Hyundai and Kia are going through a bunch of sophistication motion lawsuits throughout varied states in the USA because of the ease at which a lot of their autos may be stolen.
Thefts of sure Hyundai and Kia fashions produced from 2011 to 2021 have soared within the wake of social media challenges and the rise of the ‘Kia Boys,’ providing easy-to-follow tutorial movies on tips on how to steal autos. Autos which might be notably weak are these with a standard mechanical key and missing an engine immobilizer.
Wanting to see simply how straightforward it’s to steal one of many affected Hyundai and Kia fashions, Donut Media borrowed an Elantra and set about stealing it. Because it seems, it’s shockingly easy.
Learn Additionally: Hyundai Begins Promoting Third-Get together Safety Package To Gradual Rampant Thefts In The U.S.
The very first thing it’s important to do is pop off the plastic cowl straight behind the steering wheel. This may be performed by eradicating two screws however in the event you yank exhausting sufficient, the plastic clips break and the duvet may be pulled off with no screwdriver. As soon as that’s performed, you’ll be able to simply entry the ignition cylinder and proceed to push in a bit pin, separating it into two items.
Take away the primary piece the place you’d ordinarily insert a key and you might be left with a cylinder that has a bit piece of uncovered steel. Jam the tip of a USB cable onto that piece of steel and also you’re performed. All that’s left to do is flip the USB cable as if it was a key and the automobile will begin straight up.
Donut Media means that Hyundai and Kia have been seemingly trying to minimize prices after they developed the overly easy ignition cylinder put in in a lot of its autos.
Hyundai just lately introduced that homeowners of impacted fashions will be capable of buy a third-party safety equipment from dealerships for $170 so as to add an additional layer of security. Nonetheless, car homeowners received’t simply must pay for the equipment itself however should cough up upwards of $500 to have it put in. Kia has not but introduced plans to supply the same safety equipment however has joined Hyundai in distributing wheel locks to homeowners in sure areas.