In recent years Hyundai and Kia have been under the gun due to car theft, thanks to some vulnerability that allowed their cars to roll off without electronic engine immobilizers. However, according to the latest report of the Highway Loss Data Institute, HLDI, anti-theft measures by sister automakers are working quite successfully and reduce theft rates and related insurance claims considerably.
Effect of Software Patch In 2023, Hyundai and Kia offered a software update. Available free of charge to eligible vehicles—if the vehicles were not compatible with the software update, the parts of the steering column were reinforced instead. Preliminary results are good: Vehicle defections with the software update dropped 64%, with insurance claims falling 53%.
HLDI’s senior vice president Matt Moore said he believes these trends will continue. “Thieves are catching on that these aren’t easy targets anymore,” he commented.
Challenges and Vandalism
While there was a decrease in the number of thefts, cases of vandalism were up. A 61% increase in vandalism was noted for vehicles that received the software patch with reports of damaged windows and doors, and steering columns, before clean title, were also frequent. The stickers used by carmakers to let thieves know that the cars are now protected may be a response, but much more is needed to ward off vandalism.
Future Prospects
As of mid-July, around 60% of eligible Hyundai and Kia vehicles are now re-flashed with the software update. Of course, the positive effect of these measures should continue to rise as, obviously, more and more vehicles are updated. Hyundai owners can visit HyundaiAntiTheft.com for details on how to get the update; Kia owners can visit the respective customer care site.
Conclusion
Hyundai and Kia doing enhanced efforts on this, with nutritious software updates and parts reinforcement against the surge in vehicle thefts, have shown tremendous success recently. The whole increased vandalism thing is still another challenge, but generally, things are promising. By these measures, the vehicles are not only given the best possible protection but also put their owners at peace.
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