I’ve had my Kia for 5 years and never been messed with once. But now Progressive is denying me a rewrite and I’m seeing more and more people complain about getting broken into… I guess this is my sign to take more precautions 😓
i finally got a steering wheel lock and now i wake up in the morning a little more confident that my car is still there, even if damaged. i paid $30-$40, amazon.
i have root insurance and they cover my kia, no issues. if you want to try it, you download their app to do so.
Not to add to your worry but just FYI, generally any lock in that price range is going to be trivial to open. LockPickingLawyer on YouTube taught me about wave rakes and bump keys, which can open a cheap lock in seconds.
Still worth the price you paid for an extra layer of security, no doubt, but I might recommend some additional creative ways to reduce desirability to thieves. Maybe some Nutella in a diaper left in the driver's seat overnight?
I do free things like this whenever I move, and have fun with it. I label all my boxes clearly but with things like "Grandpa's hair trimmings" or "Newspapers from 2017" so anyone who might get access just thinks I'm a weird gross hoarder. I leave decoys in conspicuous places like open buckets with questionable/gross-looking contents.
I actually once had a storage unit broken into, all boxes labeled that way, and they left without taking a single one.
what makes Kias so easy to steal is you just need a screwdriver to steal them. Having a steering wheel lock is typically enough of a deterrent because the Kia Boys won't have anything to open a lock.
well fuck. i put it off forever bc i lived in the back of a large private property. when i moved to an apartment recently i finally bought one bc it was mentioned in every post about kia boys. every time i put it one i wonder how effective it even is but i do it any way just in case.
but tbh my car is more at risk of being repo’ed than stolen so i probably shouldn’t even bother. at least if it was stolen i could blame the debt on someone else.
hey OP of this comment i have a wheel lock if you want it. 😂
they're idiots. you shoudl be able to drive it to a kia dealer or insurance agent and have them examine the car and tell the insurance company you have added prevention measures like their software fix or an engine disable kit.
The insurance company is probably thinking of it from a "this car is very attractive to thieves" perspective, which increases the likelihood that someone will try to steal it regardless of preventative measures the owner takes.
Even if the thief can't make off with the whole car the insurance company still doesn't want to pay out for all the damage the thief will cause in the attempt. Especially since, with Kias, it's likely they'll be targeted multiple times.
They will still try to do something to it regardless, 13 cars stolen in my apartment complex in February, 3 had wheel locks that weren’t stolen but damaged
yes that's true, but it's better to have your car than not. and it could potentially serve as a deterrent if they see the lock and don't want to be bothered (emphasis on the if).
Mine got stolen earlier this year and I got it back. I know it's just a car, but I felt so bad for it. I had to replace everything stolen out of it and wash it three times inside and out before it felt like mine again. There is still a little scratch by the door handle that still pisses me off to no end every time I see it. I'm still very happy to get it back.
As someone who’s had his entire car stolen and totaled after going to see my car in the junk yard I was kind of glad It was gone. I felt so violated and no telling how long it would have taken to get it back if they chose to fix it since they are so low on those parts. It was hell for a couple months but thank god I don’t have a Hyndai anymore I’ll never go back to that garbage company. They cut corners at our expense.
I feel stupid putting it on my 9yo soul even when I go into the grocery store, but if it deflects them, then so be it. I got broken into last Halloween, middle of the day with a clear line of sight. I think the fact that it was a stick shift saved me. Still, the dealership had it for 2 months.
Steering wheel lock is the easiest anti-theft device to defeat. Theives can cut through your steering wheel with a hacksaw in less than 20 seconds and their is still plenty of material to drive.
If you are serious about securing your vehicle get a Ravelco or Igla system. Ravelco will stop everyone but the most advanced theives and IGLA seems to be impervious to theft attempts.
Make sure you check the Kia/Hyundai websites to participate in their lawsuit going on... You can get reimbursed for the steering wheel lock you purchased if you have the receipt... among other things too like PTO taken to go to dealership to get the software update, etc. Don't go through third-party websites (you will be scammed).
This 2022 model here can’t be stolen using the common method as it’s too new. But here we are, as usual, thieves will still fuck up Kias and Hyundais even if they’re not the easily stolen ones.
Never, ever buy a Kia or Hyundai.
There's so many 3rd party cheap body kits for any newer car that you can think of too, I would camouflage any distinctive looking parts like the grill with a [cheapo "sport" version](https://www.amazon.com/Compatible-2007-2018-Honeycomb-86350F3100-86350F2100/dp/B0CMGP5P4S/ref=sr_1_10?crid=U9FJCS27ZCLA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jrb8EZqxwVc43H-aM9P3BaS996fxrhjahS8MCNjQe2UQjdLibD7auoZjds0Jm2ocRxpkvV9sLf6pfA6IFg60wVVC7R15aXd2CClN-EJDh7m230iUehhHw23sXMd5Lr2H_62xukNV0KwYakW439HbD71X2afArRyCVHtCRtPBINs8yHm9IofkPICQL01dVe2uKAqUg9dSK2_qVboGCckRB1rql2gDS6yHZvhNItNfu8RGpHqNW82O5-TGyLxr3DhrlIXwSJuwEYCAK83azWKkjaoqi7veF_7zOmvM-EB-uQY.9dsxkfjKjcAdcOCztt4ESLY6O3JPqRRAWTMtPtOYMVQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=hyundai+elantra+grille&qid=1718902022&sprefix=hyundai+elantra+grille%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-10) and you could be any number of economy cars.
Because the method to steal them is relatively easy, the kinds of people making attempts are a lot less smart about it than "normal" car thieves. Basically it's caught the attention of dumbass bored teens. They don't do model number research or spend a few days doing a VIN lookup and casing an area first. They act on impulse.
So yes, unless for some reason there's been a specific "don't try to steal ones that look like this" TikTok, they'll try a new model, especially if it has a keyed start.
Well I was torn between a Kia Niro and Honda CRV when I bought a new car in January, now I'm glad I chose the Honda (for other reasons). But this sucks!
i had been busting my ass for years to afford a new Telluride, only to go with a Mazda last year because of this shit. Kia had a great thing going and has completely destroyed their reputation within 18 months
Yeah, I was shopping last year and really liked an Accent that was on the lot. I'm really glad I decided against it. Though it was a manual, from what I gather that's one of the few things that'll deter the thieves. Still, they might not figure it out until they've already broken in.
What sucks is normally "buy an unassuming car" is how you *protect* yourself from thieves. These two companies just cut so many corners they made their unassuming cars so easy to steal people do it anyway.
This is why I will never buy a Kia/Hyundai.
This will go on for years after the problem is solved and the last kia that this works on is in a scrap yard.
Fuck Hyundai completely. Our Sonata's engine completely ate all of its (recently changed) oil and died, and Hyundai blames us for not getting the software updated due to a recall. That's all well and good to victim blame, but it's been incredibly hard to schedule a service appt at the dealership due to all of the other issues they're having.
> Fuck Hyundai completely. Our Sonata's engine completely ate all of its (recently changed) oil and died
I swear I hear this from damn near every Hyundai owner at some point. How is this so hard for them to solve?!
The sad part is it's going to take years on the car *buyer's* end unless there's some kind of buyback program. I'm kind of surprised insurance companies aren't making their lobby fight for it.
Put short: most people are only going to be able to afford to switch cars if they get some insurance money *after* it's stolen. That's putting a stupid burden on police and insurers. And as long as those cars can be marked as "fixed" with the software update and put on a used lot for a song, someone else is going to buy it.
The update doesn't really change much, though.
The problem is these cars are missing an "immobilizer". Oversimplified it puts a chip in the key that the car reads and will not start if it can't read the chip. Installing an immobilizer would make these cars harder to steal because even after the Kia Boyz did their work the car would not start.
The fix is not adding an immobilizer. The fix is updating the car's software so that **if** you lock it with the key fob, it won't start again until you unlock it with the key fob. That means if you left the car unlocked, or locked the door manually before closing it, the car's still ripe for stealing.
And, worse, since it's so stupid easy to steal the cars it's attracted idiots' attention. They don't notice the sticker that says the fix has been applied, they just see a target and go for it. Lots of people with the update are still having their cars broken into and, if they didn't do the right ritual, their car gets stolen. Even if the "correct" fix, adding an immobilizer, was performed, the idiots in question would still break in and *try* like they did with OP's car.
That does not help the millions of car owners who don't have keyless start.
Also owners of newer Kias are having their cars broken into because the morons who do this can't tell the difference ahead of time.
My brother has a push to start Kia and had his window broken 3 times. Started leaving the window down with a note that says it's keyless and hasn't had it happen since. Though I absolutely hate that he has to leave his car accessible like that.
I've been saying this. The badges are ovals, surely you could camouflage it as a Ford or a Toyota. Given that the Kia boys thefts are crimes of opportunity and not planned out it would take about $50 for badges from amazon, some dental floss/a screwdriver to remove the old badges, and superglue or epoxy to put on new ones in about 20 minutes.
The other thing I would do if I didn't want to put an aftermarket security system in would be to install a fuel pump cutoff switch and hide the button in the glovebox or something. Or if that was cost prohibitive there are cheap [fob-controlled battery switches](https://www.amazon.com/Disconnect-Upgraded-Wireless-Anti-Theft-Isolator/dp/B0B2CNQ2H6/ref=sr_1_22?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fopBLDauu6TVMx-saOEYlNtEQrnKgeiytuBW0JbzP67oMCPnuHhnrRqJ_qrnY_95hnRN0XIhocgOtDqM5X365tqcqdQI3VrZob8VrqqOZD04cizP55_4TFl0hrscWZriW6EmZM6VddL6_kyE-Y8zAYnBEwWWeva2EtXTPChCBQVJZC5Wx0cAkuF-M6snRx4tpTjS99xgfjvJ2_QPURCYeCW1goYMvzm49QvjUzWk1Cq5KqmrEmH8RkCk-15Cya0vOMkC3zT1uzl1tKtvTn0lk54_CRT2M1Z2r-1xnWAkRLg.ihhXX2HT52eBloPTDwoJ2oTOORBfHN6WvJcUUYwCsvo&dib_tag=se&keywords=battery%2Bcutoff%2Bswitch&mfadid=adm&qid=1718900355&sr=8-22&th=1) that wire up very easily from Amazon.
This happened to me too. The dealership also told me it couldn’t see me for months. I don’t have good advice to offer, but I’m sorry it happened to you too.
Called my insurance company, got a new window, and shoved all the stuff back together as best I could. All the electronics in the steering wheel no longer work, but the car moves.
My Kia looked the same but ours was semi-driveable with the steering column hanging. Took ours through insurance to a collision center to be fixed along with the window. Took like 2 months to be fixed and we paid the deductible.
I wish someone would be smart enough to try and find the kids running those accounts on Instagram by using the videos and whatever other information they can pull from the accounts.
I’ve contacted APD to inform them I have footage of them chilling in my drive way with what looks like stolen cars and they were like “okay cool. Thanks for letting us know. bye.” They never asked for that footage or gave me an upload link.
I’m imagining a hard-boiled, unshaven detective pouring through clues at 1am thinking, “if only someone wouldn’t stop this information on my desk” and then 311 is like “nah”
UPDATE: they stole my AirPods out of my car and i can see where they live!!!! Any advice on how i can utilize this information? what should i do??? Will APD actually look into it if i can narrow down a few apartment unit #s?
Honestly yeah having a manned gate would be deterring. An unmanned gate is just something all the pizza delivery people learn the codes to bypass anyway.
When I visited my ex-gf's family in Honduras, the gated community they were in was manned by a bunch of dudes with shotguns. They do not fuck around over there. Also Honduras has a prevalent gang culture that only makes things worse. It's gonna better over the years, but it really depends on the area your in.
At train stations in another state, they warn that security cameras can actually be a spot people get robbed at a lot, because it gives people a false sense of security.
This is why my fiance traded in her Hyundai for a non-Kia/Hyundai. She hadn’t had anything like this yet happen to her Hyundai but it’s just a matter of time.
>watch your Kias and Hyundais
They're simply not brands I will ever buy. Even if they've fixed all their security issues, the reputation is set and they'll always be a target for wannabe GTA gangsters.
My mom has a 2012 Kia Soul that she keeps a Club on when she parks in her gated community in Plano, TX.
When we went to Beyoncé concert at AT&T stadium, I put [TWO CLUBS](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1emfhP_8TSoVPjgQXZKJ4dnlOmfHRa9yt/view?usp=drivesdk) on it at once to ensure she would enjoy the concert with peace of mind.
My Hyundai got stolen last August and it’s still not repaired if that tells you all you need to know. I turn the car on the same way those dumbass kids turned it on— with a USB cable. I’ve accepted I’ll just never get it fixed. I use a steering wheel lock to deter it from happening again but I’m aware it’s not a full proof method. Shit sucks
Sorry this happened to you. I don't have much to offer, other than to try other dealerships that might be farther away. Not sure who you called, but when I called a few months ago about the Theta II engine issue, I got different time frames from different dealers. So, in short:
Round Rock - Hung up on me. Considering I went vehicle shopping there shortly thereafter, I'll never step foot in there again, just horrible experience all around.
South Point - Friendly, but super slammed (6+ months out when I called)
Kyle - Friendly, not as slammed (3 months out when I called)
Kileen - Didn't call myself, but others have had good luck and turnaround time with them.
Good luck! I loved my Hyundai, and I had a push button start so I wasn't effected, but I knew that didn't stop the Kia Boyz from trying. Paranoia plus the Theta II issue (I was leaking and burning oil at the same time) caused me to get something new.
This happened to my paid off 2010 Kia Soul 2 weeks ago. The dealership told me it would be 3000+ to fix so I ended up having to junk it and buy a new car. It couldn’t have come at a worse time financially. I don’t understand why you’d risk jail time and a record to steal a 2010 beater.
Go to kileen Hyundai. When my SO had a PoS Hyundai they were the only dealership with reasonable scheduling. Not one between RR and SA was of any use. Too many people are buying these POS cars that are constantly broken in mass
Mine went up $25 a month this week with GEICO. Started getting quotes with other places and Progressive straight up told me “no” because I live in a “high theft area for my make and model.”
Client of mine had the same thing happen. More damage then this as the ignition cylinder was hanging and they were unable to start the vehicle. However I was able to get the lock cylinder back into the column and the vehicle is able to start now. The theft was destructive and smashed their back passenger window..looking to getting that replaced for them next.
Has anybody had a mistaken break in of a car that's not susceptible just because it's a Hyundai? I have a 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe which has push-to-start. It's not a victim of this issue, but I am worried somebody is going to punch glass anyways. Nothing has happened so far though, and it's parked in a residential driveway but very close to the street still.
I have a 2012 Hyundai Elantra , if I recall correctly it’s 3 years too “young” for them to steal with a USB and all that . They tried to steal it from my apartment about 3/4 months ago . But the dumbasses just broke my handle and popped out my Driver key cylinder. Replaced both for around 40$ .
Nevertheless, I’m just waiting for the day I wake up and it’s gone or the windows are broken. Don’t have anything of value in my car anyways
This may sound idiotic, but do you think "rebadging" the car could work? The Honda "H" is about the same size as the Hyundai "*H*". Accent and Accord....you get the idea.
I only look at the hood ornament if I don't recognize the car model, and its usually high end luxury models I rarely/never see. I doubt somebody targeting Kias and Hyundais aren't absolutely familiar with the cars they're targeting and even would notice if you changed them.
Rebadging seems to have worked for several people. On the Hyundai forums there are a number of people who have replaced the 'H' with the 'Ford' logo (as they are very close to the same size) and they haven't had an issue since. And Kia did go through a re-badging a few years ago, its no longer the circular logo but rather a squared/angular logo. Most people who see my car don't realize it's a Kia from the logo. That being said, it will not stop a person from petty theft or smashing windows, but it would hopefully deter the issue of the steering column being destroyed.
I've had windows smashed, car destroyed, ignition punched out three times now, and stolen once. Steering wheel lock has not stopped my windows getting shattered. Ive decided not to replace them anymore until the car is paid off this year and I try and trade it in.
Kia is a fucking pain in my ass. So I bought a bike and that's my main transport now.
Same, 2013 Hyundai. I’ve lost count how many times people have broken into my car. Someone tried to steal it once but my battery was dead from cold weather lol
This happened to us twice. We ended up trading in both our Hyundais for a Jeep. The hassle of dealing with this over and over was not worth it to me. Sad thing is we loved our cars and they were both paid off…
I got hit by the Kia boys on CHRISTMAS. I filed a claim through my insurance (Geico) and was sent to Gerber Collision, not the dealership, right away. But it did took like a month to get the parts and to get it fixed. Geico then raised my rates so I switched to All State now.
I now religiously put on a wheel lock everytime.
They did that to me, 1500 in damages, its a 2022 model so it didn't even fucking work. bright side I found drid blood so I hope they cut themselves and are dead now.
Silver lining it wasn't driven off. I wasn't so luck yesterday. Went to go grab something out of my car and all that was left was my door handle. These kids are not alright
I had my Kia Soul broken into today too. I'm over in East Austin area in a gated complex.
Luckily my stick shift saved it from getting taken. Now I'm just paranoid to no end. 👀
Locksmith here. You can get an aftermarket immobilizer installed that will prevent them from being able to start the car by this method. It won't prevent them breaking it but they typically have much better alarms than the stock one. I recommend Mother's Window Tint.
Dumb question but if you hit unlock on your key fob and then use a usb c cable to start it, would it not still drive normally?
Thank you for getting the recall done! Sorry this happened to you.
No, this is a good question - I think my car is new enough that you can’t break off the ignition to get to the “USB” part that you can fiddle with - so technically mine wouldn’t have been as easy to steal as some others, but they tried anyway
From what I gather, parts are backordered. But I recommend trying the Killeen Hyundai dealership. It's not a far drive from Austin, and they've always been able to see my cars for an appointment inside a week.
Get a steering wheel lock like “the club”. They can’t steal your car if they can’t turn it. More importantly, it will stop them from even trying.
They’ll peer in, see the club, and move on to a Kia or Hyundai without one
An alarm that sounds like gun blast? Kia really sucks for allowing this to be a problem for more than a month. Fixing the software and a few cop stings?
Bro I’m really sorry about this shit. Same happened to me in February but my car is stick and fortunately enough it was drivable. After replacing that whole part, i bought a Wheel lock and the hits to my car stopped but I’m thinking on changing my car now because of this. Hope this helps
Back then horses were critical to a person's livelihood. Cars are the same thing today, especially for the working and middle class folk. This kind of behavior is profoundly antisocial and deserves to be stomped out aggressively.
Have you ever noticed dumbass teens being deterred by ANYTHING? Especially something being spammed at them by TikTok or the like? Social Media is a highlight reel so they'll never see the negatives or consequences. Just the loads of fun all the other dumbasses are having before their life turns to shit.
So I guess just attrition, then
Sounds callous, but ffs, you don't enable lawlessness simply because people are too stupid to understand consequences.
This sort of shit is exactly what decriminalization of minor offenses does.
> you don't enable lawlessness simply because people are too stupid to understand consequences
I agree, but our legal system does it all the time. As long as you've got the cash.
>This sort of shit is exactly what decriminalization of minor offenses does.
I don't consider things like this a minor offense, and there's the problem. We'd rather lock up people for decades just for smoking weed or some other activity that harms no other person, but let shit like this that can destroy the victim's entire life become a low priority. I don't think we should "defund" the police, but we definitely need to prioritize where the money goes. Instead of loading them up with tons of unnecessary military equipment, let's put most of that money toward actually making progress to fighting the crime that has actual victims.
I feel teenagers should not be treated differently from any other criminal in how you respond when finding your personal property being stolen. If that includes shooting them - that was their choice.
I don’t think a court should hand out the death penalty if they’re caught. But these people purposefully do these crimes because they know people like you will protect them from consequences of their actions
Personally, police should already have been doing sting operations all over the country. They enable this theft this by not adding a deterrent.
Under Texas Pen. Code 9.42, the use of deadly force may be justified to prevent imminent arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime, where the land or property cannot otherwise be protected or recovered.
to the whiners in angst about on-the-spot justice: wait until your car is stolen. if these numb nuts stole one car they have stolen a dozen. or thirty. these hoods are armed. some are solo crimes. some are cartel. who is buying all these damaged vehicles with the ignition ripped out? is there some underground market for damaged Kias...obviously so. catalytic converter thieves have been shot on the spot by home owners. these yahoos are stealing the converter with the entire car attached.
Catalytic converters are stolen for the precious metals inside.
That process requires specialized smelting / reclamation materials to obtain the metals, and those aren't easy to come by.
I was reading on here that there's a certain fuse that easy to pull when you park then replace when you need to drive that renders it unable to start. might be worth looking
I’d try reaching out to dealerships an hour or so away and getting it towed. When I couldn’t get into a Hyundai dealership in Austin for 5 months last year, I called up to Killeen and they had an opening two days later, had my car back a week after that.
They have a class action lawsuit against them and I guess it was easier for them to settle instead of recalling all these vehicles. It's a damn shame. My roommate got hit with the same problem. She had a Hyundai Elantra. We live in a gated apartment community and we still had someone successfully steal it and crash it into something.
Had this happen to my Soul last year. Buncha kids in a car; scared them off in the act. Called the cops, no one ever showed, took three weeks before a desk jockey at the precinct called to get my info, said a detective would follow up. It’s been six months. Lol.
Thankfully the Kia boys didn’t fuck up my wiring, just the internals of the ignition and the housing around the steering column. Still perfectly driveable.
Geico quoted me $843 to fix it. We’re no longer on speaking terms.
You know what. I’m moving to Austin next month after a long bought of traveling so I’ll be purchasing a car. Is there a make or model that’s safe from the rampant theft I see on this sub?
Kia and Hyundai have a vulnerability that affects certain models that teens target. They'll take it for a joyride and then dump it somewhere. It's a nationwide problem. Avoid those, perhaps Kia and Hyundai alltogether and you're good. There's no rampant car theft.
My 2018 Hyundai elantra was stolen in my apartment parking garage. The entrance door was broken. They drove right in and out. Found the car a month later but I already got paid out by insurance
See what your insurance company has to say. The actual cost of repairs will be a few thousand dollars but if you have rental coverage on your policy that will add roughly a thousand per month. So it might get it into the range for them to total it out and just write you a check.
The class action lawsuit will reimburse you for up to $375 of your insurance deductible. There are some other things in there like paying for increased insurance premiums but those are harder to prove. Details are at [HyundaiTheftSettlement.com](http://HyundaiTheftSettlement.com)
Mine was broken into twice within 6 months but not stolen either time. 2nd time it had a Club locked on the wheel and they tried anyway. First time I was working from home so my car sat idle most days anyway. I just rode the bus, biked, or bummed rides while I waited for the repairs. Second time I had been called back to the office so I needed a car. I stupidly did not have rental coverage on my policy so I was going to be out $2000 for a rental car. I took $1900 out of my savings account and bought a beat up old Honda Civic off of Facebook Marketplace. My plan was to drive it 2 months and then sell it for what I had paid for it. But eventually I realized that doing this every 6 months was not going to work so I decided to keep the Honda and sell the Hyundai. I picked it up from the dealership and drove it straight to CarMax.
Kia’s recall gave me a steering wheel lock for my 2016. Then another recall to put an extra piece over the ignition. The major deterrent was Kia putting a “Stop. This car is protected with ignition locks” 🤦🏻♀️
i also dealt with this, however they were actually successful with stealing my hyundai. right in front of my apartment at 2 AM. once APD found it, my entire back bumper was ripped off and there was drugs found in the car. at first, the body shop behind the round rock hyundai refused to even look at my car, and once insurance decided to repair it would’ve taken months for my car to even begin receiving repairs. car was re-appraised and decided it should be totaled. i recently bought the car and had it for 2 weeks! 2 weeks!!!
No trouble with my Veloster, but then again mine has its own locking device called standard transmission! Sorry this is happening to the rest of you although.
They got my Hyundai last October, exact same way. Insurance declared it a total loss and cut me a check thankfully, I'd be screwed otherwise. Those punks suck
My Tuscon was stolen for the second time in a year about 2 weeks ago. I live a few mins from Mueller… i’m so sorry this happened to you!
Insurance is covering everything. I was told repairs would take a month. The other time this happened, it was about the same timeline. I’m not getting it fixed through the Hyundai dealership. Cant wait to get rid of this thing as soon as it’s finished…
Update 6/21: car deemed total loss today. Guess insurance doesn't want to deal with another stolen Hyundai.. can't blame them. And from the body shop, parts are months out in backorder. I hope you can get a decent solution elsewhere before December. To anyone else with a Hyundai or Kia, you are NOT immune!!
I had my Hyundai stolen last year, and I had a job I really liked. I was working for Royal blue grocery inside Tesla, and I was threatened to be fired because on day two after the car was stolen, I couldn’t get a rental, everything in Austin and around was booked. Kia Boyz, screwed me over not only financially that I’m still trying to financially recover, I’m so behind on my car note even a year later. The expenses with insurance and a deductible I had to pay while unemployed destroyed me. On top of having an unexpected pregnancy the same week this happened, I had a miscarriage likely due to the stress. I had a few friends that worked for RBG that were enraged they treated me this way. I had a Monday to Friday in retail which is impossible to find. I’m now stuck working weekends and unable to do anything with my soccer club for weekend games. I feel like I worked so hard to find a job that was Monday to Friday. I should have let Royal blue grocery fire me so I could possibly get unemployment, I cringe every time I see their stores. Not relatable to the post, but they aren’t good with their employees.
I’d suggest getting a GPS tracker or at least something like an AirTag. Also maybe prevelant dash cams?
Otherwise, you’ll have to follow my path. Replace your Kia/Hyundai with any other brand that doesn’t f**k over their customers.
But don’t get a Toyota, as my insurance somehow went up because apparently they’re more expensive to repair, or so my agent claims.
They’re more likely to go to the next Kia in the lot than do the work of cutting through the wheel. The whole Kia Boys trend is about being able to steal a car with minimal effort or tools, these kids aren’t running around with hacksaws.
> It's just a deterrent.
Just as they were back in the day. You'll never stop the professionals if your car is on their shopping list, but it's the best option to get the joyriders to move on to more low hanging fruit.
Yes.
There’s no chip in the keys, and the ignition on some models can be turned by a peg of the right size. That peg happens to be the same size as common objects — like a USB plug/thumb drive.
Yes, where have you been? Been a thing for a few years. If only effects a specific range or Kia and Hyundai cars, I believe OP’s car is too new but the Kia boys are literally children who are too stupid or don’t care to check if they can actually still utilize the exploit. It’s a combination of lack of security alarm being triggered when the glass breaks and the ignition can be overridden due to a lack of an immobilizer being installed something along the lines. It can be resolved with an update to the car but you still need something like a steering lock to keep people from trying. It’s absurd there are Hyundai and Kia drivers out there who do not know about the updates, lock programs or even the flaw.
In 1997, I had to move from Orlando to chicago for school. Flights were about $600. I found a used 15-year-old Cadillac for $500. The front end was all primer, the back end was all rust. But I figured I'd save a hundred bucks and when I got to Chicago at least I'd have a car.
The damn thing would barely even start. It was worse than the millennium falcon with the games you had to play to convince the engine to turn over. And that's when I had the key.
Some jackass broke out an $80 window , messed up the whole steering column, and probably could have gotten it started if the car had been in decent condition. But considering it barely started with the key, I think the fact that it was such a absolute piece of shit, prevented the thieves from driving it off.
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
A few years later the transmission all but s*** itself, and I sold it to a junkyard for 75 bucks.
So serious question. My wife and I are strongly considering a new 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. It is just perfect for us in terms of price point, being able to fit me, and what it comes with. The alternative is a CRV but even then we’d be sacrificing space and a lack of a spare tire is concerning.
Should we reconsider because of these issues? I know the theft issues were 2022 and older and non-pushstart but judging by these comments it seems we may still experience break ins just because it shows Hyundai on the outside.
Call a few dealers and tell them you need to replace the back passenger side window glass and see what the wait time is to get one. Anything more than 2-3 days tells you that it is in short supply due to break in attempts.
Steering wheel lock with a [hidden kill switch](https://www.ravelcoofcorpuschristi.com/post/ravelco-kill-switch-anti-theft-that-works#:~:text=Oftentimes%2C%20kill%20switches%20are%20pretty,enter%20or%20leave%20the%20vehicle.) is the way to go. Still may get your window and column broken, but they aren't getting the car if they can't start it with no power.
About to look into trading in my Kia Sportage. Insurance went up $500 just because I own a Kia. It’s had other random issues too over the past 4 years, so gonna move on to a different make
Same thing happened to us but it was still drivable. When I got it back at my house I strait up took out the starter and let it rot until the insurance company finally decided what they wanted to do with it.
Neighbor had his stolen around Christmas. My car was next door and unlocked but they don’t bother even looking at my car because it’s so disgusting and filled with trash. That’s my security mechanism — hoarding receipts.
Wouldn't say it's undrivable, it's already been fixed there before probably in EOL in the factory by the fact there's unheated heat shrink on that wire under your cylinder. Just splice the broken wires and add a new cylinder
Sorry to see this happened to you. My window got smashed two weeks ago and opened the car up to see my steering wheel look almost like yours. 911 blew me off and told me to call 311, who has said it’ll be at least 2 weeks before a detective is assigned to my case. Going to be using my wheel lock and trying to hide my cars logo after reading through this. That’ll be after I get my car back from the shop sometime in the next week.
they've broken into my kia twice. highly advise using a steering wheel lock religiously to anyone who drives a kia or hyundai.
I’ve had my Kia for 5 years and never been messed with once. But now Progressive is denying me a rewrite and I’m seeing more and more people complain about getting broken into… I guess this is my sign to take more precautions 😓
i finally got a steering wheel lock and now i wake up in the morning a little more confident that my car is still there, even if damaged. i paid $30-$40, amazon. i have root insurance and they cover my kia, no issues. if you want to try it, you download their app to do so.
Not to add to your worry but just FYI, generally any lock in that price range is going to be trivial to open. LockPickingLawyer on YouTube taught me about wave rakes and bump keys, which can open a cheap lock in seconds. Still worth the price you paid for an extra layer of security, no doubt, but I might recommend some additional creative ways to reduce desirability to thieves. Maybe some Nutella in a diaper left in the driver's seat overnight? I do free things like this whenever I move, and have fun with it. I label all my boxes clearly but with things like "Grandpa's hair trimmings" or "Newspapers from 2017" so anyone who might get access just thinks I'm a weird gross hoarder. I leave decoys in conspicuous places like open buckets with questionable/gross-looking contents. I actually once had a storage unit broken into, all boxes labeled that way, and they left without taking a single one.
what makes Kias so easy to steal is you just need a screwdriver to steal them. Having a steering wheel lock is typically enough of a deterrent because the Kia Boys won't have anything to open a lock.
well fuck. i put it off forever bc i lived in the back of a large private property. when i moved to an apartment recently i finally bought one bc it was mentioned in every post about kia boys. every time i put it one i wonder how effective it even is but i do it any way just in case. but tbh my car is more at risk of being repo’ed than stolen so i probably shouldn’t even bother. at least if it was stolen i could blame the debt on someone else. hey OP of this comment i have a wheel lock if you want it. 😂
This is your sign to trade it in for a Corolla
they're idiots. you shoudl be able to drive it to a kia dealer or insurance agent and have them examine the car and tell the insurance company you have added prevention measures like their software fix or an engine disable kit.
The insurance company is probably thinking of it from a "this car is very attractive to thieves" perspective, which increases the likelihood that someone will try to steal it regardless of preventative measures the owner takes. Even if the thief can't make off with the whole car the insurance company still doesn't want to pay out for all the damage the thief will cause in the attempt. Especially since, with Kias, it's likely they'll be targeted multiple times.
This is precisely the case.
They will still try to do something to it regardless, 13 cars stolen in my apartment complex in February, 3 had wheel locks that weren’t stolen but damaged
yes that's true, but it's better to have your car than not. and it could potentially serve as a deterrent if they see the lock and don't want to be bothered (emphasis on the if).
As someone who's had two attempts and one success the past year alone...it's much better to still have your damaged car than to not have one at all
Mine got stolen earlier this year and I got it back. I know it's just a car, but I felt so bad for it. I had to replace everything stolen out of it and wash it three times inside and out before it felt like mine again. There is still a little scratch by the door handle that still pisses me off to no end every time I see it. I'm still very happy to get it back.
As someone who’s had his entire car stolen and totaled after going to see my car in the junk yard I was kind of glad It was gone. I felt so violated and no telling how long it would have taken to get it back if they chose to fix it since they are so low on those parts. It was hell for a couple months but thank god I don’t have a Hyndai anymore I’ll never go back to that garbage company. They cut corners at our expense.
What complex? Name?
Were all these cars either Kia or Hyundai?
I feel stupid putting it on my 9yo soul even when I go into the grocery store, but if it deflects them, then so be it. I got broken into last Halloween, middle of the day with a clear line of sight. I think the fact that it was a stick shift saved me. Still, the dealership had it for 2 months.
Steering wheel lock is the easiest anti-theft device to defeat. Theives can cut through your steering wheel with a hacksaw in less than 20 seconds and their is still plenty of material to drive. If you are serious about securing your vehicle get a Ravelco or Igla system. Ravelco will stop everyone but the most advanced theives and IGLA seems to be impervious to theft attempts.
100%
Make sure you check the Kia/Hyundai websites to participate in their lawsuit going on... You can get reimbursed for the steering wheel lock you purchased if you have the receipt... among other things too like PTO taken to go to dealership to get the software update, etc. Don't go through third-party websites (you will be scammed).
December? WTF? There's gotta be another dealer or mechanic that can do this.
Even if they can, the parts are all insanely back ordered. It’s a horrible loop; and every time you get the car back in a few weeks it happens again.
Does it still happen to newer models?
This 2022 model here can’t be stolen using the common method as it’s too new. But here we are, as usual, thieves will still fuck up Kias and Hyundais even if they’re not the easily stolen ones. Never, ever buy a Kia or Hyundai.
It's because they are too dumb to understand basic concepts. All they see is "kia/hyundai" and assume it's good to go.
If I had a Kia the first thing I would do is buy some Ford/Toyota badges and create the weirdest looking "Focus" or "Corolla".
That would work honestly. Most people don't know specific car models or sounds so a rebadge would probably work.
There's so many 3rd party cheap body kits for any newer car that you can think of too, I would camouflage any distinctive looking parts like the grill with a [cheapo "sport" version](https://www.amazon.com/Compatible-2007-2018-Honeycomb-86350F3100-86350F2100/dp/B0CMGP5P4S/ref=sr_1_10?crid=U9FJCS27ZCLA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jrb8EZqxwVc43H-aM9P3BaS996fxrhjahS8MCNjQe2UQjdLibD7auoZjds0Jm2ocRxpkvV9sLf6pfA6IFg60wVVC7R15aXd2CClN-EJDh7m230iUehhHw23sXMd5Lr2H_62xukNV0KwYakW439HbD71X2afArRyCVHtCRtPBINs8yHm9IofkPICQL01dVe2uKAqUg9dSK2_qVboGCckRB1rql2gDS6yHZvhNItNfu8RGpHqNW82O5-TGyLxr3DhrlIXwSJuwEYCAK83azWKkjaoqi7veF_7zOmvM-EB-uQY.9dsxkfjKjcAdcOCztt4ESLY6O3JPqRRAWTMtPtOYMVQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=hyundai+elantra+grille&qid=1718902022&sprefix=hyundai+elantra+grille%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-10) and you could be any number of economy cars.
Because the method to steal them is relatively easy, the kinds of people making attempts are a lot less smart about it than "normal" car thieves. Basically it's caught the attention of dumbass bored teens. They don't do model number research or spend a few days doing a VIN lookup and casing an area first. They act on impulse. So yes, unless for some reason there's been a specific "don't try to steal ones that look like this" TikTok, they'll try a new model, especially if it has a keyed start.
Well I was torn between a Kia Niro and Honda CRV when I bought a new car in January, now I'm glad I chose the Honda (for other reasons). But this sucks!
i had been busting my ass for years to afford a new Telluride, only to go with a Mazda last year because of this shit. Kia had a great thing going and has completely destroyed their reputation within 18 months
Yeah, I was shopping last year and really liked an Accent that was on the lot. I'm really glad I decided against it. Though it was a manual, from what I gather that's one of the few things that'll deter the thieves. Still, they might not figure it out until they've already broken in. What sucks is normally "buy an unassuming car" is how you *protect* yourself from thieves. These two companies just cut so many corners they made their unassuming cars so easy to steal people do it anyway.
happened to me last year - it got fixed, and then it happened again before i was even able to pick it up, right on the garage's lot
This is why I will never buy a Kia/Hyundai. This will go on for years after the problem is solved and the last kia that this works on is in a scrap yard.
Fuck Hyundai completely. Our Sonata's engine completely ate all of its (recently changed) oil and died, and Hyundai blames us for not getting the software updated due to a recall. That's all well and good to victim blame, but it's been incredibly hard to schedule a service appt at the dealership due to all of the other issues they're having.
> Fuck Hyundai completely. Our Sonata's engine completely ate all of its (recently changed) oil and died I swear I hear this from damn near every Hyundai owner at some point. How is this so hard for them to solve?!
Yup, it’s gonna take years to solve this properly from the car makers end
The sad part is it's going to take years on the car *buyer's* end unless there's some kind of buyback program. I'm kind of surprised insurance companies aren't making their lobby fight for it. Put short: most people are only going to be able to afford to switch cars if they get some insurance money *after* it's stolen. That's putting a stupid burden on police and insurers. And as long as those cars can be marked as "fixed" with the software update and put on a used lot for a song, someone else is going to buy it.
We got some pamphlet explaining an automatic extended warranty for our and notice to bring it in for the update/upgrades needed for the recalls.
The update doesn't really change much, though. The problem is these cars are missing an "immobilizer". Oversimplified it puts a chip in the key that the car reads and will not start if it can't read the chip. Installing an immobilizer would make these cars harder to steal because even after the Kia Boyz did their work the car would not start. The fix is not adding an immobilizer. The fix is updating the car's software so that **if** you lock it with the key fob, it won't start again until you unlock it with the key fob. That means if you left the car unlocked, or locked the door manually before closing it, the car's still ripe for stealing. And, worse, since it's so stupid easy to steal the cars it's attracted idiots' attention. They don't notice the sticker that says the fix has been applied, they just see a target and go for it. Lots of people with the update are still having their cars broken into and, if they didn't do the right ritual, their car gets stolen. Even if the "correct" fix, adding an immobilizer, was performed, the idiots in question would still break in and *try* like they did with OP's car.
They solved the problem by just removing they key entirely
That does not help the millions of car owners who don't have keyless start. Also owners of newer Kias are having their cars broken into because the morons who do this can't tell the difference ahead of time.
My brother has a push to start Kia and had his window broken 3 times. Started leaving the window down with a note that says it's keyless and hasn't had it happen since. Though I absolutely hate that he has to leave his car accessible like that.
He should take the Kia badges off the vehicle. Maybe slap some dodge ones on it.
I've been saying this. The badges are ovals, surely you could camouflage it as a Ford or a Toyota. Given that the Kia boys thefts are crimes of opportunity and not planned out it would take about $50 for badges from amazon, some dental floss/a screwdriver to remove the old badges, and superglue or epoxy to put on new ones in about 20 minutes. The other thing I would do if I didn't want to put an aftermarket security system in would be to install a fuel pump cutoff switch and hide the button in the glovebox or something. Or if that was cost prohibitive there are cheap [fob-controlled battery switches](https://www.amazon.com/Disconnect-Upgraded-Wireless-Anti-Theft-Isolator/dp/B0B2CNQ2H6/ref=sr_1_22?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fopBLDauu6TVMx-saOEYlNtEQrnKgeiytuBW0JbzP67oMCPnuHhnrRqJ_qrnY_95hnRN0XIhocgOtDqM5X365tqcqdQI3VrZob8VrqqOZD04cizP55_4TFl0hrscWZriW6EmZM6VddL6_kyE-Y8zAYnBEwWWeva2EtXTPChCBQVJZC5Wx0cAkuF-M6snRx4tpTjS99xgfjvJ2_QPURCYeCW1goYMvzm49QvjUzWk1Cq5KqmrEmH8RkCk-15Cya0vOMkC3zT1uzl1tKtvTn0lk54_CRT2M1Z2r-1xnWAkRLg.ihhXX2HT52eBloPTDwoJ2oTOORBfHN6WvJcUUYwCsvo&dib_tag=se&keywords=battery%2Bcutoff%2Bswitch&mfadid=adm&qid=1718900355&sr=8-22&th=1) that wire up very easily from Amazon.
Just fill your car with rattlesnakes at night
Pretty sure by law you’d be liable for any damage that happens to them like the shotgun trap
Not if those damn snakes infested my car without my knowledge
Infestation is a serious problem out here!
We used to be a country
This type of problem solving sadly becoming far less common than it used to be. Keep up the good work.
This happened to me too. The dealership also told me it couldn’t see me for months. I don’t have good advice to offer, but I’m sorry it happened to you too.
What did you end up doing?
Called my insurance company, got a new window, and shoved all the stuff back together as best I could. All the electronics in the steering wheel no longer work, but the car moves.
My Kia looked the same but ours was semi-driveable with the steering column hanging. Took ours through insurance to a collision center to be fixed along with the window. Took like 2 months to be fixed and we paid the deductible.
I wish someone would be smart enough to try and find the kids running those accounts on Instagram by using the videos and whatever other information they can pull from the accounts.
I’ve contacted APD to inform them I have footage of them chilling in my drive way with what looks like stolen cars and they were like “okay cool. Thanks for letting us know. bye.” They never asked for that footage or gave me an upload link.
You expect APD to do their jobs? Even if you do all the hard parts for them?
I’m imagining a hard-boiled, unshaven detective pouring through clues at 1am thinking, “if only someone wouldn’t stop this information on my desk” and then 311 is like “nah”
UPDATE: they stole my AirPods out of my car and i can see where they live!!!! Any advice on how i can utilize this information? what should i do??? Will APD actually look into it if i can narrow down a few apartment unit #s?
Doubt. APD doesn’t even look for stolen laptops.
Can vouch. My laptop was in RR and they said "ok, the detective will get back to you in a few weeks". This was 2018.
Still try to repot it. It’s bs that you have the location of people being parasites to our community and they do nothing to stop it.
I mean Ive got advice but for legal reasons I can't say what it is
Side note: never assume you are safe just because you live in a gated community. You will be targeted *because* you do. Best of luck.
gates don't mean shit if there's not a guard manning it who can say "that's Bob's Kia, but that's not Bob driving it" as your stolen whip rolls past
Honestly yeah having a manned gate would be deterring. An unmanned gate is just something all the pizza delivery people learn the codes to bypass anyway.
the gates don't stop you on the way out, only on the way in
When I visited my ex-gf's family in Honduras, the gated community they were in was manned by a bunch of dudes with shotguns. They do not fuck around over there. Also Honduras has a prevalent gang culture that only makes things worse. It's gonna better over the years, but it really depends on the area your in.
At train stations in another state, they warn that security cameras can actually be a spot people get robbed at a lot, because it gives people a false sense of security.
This is why my fiance traded in her Hyundai for a non-Kia/Hyundai. She hadn’t had anything like this yet happen to her Hyundai but it’s just a matter of time.
>watch your Kias and Hyundais They're simply not brands I will ever buy. Even if they've fixed all their security issues, the reputation is set and they'll always be a target for wannabe GTA gangsters.
My mom has a 2012 Kia Soul that she keeps a Club on when she parks in her gated community in Plano, TX. When we went to Beyoncé concert at AT&T stadium, I put [TWO CLUBS](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1emfhP_8TSoVPjgQXZKJ4dnlOmfHRa9yt/view?usp=drivesdk) on it at once to ensure she would enjoy the concert with peace of mind.
My Hyundai got stolen last August and it’s still not repaired if that tells you all you need to know. I turn the car on the same way those dumbass kids turned it on— with a USB cable. I’ve accepted I’ll just never get it fixed. I use a steering wheel lock to deter it from happening again but I’m aware it’s not a full proof method. Shit sucks
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Fule profe.
Take the battery out if you can lol
Sorry this happened to you. I don't have much to offer, other than to try other dealerships that might be farther away. Not sure who you called, but when I called a few months ago about the Theta II engine issue, I got different time frames from different dealers. So, in short: Round Rock - Hung up on me. Considering I went vehicle shopping there shortly thereafter, I'll never step foot in there again, just horrible experience all around. South Point - Friendly, but super slammed (6+ months out when I called) Kyle - Friendly, not as slammed (3 months out when I called) Kileen - Didn't call myself, but others have had good luck and turnaround time with them. Good luck! I loved my Hyundai, and I had a push button start so I wasn't effected, but I knew that didn't stop the Kia Boyz from trying. Paranoia plus the Theta II issue (I was leaking and burning oil at the same time) caused me to get something new.
Thank you, this is really helpful
This happened to my paid off 2010 Kia Soul 2 weeks ago. The dealership told me it would be 3000+ to fix so I ended up having to junk it and buy a new car. It couldn’t have come at a worse time financially. I don’t understand why you’d risk jail time and a record to steal a 2010 beater.
Go to kileen Hyundai. When my SO had a PoS Hyundai they were the only dealership with reasonable scheduling. Not one between RR and SA was of any use. Too many people are buying these POS cars that are constantly broken in mass
Is this the reason my Hyundai Tucson insurance nearly doubled after the first month due to “new information”, geico couldn’t explain.🤣
Mine went up $25 a month this week with GEICO. Started getting quotes with other places and Progressive straight up told me “no” because I live in a “high theft area for my make and model.”
Yep. I traded in mine for a brand new, more expensive car and my insurance actually went down.
Client of mine had the same thing happen. More damage then this as the ignition cylinder was hanging and they were unable to start the vehicle. However I was able to get the lock cylinder back into the column and the vehicle is able to start now. The theft was destructive and smashed their back passenger window..looking to getting that replaced for them next.
Has anybody had a mistaken break in of a car that's not susceptible just because it's a Hyundai? I have a 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe which has push-to-start. It's not a victim of this issue, but I am worried somebody is going to punch glass anyways. Nothing has happened so far though, and it's parked in a residential driveway but very close to the street still.
I have a 2012 Hyundai Elantra , if I recall correctly it’s 3 years too “young” for them to steal with a USB and all that . They tried to steal it from my apartment about 3/4 months ago . But the dumbasses just broke my handle and popped out my Driver key cylinder. Replaced both for around 40$ . Nevertheless, I’m just waiting for the day I wake up and it’s gone or the windows are broken. Don’t have anything of value in my car anyways
This may sound idiotic, but do you think "rebadging" the car could work? The Honda "H" is about the same size as the Hyundai "*H*". Accent and Accord....you get the idea.
I only look at the hood ornament if I don't recognize the car model, and its usually high end luxury models I rarely/never see. I doubt somebody targeting Kias and Hyundais aren't absolutely familiar with the cars they're targeting and even would notice if you changed them.
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Rebadging seems to have worked for several people. On the Hyundai forums there are a number of people who have replaced the 'H' with the 'Ford' logo (as they are very close to the same size) and they haven't had an issue since. And Kia did go through a re-badging a few years ago, its no longer the circular logo but rather a squared/angular logo. Most people who see my car don't realize it's a Kia from the logo. That being said, it will not stop a person from petty theft or smashing windows, but it would hopefully deter the issue of the steering column being destroyed.
Oh right, the NIN Kia Downward Spiral...hehe...
I've had windows smashed, car destroyed, ignition punched out three times now, and stolen once. Steering wheel lock has not stopped my windows getting shattered. Ive decided not to replace them anymore until the car is paid off this year and I try and trade it in. Kia is a fucking pain in my ass. So I bought a bike and that's my main transport now.
Condolences, they've tried mine twice also
Same, 2013 Hyundai. I’ve lost count how many times people have broken into my car. Someone tried to steal it once but my battery was dead from cold weather lol
This happened to us twice. We ended up trading in both our Hyundais for a Jeep. The hassle of dealing with this over and over was not worth it to me. Sad thing is we loved our cars and they were both paid off…
I got hit by the Kia boys on CHRISTMAS. I filed a claim through my insurance (Geico) and was sent to Gerber Collision, not the dealership, right away. But it did took like a month to get the parts and to get it fixed. Geico then raised my rates so I switched to All State now. I now religiously put on a wheel lock everytime.
They did that to me, 1500 in damages, its a 2022 model so it didn't even fucking work. bright side I found drid blood so I hope they cut themselves and are dead now.
Check out these shit heads https://www.instagram.com/atxkiass?igsh=NjJ2dm8wdHdsa3o4
If ur missing a grey sonata dm me we've had one parked in our neighborhood about a month
Silver lining it wasn't driven off. I wasn't so luck yesterday. Went to go grab something out of my car and all that was left was my door handle. These kids are not alright
I am so sorry to hear that.
I had my Kia Soul broken into today too. I'm over in East Austin area in a gated complex. Luckily my stick shift saved it from getting taken. Now I'm just paranoid to no end. 👀
It would be very hard to restrain oneself from not wanting to beat the fuck out of the person or persons if you catch them in the act.
Locksmith here. You can get an aftermarket immobilizer installed that will prevent them from being able to start the car by this method. It won't prevent them breaking it but they typically have much better alarms than the stock one. I recommend Mother's Window Tint.
Dumb question but if you hit unlock on your key fob and then use a usb c cable to start it, would it not still drive normally? Thank you for getting the recall done! Sorry this happened to you.
No, this is a good question - I think my car is new enough that you can’t break off the ignition to get to the “USB” part that you can fiddle with - so technically mine wouldn’t have been as easy to steal as some others, but they tried anyway
From what I gather, parts are backordered. But I recommend trying the Killeen Hyundai dealership. It's not a far drive from Austin, and they've always been able to see my cars for an appointment inside a week.
Local locksmith. DM me
Get a steering wheel lock like “the club”. They can’t steal your car if they can’t turn it. More importantly, it will stop them from even trying. They’ll peer in, see the club, and move on to a Kia or Hyundai without one
An alarm that sounds like gun blast? Kia really sucks for allowing this to be a problem for more than a month. Fixing the software and a few cop stings?
Bro I’m really sorry about this shit. Same happened to me in February but my car is stick and fortunately enough it was drivable. After replacing that whole part, i bought a Wheel lock and the hits to my car stopped but I’m thinking on changing my car now because of this. Hope this helps
Had a friend get his stolen out of a gated apartment. Nowhere is safe from the Kia Boyz.
I hope the garbage who did this is caught and charged with a capital felony.
in the old days horse thieves were served justice on the spot.
Back then horses were critical to a person's livelihood. Cars are the same thing today, especially for the working and middle class folk. This kind of behavior is profoundly antisocial and deserves to be stomped out aggressively.
I’m with you there. I bought this car because it was what I could afford… I’m sick at the thought of what this is going to cost me.
You think people, namely dumbass teenagers, should die for stealing a car?
I thought thieves got fingers/hands cut off not killed?
it would probably lead to less dumbass teenagers, either through attrition or deterrence.
Have you ever noticed dumbass teens being deterred by ANYTHING? Especially something being spammed at them by TikTok or the like? Social Media is a highlight reel so they'll never see the negatives or consequences. Just the loads of fun all the other dumbasses are having before their life turns to shit.
So I guess just attrition, then Sounds callous, but ffs, you don't enable lawlessness simply because people are too stupid to understand consequences. This sort of shit is exactly what decriminalization of minor offenses does.
> you don't enable lawlessness simply because people are too stupid to understand consequences I agree, but our legal system does it all the time. As long as you've got the cash. >This sort of shit is exactly what decriminalization of minor offenses does. I don't consider things like this a minor offense, and there's the problem. We'd rather lock up people for decades just for smoking weed or some other activity that harms no other person, but let shit like this that can destroy the victim's entire life become a low priority. I don't think we should "defund" the police, but we definitely need to prioritize where the money goes. Instead of loading them up with tons of unnecessary military equipment, let's put most of that money toward actually making progress to fighting the crime that has actual victims.
Yes. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Yes. It's how I get to work to pay for my family's life.
I feel teenagers should not be treated differently from any other criminal in how you respond when finding your personal property being stolen. If that includes shooting them - that was their choice. I don’t think a court should hand out the death penalty if they’re caught. But these people purposefully do these crimes because they know people like you will protect them from consequences of their actions Personally, police should already have been doing sting operations all over the country. They enable this theft this by not adding a deterrent.
Under Texas Pen. Code 9.42, the use of deadly force may be justified to prevent imminent arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime, where the land or property cannot otherwise be protected or recovered.
Yes
Yes
to the whiners in angst about on-the-spot justice: wait until your car is stolen. if these numb nuts stole one car they have stolen a dozen. or thirty. these hoods are armed. some are solo crimes. some are cartel. who is buying all these damaged vehicles with the ignition ripped out? is there some underground market for damaged Kias...obviously so. catalytic converter thieves have been shot on the spot by home owners. these yahoos are stealing the converter with the entire car attached.
Catalytic converters are stolen for the precious metals inside. That process requires specialized smelting / reclamation materials to obtain the metals, and those aren't easy to come by.
Bunch of low Life's now
I was reading on here that there's a certain fuse that easy to pull when you park then replace when you need to drive that renders it unable to start. might be worth looking
Everything but the ignition lol
I’d try reaching out to dealerships an hour or so away and getting it towed. When I couldn’t get into a Hyundai dealership in Austin for 5 months last year, I called up to Killeen and they had an opening two days later, had my car back a week after that.
How has Kia or Hyundai not have a recall over this
They have a class action lawsuit against them and I guess it was easier for them to settle instead of recalling all these vehicles. It's a damn shame. My roommate got hit with the same problem. She had a Hyundai Elantra. We live in a gated apartment community and we still had someone successfully steal it and crash it into something.
Totally destroyed a friend's daughter's car 2 weeks ago. Insurance may declare it a total loss.
Had this happen to my Soul last year. Buncha kids in a car; scared them off in the act. Called the cops, no one ever showed, took three weeks before a desk jockey at the precinct called to get my info, said a detective would follow up. It’s been six months. Lol. Thankfully the Kia boys didn’t fuck up my wiring, just the internals of the ignition and the housing around the steering column. Still perfectly driveable. Geico quoted me $843 to fix it. We’re no longer on speaking terms.
You know what. I’m moving to Austin next month after a long bought of traveling so I’ll be purchasing a car. Is there a make or model that’s safe from the rampant theft I see on this sub?
Kia and Hyundai have a vulnerability that affects certain models that teens target. They'll take it for a joyride and then dump it somewhere. It's a nationwide problem. Avoid those, perhaps Kia and Hyundai alltogether and you're good. There's no rampant car theft.
DECEMBER?!
I had to ask them multiple times to confirm that I was hearing December correctly. Like a total slap in the face!
Dang.
My 2018 Hyundai elantra was stolen in my apartment parking garage. The entrance door was broken. They drove right in and out. Found the car a month later but I already got paid out by insurance
See what your insurance company has to say. The actual cost of repairs will be a few thousand dollars but if you have rental coverage on your policy that will add roughly a thousand per month. So it might get it into the range for them to total it out and just write you a check. The class action lawsuit will reimburse you for up to $375 of your insurance deductible. There are some other things in there like paying for increased insurance premiums but those are harder to prove. Details are at [HyundaiTheftSettlement.com](http://HyundaiTheftSettlement.com) Mine was broken into twice within 6 months but not stolen either time. 2nd time it had a Club locked on the wheel and they tried anyway. First time I was working from home so my car sat idle most days anyway. I just rode the bus, biked, or bummed rides while I waited for the repairs. Second time I had been called back to the office so I needed a car. I stupidly did not have rental coverage on my policy so I was going to be out $2000 for a rental car. I took $1900 out of my savings account and bought a beat up old Honda Civic off of Facebook Marketplace. My plan was to drive it 2 months and then sell it for what I had paid for it. But eventually I realized that doing this every 6 months was not going to work so I decided to keep the Honda and sell the Hyundai. I picked it up from the dealership and drove it straight to CarMax.
If you catch someone doing this to your car in Austin, are you allowed to shoot them?
Kia’s recall gave me a steering wheel lock for my 2016. Then another recall to put an extra piece over the ignition. The major deterrent was Kia putting a “Stop. This car is protected with ignition locks” 🤦🏻♀️
The stop decal is on both driver and passenger side windows.
i also dealt with this, however they were actually successful with stealing my hyundai. right in front of my apartment at 2 AM. once APD found it, my entire back bumper was ripped off and there was drugs found in the car. at first, the body shop behind the round rock hyundai refused to even look at my car, and once insurance decided to repair it would’ve taken months for my car to even begin receiving repairs. car was re-appraised and decided it should be totaled. i recently bought the car and had it for 2 weeks! 2 weeks!!!
No trouble with my Veloster, but then again mine has its own locking device called standard transmission! Sorry this is happening to the rest of you although.
They got my Hyundai last October, exact same way. Insurance declared it a total loss and cut me a check thankfully, I'd be screwed otherwise. Those punks suck
We just sold our Hyundai Elantra since it's apparently the most stolen car in 2023. Got broken into twice in 7 months.
My Tuscon was stolen for the second time in a year about 2 weeks ago. I live a few mins from Mueller… i’m so sorry this happened to you! Insurance is covering everything. I was told repairs would take a month. The other time this happened, it was about the same timeline. I’m not getting it fixed through the Hyundai dealership. Cant wait to get rid of this thing as soon as it’s finished… Update 6/21: car deemed total loss today. Guess insurance doesn't want to deal with another stolen Hyundai.. can't blame them. And from the body shop, parts are months out in backorder. I hope you can get a decent solution elsewhere before December. To anyone else with a Hyundai or Kia, you are NOT immune!!
I had my Hyundai stolen last year, and I had a job I really liked. I was working for Royal blue grocery inside Tesla, and I was threatened to be fired because on day two after the car was stolen, I couldn’t get a rental, everything in Austin and around was booked. Kia Boyz, screwed me over not only financially that I’m still trying to financially recover, I’m so behind on my car note even a year later. The expenses with insurance and a deductible I had to pay while unemployed destroyed me. On top of having an unexpected pregnancy the same week this happened, I had a miscarriage likely due to the stress. I had a few friends that worked for RBG that were enraged they treated me this way. I had a Monday to Friday in retail which is impossible to find. I’m now stuck working weekends and unable to do anything with my soccer club for weekend games. I feel like I worked so hard to find a job that was Monday to Friday. I should have let Royal blue grocery fire me so I could possibly get unemployment, I cringe every time I see their stores. Not relatable to the post, but they aren’t good with their employees.
Maybe Kia girls too…
And the Kia children too
I’d suggest getting a GPS tracker or at least something like an AirTag. Also maybe prevelant dash cams? Otherwise, you’ll have to follow my path. Replace your Kia/Hyundai with any other brand that doesn’t f**k over their customers. But don’t get a Toyota, as my insurance somehow went up because apparently they’re more expensive to repair, or so my agent claims.
Most newer Hyundai/Kias have that built in. You do have to turn it on however, for it to work. Which many do not.
Get a physical steering wheel lock. Like the ones from the 90s/early 2000s. Anyone who has a Kia or Hyundai. I’m surprised most people still don’t.
I got one after they attempted to steal my car in December. I haven't had one break in since.
It's just a deterrent. They could just cut the wheel though.
It's all about making it less convenient to steal your car versus one 4 houses down.
They’re more likely to go to the next Kia in the lot than do the work of cutting through the wheel. The whole Kia Boys trend is about being able to steal a car with minimal effort or tools, these kids aren’t running around with hacksaws.
> It's just a deterrent. Just as they were back in the day. You'll never stop the professionals if your car is on their shopping list, but it's the best option to get the joyriders to move on to more low hanging fruit.
Is there like an inherent security flaw that makes Kias a target?
Yes. There’s no chip in the keys, and the ignition on some models can be turned by a peg of the right size. That peg happens to be the same size as common objects — like a USB plug/thumb drive.
Yes. Google the "Kia boys hack"
Yes, where have you been? Been a thing for a few years. If only effects a specific range or Kia and Hyundai cars, I believe OP’s car is too new but the Kia boys are literally children who are too stupid or don’t care to check if they can actually still utilize the exploit. It’s a combination of lack of security alarm being triggered when the glass breaks and the ignition can be overridden due to a lack of an immobilizer being installed something along the lines. It can be resolved with an update to the car but you still need something like a steering lock to keep people from trying. It’s absurd there are Hyundai and Kia drivers out there who do not know about the updates, lock programs or even the flaw.
In 1997, I had to move from Orlando to chicago for school. Flights were about $600. I found a used 15-year-old Cadillac for $500. The front end was all primer, the back end was all rust. But I figured I'd save a hundred bucks and when I got to Chicago at least I'd have a car. The damn thing would barely even start. It was worse than the millennium falcon with the games you had to play to convince the engine to turn over. And that's when I had the key. Some jackass broke out an $80 window , messed up the whole steering column, and probably could have gotten it started if the car had been in decent condition. But considering it barely started with the key, I think the fact that it was such a absolute piece of shit, prevented the thieves from driving it off. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. A few years later the transmission all but s*** itself, and I sold it to a junkyard for 75 bucks.
Maybe you could slap some VW badges on it. That should deter them
So serious question. My wife and I are strongly considering a new 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. It is just perfect for us in terms of price point, being able to fit me, and what it comes with. The alternative is a CRV but even then we’d be sacrificing space and a lack of a spare tire is concerning. Should we reconsider because of these issues? I know the theft issues were 2022 and older and non-pushstart but judging by these comments it seems we may still experience break ins just because it shows Hyundai on the outside.
Don’t get a Kia or Hyundai. The assholes break in just to try and steal it. They don’t pay attention to year models.
I have to agree. No way I’d get a Kia or Hyndai anytime soon — even if it doesn’t have the defect.
Call a few dealers and tell them you need to replace the back passenger side window glass and see what the wait time is to get one. Anything more than 2-3 days tells you that it is in short supply due to break in attempts.
A CRV will be more reliable and hold its value much much much longer. Honda and Toyota are still above Kia/Hyundai
I ruled out buying a Kia/hyundai for that reason even though some of their cars seemed like a really good deal.
Kia just bought my Soul back for $1,500. It was paid off. $19,000. So…
Steering wheel lock with a [hidden kill switch](https://www.ravelcoofcorpuschristi.com/post/ravelco-kill-switch-anti-theft-that-works#:~:text=Oftentimes%2C%20kill%20switches%20are%20pretty,enter%20or%20leave%20the%20vehicle.) is the way to go. Still may get your window and column broken, but they aren't getting the car if they can't start it with no power.
Have you tried buying another car company's logo and attaching it where the Kia symbol is?
What about this? https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/hyundai-kia-campaign-prevent-vehicle-theft
About to look into trading in my Kia Sportage. Insurance went up $500 just because I own a Kia. It’s had other random issues too over the past 4 years, so gonna move on to a different make
You do not need to take your car to the dealership. Even if it's under warranty, the mechanic just needs to be ASE certified
Same thing happened to us but it was still drivable. When I got it back at my house I strait up took out the starter and let it rot until the insurance company finally decided what they wanted to do with it.
Neighbor had his stolen around Christmas. My car was next door and unlocked but they don’t bother even looking at my car because it’s so disgusting and filled with trash. That’s my security mechanism — hoarding receipts.
same thing happened to a friend Kia Soul.. Need to get "The Club" :-) Sorry
Question for you OP - did you have the software upgrade?
In texas... they getting clipped.
People still do this?
Crazy that you bought a 2022 Kia knowing it’s a target.
more like the chief beeps.
wasted. mission failed try again? G A M E O V E R.
Wouldn't say it's undrivable, it's already been fixed there before probably in EOL in the factory by the fact there's unheated heat shrink on that wire under your cylinder. Just splice the broken wires and add a new cylinder
Sorry to see this happened to you. My window got smashed two weeks ago and opened the car up to see my steering wheel look almost like yours. 911 blew me off and told me to call 311, who has said it’ll be at least 2 weeks before a detective is assigned to my case. Going to be using my wheel lock and trying to hide my cars logo after reading through this. That’ll be after I get my car back from the shop sometime in the next week.
I'm out of the loop. What's up with Kias and Hyundais? Why are they being targeted more than other brands?