Local law enforcement joins Hyundai, Kia to tackle vehicle theft. Is your vehicle at risk?

Joseph Pierre, Fayetteville Observer

Hyundai and Kia dealerships in Fayetteville are partnering with local law enforcement Saturday to provide software that will help prevent vehicle thefts like those popularized on social media, according to a Fayetteville Police Department news release.

Owners of Hyundais and Kias, manufactured from 2011 through 2022, can take their vehicle to Northwood Temple Academy, 4200 Ramsey St., from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to receive a free software update intended to act as a safeguard against theft, the release said. The affected cars have traditional turnkey ignitions, which are susceptible to being started without a key.

"The Fayetteville Police Department has experienced a significant increase in the theft of Hyundai and Kia vehicles," the release said. "These types of vehicle thefts are not unique to Fayetteville and have been reported across the country."

The Saturday event, done in partnership with Lee Hyundai and Fayetteville Kia, as well as the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office and Spring Lake and Hope Mills police departments, is a proactive attempt to address the issue, police said.

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"Part of our job as law enforcement is to try our best to safeguard our citizens and their property," District Commander Capt. Lori Holloway, with the Fayetteville Police Department, said in the release. "In partnering with the Kia and Hyundai dealerships to provide this valuable update, we hope to provide some comfort to our communities."

Owners unable to attend Saturday's event should contact a dealership and schedule a maintenance appointment to receive the update, the release said.

What the manufacturers are saying

According to Hyundai, thefts began to spike in the summer of 2022 in response to videos posted by car thieves to social media websites like TikTok in what became known as the "Kia Challenge."

"In these videos, thieves documented and promoted a specific method by which to bypass the vehicles’ security features, dismantle their steering columns and create direct access to their ignitions and challenged others to copycat their crimes," Hyundai said.

The following Hyundai vehicles are listed as being vulnerable:

  • 2018-2022 Accent

  • 2011-2022 Elantra and 2013-2020 Elantra GT

  • 2013-2014 Genesis Coupe

  • 2018-2022 Kona

  • 2020-2021 Palisade

  • 2013-2022 Santa Fe

  • 2013-2018 Santa Fe Sport

  • 2019 Santa Fe XL

  • 2011-2019 Sonata

  • 2011-2022 Tucson

  • 2012-2017 and 2019-2021 Veloster

  • 2020-2021 Venue

To check if a Kia needs an upgrade visit https://ksupport.kiausa.com/ConsumerAffairs/SWLD and input a VIN number.

Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Which Hyundai, Kia vehicles need upgrade to stop TikTok trend thieves

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