Hyundai, Kia Offer New Software Upgrade For More Than 8 Million Cars To Curb Theft

Maybe the string of Hyundai and Kia thefts will finally come to an end.

Hyundai and Kia both have had a pretty big black eye as of late, largely due to TikTok. After a group of teens in Milwaukee discovered that many late-model Hyundai and Kia products can be stolen with devices as simple as iPhone charging cables, the brand has faced backlash as thefts and joyriding have spread across the US and Canada. Some insurance companies have even started to refuse to insure some Hyundai and Kia vehicles in certain municipalities.

Well, Hyundai and Kia have announced a solution that goes beyond the handful of aftermarket steering lock devices they’re given out. The brand is sending out free software updates for certain models. The update will cover 8.3 million vehicles between the two brands. The new software modifies how the vehicle interacts with its onboard modules. When the vehicle is locked with the fob, a new ignition kill mode is activated so the car can’t be started without putting the key in the ignition.

However, the update can’t fix all of the vehicles. “Some 2011-2022 model year vehicles without engine immobilizers cannot accommodate the software upgrade,” said Hyundai, via press release. For those customers, Hyundai says it will start a reimbursement program for aftermarket steering locks.

More details on Hyundai’s anti-theft rollout will soon follow. Currently, updates for some Elantras, Sonatas, and Venues are available now, with the rest of the affected models coming by June 2023. Hyundai has launched a new website to see if a vehicle is part of the recall.

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