Hyundai, Kia still fighting ‘Kia Challenge’ theft trend in court all these years later
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TikTok is capable of more damage than brain-rotting dance trends. That much was made evidently clear by the “Kia Challenge,” a trend that revealed serious theft vulnerabilities in certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Despite multiple fixes, the Korean automakers still get sued for the 1,000% increase in thefts after 2020.
From Baltimore to Buffalo and Seattle to St. Louis, Hyundai and Kia still get dragged into court over the ‘Kia Challenge’
Years ago, teens took to TikTok to demonstrate just how easy they could steal certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The vehicles were between the 2011 and 2022 model years, and proficient criminals could make off with one with a window smasher and USB cable in seconds. The so-called “Kia Challenge” prompted thefts across the country and resulted in many crashes, injuries, and even deaths.
Fast forward to today, and Hyundai and Kia have battled the lasting impacts of the challenge. Over the years, the automakers have contended with dozens of lawsuits, including wrongful death suits. At the core of the matter, the vehicles lacked engine immobilizers to stop the hoodlums from taking joyrides. But even with NHTSA recalls and software fixes, the lawsuits came pouring in.
According to Car Complaints, Hyundai and Kia denied all of the allegations. But that didn’t stop the automakers from settling and paying around $1,000 to each of the 94 parties who sued. But that wasn’t the end of it. Even today, the Korean car marques are still scrapping with lawsuits filed by cities and municipalities.
To date, 17 “municipal entities” have sued Hyundai and Kia for the thefts, blaming the lack of immobilizers. Cities in Ohio asserted that the brands “designed, manufactured, and distributed automobile models without engine immobilizers or other reasonable anti-theft technology.” Serious allegations, indeed.
It didn’t stop there, either. Of the 17 entities, five are in the Ninth Circuit of New York. The Ninth Circuit posed a question of whether the brands had a duty in their design and manufacturing.
“Did the Manufacturers owe the New York Municipalities a duty to exercise reasonable care in the design, manufacture, and distribution of their vehicles?” the circuit court asked. The big, meaty question prompted the Ninth Circuit to agree with the Ohio cities’ claims that Hyundai and Kia were negligent. A California court, however, dismissed the claims.
