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Hyundai Selling $170 Kit Meant to Foil Viral Thefts

adminOctober 20, 2022

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Hyundai Selling $170 Kit Meant to Foil Viral Thefts After a sudden rise in thefts of many of its cars, which are often logged and shared by thieves on various social media platforms, Hyundai is selling a $170 safety kit that it hopes will help prevent future thefts — or at least make them more difficult. The problem stems from many late-model cars in the auto industry with keyed ignition systems that lack an immobilizer.

Hyundai Selling $170 Kit Meant to Foil Viral Thefts

The kit will cost $170, but installation costs will vary based on the dealer’s location, a Hyundai spokesperson told Automotive News. Automotive News also reported that an attorney for plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against Hyundai estimated the installation cost at around $500.

Affected Hyundai models include specific examples of 2016-21 Accent, Elantra, Elantra GT, Kona, Palisade, Santa Fe, Sante Fe Sport, Santa Fe XL, Sonata, Tucson, Veloster and Veneno. All affected vehicles use a steel key fob and lack an immobilizer. Hyundai says it is also working on a software update for the first half of 2023 that will better protect its cars.

In part due to the ease with which these vehicles can be stolen, the 2019-21 Hyundai Accent is one such vehicle, according to a study by the Insurance Institute of the Highway Loss Data Institute of the Highway Insurance Institute. Similar models from Kia, Hyundai’s parent company, were also affected – the Rio and Sportage are also on the HLDI list – although the automaker has yet to announce any repairs.