Mercury recently shared this important information with us, so we wanted to share it with you! There has been a significant increase in Hyundai and Kia vehicle thefts recently because of a social media trend that promoted a “car hack” where users could start these vehicles without using keys.
If you are an owner of one of these vehicles, you need to know that both Hyundai and Kia are offering a free anti-theft software patch for your vehicle! This patch will require an actual key in the ignition to start the engine, and it will prevent the car from being started after the doors have been locked via the key fob remote. This means that you will need to unlock the car with your key fob before it is started. Additionally, the alarm associated with an attempted break-in will be extended from 30 seconds to a full minute. Once this system is in place, Hyundai owners will then have a sticker affixed to their window stating the vehicle has the anti-theft software installed. Both manufacturers are also offering steering wheel locks as an extra preventative measure. Kia provides a link through their owner portal to check eligibility and order directly, while both are offering the locks through local police departments in several states. We encourage you to contact your local law enforcement agencies to see if a steering wheel lock is available. Hyundai is also finalizing a program to reimburse customers for steering wheel locks on vehicles that cannot accommodate the software upgrade. Please contact the manufacturer to learn more about the anti-theft options available to you.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Hyundai:
(800) 633-5151
KIA:
owners.kia.com/us/en/kia-owner-portal.html
(800) 333-4542
