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Hyundai Responds to Rash of Thefts | The Every day Drive | Shopper Information® The Every day Drive

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Hyundai has not too long ago discovered itself within the social media highlight…for all of the incorrect causes. Customers have been sharing movies on how straightforward it may be to steal sure fashions bought by the South Korean automaker. The surge in thefts dates again to late 2021. Whereas Hyundai has supplied affected homeowners a free steering-wheel lock by means of native regulation enforcement businesses, solely now are extra everlasting fixes out there.

Information from the Detroit Auto Present

Hyundai Responds to Rash of Thefts

Affected autos embrace the Accent, Elantra, Elantra GT, Kona, Palisade, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport, Santa Fe XL, Sonata, Tucson, Veloster, and Venue made between mannequin years 2016 and 2021 that use a standard key to start out the engine as an alternative of the extra widespread pushbutton-style ignition. For no matter motive, these automobiles and SUVs don’t have an immobilizer, which is a particular chip that communicates with the important thing to start out the engine. Thieves are exploiting this loophole by popping off the steering column cowl and plugging in a easy USB charger to fireside up the motor. The method takes seconds, with the perpetrators going as far as to movie their crimes and publish them totally on YouTube and TikTok.

A software program repair is at the moment in improvement with the automaker anticipating to launch it, at what we hope might be no value, in levels all through calendar 2023. Accessible beginning October 1 was a hardware-based safety package produced by a third-party firm and bought at all the model’s 820 US dealerships. It prices $170 plus 2.5 hours of labor for set up, which can deliver the ultimate whole to roughly $500. The bundle features a gadget that acts like an engine immobilizer plus glass break, tilt and influence sensors.

Be aware that Hyundai’s company companion Kia has additionally been affected by the rash of thefts. Whereas the 2 corporations share design and engineering assets, they function as separate entities. The issue for Kia is doubtlessly far worse as its weak fashions date again so far as the 2011 mannequin yr, and as of this writing, they don’t seem to be providing an anti-theft package like Hyundai is. Complimentary steering-wheel locks can be found, although.

CG Says:

Whereas free steering-wheel locks and software program updates are a step in the suitable path, they appear just like the proverbial “band-aids on a bullet wound.” Additional, we query the optics of anticipating prospects to pay upwards of $500 for the immobilizer package. Which will, after all, not matter as Hyundai might find yourself footing the invoice as a possible settlement for the greater than dozen class-action lawsuits have been filed, alleging that the dearth of a correct engine immobilizer was a defect. With as much as 10 million affected autos, this might doubtlessly find yourself costing the automaker $5 billion on high of another legal professional and settlement charges. Ought to any proprietor elect to pay to have the package put in, save your receipt within the occasion that you could be finally get reimbursed on account of a possible lawsuit settlement.

5 Forgotten Hyundais

Hyundai Responds to Rash of Thefts