Kia and Hyundai could end up shelling out nearly half a billion dollars to repair cars vulnerable to so-called “Kia Boys” thefts.
The automakers settled this week with 35 U.S. states over the sale of millions of vehicles nationwide that were not equipped with an industry-standard anti-theft system known as an engine immobilizer. The technology prevents a car from starting without the coded signal from a smart key.
Without that protection, thieves were able to start some Kia and Hyundai models by using the end of a USB cable to switch on a torn-apart ignition cylinder. TikTok videos showing off the vulnerability helped spark what became known as the “Kia Boys” trend, in which mostly teenagers stole the cars and took them out for joyrides.
“Maintaining public safety means holding people who commit crimes accountable, but it also means holding corporations accountable when their greed helps criminals harm the people of Minnesota,” said Minnesota Attorney General Ellison in a press release. Ellison launched a 2023 investigation into the thefts that ultimately led to this week’s settlement.
According to the state’s attorney general’s office, Minneapolis saw an 836% increase in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles from 2021 to 2022. In New Jersey, which is also part of the settlement, Kia and Hyundai vehicles made up about 6.5% of cars on the road but accounted for roughly 19% of all auto thefts in 2023. The trend has also been linked to several serious and fatal crashes.
As part of the settlement, Kia and Hyundai must now offer free hardware fixes for affected vehicles. The repairs apply to model year 2011–2022 Hyundai and Kia vehicles that were not factory-equipped with engine immobilizers. Specifically, the automakers are now required to install zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors.
In addition, Kia and Hyundai must pay up to $4.5 million in restitution to eligible consumers whose vehicles were damaged by thieves, along with another $4.5 million to the states to help cover the cost of the investigation.
In emailed statements to Gizmodo, Kia and Hyundai said the new multistate settlement builds on their work to help customers protect themselves from “methods of theft popularized on social media.” Both carmakers pointed to free software security upgrades that helped reduce theft rates, the distribution of free steering wheel locks, and funds to help affected customers.
In 2023, the automakers paid $200 million to settle a class-action lawsuit and introduced a software update that equipped some cars with an engine immobilizer system. At the time, the zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors were limited to vehicles that couldn’t receive the update.
Under the new settlement, all eligible vehicles can now receive the protector free of charge. Eligible owners will be notified in early 2026 and have a year to get the protector installed.
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