Help Make Your Car Harder to Steal
Car thieves are being inspired by viral videos on social media – do you need to take extra steps to keep your car safe? Find out if your car is at risk and how to help protect it.
Help Make Your Car Harder to Steal
Car thieves are being inspired by viral videos on social media – do you need to take extra steps to keep your car safe? Find out if your car is at risk and how to help protect it.
Help Make Your Car Harder to Steal
Car thieves are being inspired by viral videos on social media – do you need to take extra steps to keep your car safe? Find out if your car is at risk and how to help protect it.
A theft method promoted on social media has left some car owners feeling vulnerable. But now there are steps you can take to help safeguard your vehicles. An online identifier can help you figure out if your car is at risk. And if it is, you can schedule a free software upgrade and request a free steering wheel lock to strengthen your car’s defenses.
Find out if your car is at risk
Hyundai and Kia vehicles from model years 2020 and older are vulnerable because they start with a conventional key rather than a push button, and they aren’t equipped with an engine immobilizer. Immobilizers are designed to keep cars from starting unless the ignition key is inserted.
You can find out if your car is at risk by looking up its 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) online on Hyundai and Kia websites. The VIN can be found on registration and insurance documents; it’s also visible in the corner of the dashboard just under the windshield on the driver’s side, as well as on the driver’s door jamb.
Hyundai and Kia vehicles from model years 2020 and older are vulnerable because they start with a conventional key rather than a push button, and they aren’t equipped with an engine immobilizer. Immobilizers are designed to keep cars from starting unless the ignition key is inserted.
You can find out if your car is at risk by looking up its 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) online on Hyundai and Kia websites. The VIN can be found on registration and insurance documents; it’s also visible in the corner of the dashboard just under the windshield on the driver’s side, as well as on the driver’s door jamb.
Schedule a free software upgrade
Hyundai and Kia are currently offering a free software upgrade that adds engine immobilizer technology to vehicles at risk of theft. According to the automakers, the upgrade is already available for certain models, and all affected models will be eligible by June 2023.
To schedule an upgrade, you can call Hyundai at 800-633-5151 or Kia at 800-333-4542. You can also reserve a spot online after looking up your VIN on the Hyundai or Kia website. Upgrades are done at a dealership and take about an hour, according to Hyundai. Vehicles will receive a special window decal after the upgrade is made to help deter theft attempts.
With the software upgrade, locking the car doors with a key fob will set the built-in alarm and activate an “ignition kill” feature that deters the theft method popularized online. The same key fob must be used to unlock the vehicle to deactivate the “ignition kill” feature. The upgrade also extends the length of the car’s alarm from 30 seconds to one minute.
Ask for a free steering wheel lock
Upgrading all eligible vehicles is expected to take several months. Another option is to request a free anti-theft steering wheel lock from Kia, Hyundai or your local police department. The automakers have shipped more than 26,000 steering wheel locks to law enforcement in 12 states since November 2022.
Car thefts on rise
More than a million vehicles were reported stolen in 2022, the highest number since 2008.
Source: NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau) open_in_new
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