will be filing a lawsuit against the automakers, following St. Louis in Missouri.

Regarding the controversy, Hyundai Motor told Fox Business it is offering Hyundai owners of its earlier models a glass break sensor security kit and steering wheel locks, available at law enforcement agencies in areas affected by thefts.

Kia sent a statement, saying it also makes steering wheel locks available to customers through law enforcement agencies and will make additional developments including enhanced security software for vehicles not equipped with an immobilizer.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]