Car theft has become a serious concern across the United States. According to a new report, two car brands dominate the list of the most stolen vehicles in the country, with six of the top spots claimed by models from these manufacturers. It’s Hyundai and Kia, the two automakers at the center of the viral “Kia Challenge.” 

Hyundai and Kia continue to feature heavily in the list of the most stolen car brands and models in America

Two car brands managed to make up more than half of the list of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in the United States. Unfortunately, a social media trend exposed vulnerabilities in some Hyundai and Kia vehicles, leading to a sharp uptick in car thefts. 

The Hyundai Elantra and Sonata sedans made the top five, with 48,445 and 42,813 thefts in 2023, respectively. As for Kia, four of the car brand’s popular models made the list. Specifically, the Optima, Soul, Forte, and Sportage take spots in the top 10 most stolen vehicles of recent years. The Optima is the most stolen Kia-badged vehicle with a rate of 719 thefts per every 100,000 vehicles. 

Source: Insurify

Unfortunately for the popular car brands, a viral TikTok challenge led to a disproportionate number of car thefts. The so-called “Kia Challenge” resulted in social media videos showing viewers how to steal the brands’ vehicles, especially those without immobilizers. Tragically, the trend led to thousands of thefts, crashes, and even fatalities.

So what can Kia and Hyundai owners do to keep their cars safe? For starters, Hyundai and Kia issued a software upgrade that proved effective against the challenge. However, owners can also use measures like a locking garage, a killswitch, or an old-school steering wheel club to make their vehicles more difficult to steal. Most importantly, drivers should always remember to lock their doors.