Hyundai and Kia’s Software Upgrade is Preventing Car Thefts

Hyundai and Kia have seen a significant drop in thefts of their vehicles following the release of new anti-theft software updates, though overall theft rates remain concerningly high.

The updates, introduced over a year ago, were developed in response to a dramatic increase in thefts of specific Hyundai and Kia models, driven by viral social media videos demonstrating how to steal these cars.

According to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), “whole vehicle” theft claims—claims for the complete loss of a vehicle—have decreased by 64% among Hyundai and Kia models that received the software update. This drop is in comparison to similar cars that did not receive the upgrade. Matt Moore, senior vice president of HLDI, praised the effectiveness of the companies’ solution.

The vehicles most affected are older Hyundai and Kia models made before 2023, which are more vulnerable to theft due to having traditional key ignitions instead of push-start buttons. These cars are about twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of the same age. Many also lack electronic immobilizers, a basic anti-theft feature present in most cars from the same period. Immobilizers use a computer chip in both the car and the key to verify the key’s authenticity, preventing unauthorized use.

From early 2020 to mid-2023, thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles increased by more than 1,000%. In response, the automakers began offering free software updates to improve security for older models in February 2023. As of now, over 2 million vehicles have received the upgrade.

Despite these efforts, theft rates remain high. The HLDI’s analysis of 2023 insurance data shows that only 30% of eligible vehicles had received the security upgrade by the end of the year. Currently, around 61% of eligible Hyundai vehicles have been updated. However, some models lack the necessary hardware for the software, prompting Hyundai and Kia to provide steering wheel locks as an alternative.

Even with the new software, older Hyundai and Kia models are still stolen more frequently than other vehicles. This may be due to owners not correctly using the new security features, such as locking the vehicle using the key fob button rather than the door lock.

Moore expects theft rates to decline as more vehicles receive the software update. He also noted that the surge in thefts was partly fueled by a social media trend, with many of the thieves being amateurs rather than professional criminals. As the fad fades, Moore predicts that the appeal of stealing these vehicles will diminish as well.