INDIANAPOLIS — The number of Kia and Hyundai vehicles that are getting stolen is spiking in Indianapolis.
The reason: Certain models do not have an immobilizer, a security feature that car companies say is now standard as of 2021.
If your Kia or Hyundai starts up with a physical key, your car may be a target for theft.
That's because thieves learned how to steal the cars from social media videos.
While the theft of certain Hyundai and Kia models is a nationwide problem, Indianapolis is seeing a dramatic increase.
Through Nov. 16, 2023, 1,192 Kias were reported stolen in Indianapolis. In 2022, there were 153. Year over year, that's a 679% increase.
As for Hyundais, 988 have been reported stolen in Indianapolis, up from 150 in 2022. Year over year, that is a 558% increase.
IMPD recommended owners of the affected vehicles park in well-lit areas and get a steering wheel lock to dissuade thieves. According to the city of Indianapolis, people can call their nearest IMPD station and – if they can prove they own a Kia or Hyundai – can get a free steering wheel lock.
There is also a software update now available to Kia and Hyundai owners. The update is free, and it takes less than an hour. The dealer will also put a sticker on your window to let people know the car is updated.
Hyundai and Kia told 13News that cars not eligible for a software update will be provided with or reimbursed for anti-theft devices. Examples of that include steering wheel lock and an alarm kit.
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A Kia spokesperson said they notified all eligible owners and lessees, which amounts to more than 3 million vehicles.
To find out if your vehicle is affected, you can enter your vehicle identification number here.
Here's a list of the affected Hyundai models:
- 2018-2022 Accent
- 2011-2022 Elantra
- 2013-2020 Elantra GT
- 2013-2014 Genesis Coupe
- 2018-2022 Kona
- 2020-2021 Palisade
- 2013-2022 Santa Fe
- 2013-2018 Santa Fe Sport
- 2019 Santa Fe XL
- 2011-2019 Sonata
- 2011-2022 Tucson
- 2018-2021 Veloster
- 2020-2021 Venue