• Home
  • Local
    • Compton
    • Education
    • Inglewood
    • Los Angeles
    • Orange County
  • News
    • Elections
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Opinion
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Word on the Streets
  • Things to Do
    • Arts & Culture
    • Entertainment
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Mediakit
  • Shop
    • Cart

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

Facebook Twitter Instagram
  • Cookie Policy
  • DMCA
  • Privacy Policy
Facebook Twitter Instagram
2UrbanGirls2UrbanGirls
  • Home
  • Local
    1. Compton
    2. Education
    3. Inglewood
    4. Los Angeles
    5. Orange County
    6. View All

    Compton remains out of compliance with state law on street vending

    May 27, 2023

    Civilian Oversight Commission to host June 15 meeting in Compton

    May 26, 2023

    Compton hosts ribbon cutting ceremony for Plenty Compton Farm

    May 24, 2023

    Compton Councilman exploring run for mayor

    May 22, 2023

    Letter: Morningside High School is in jeopardy

    May 27, 2023

    Woman settles wrongful termination lawsuit against private school in LA

    May 25, 2023

    Letter: Inglewood school loses accreditation

    May 24, 2023

    School district to pay nearly $1 million to settle abuse claims

    May 23, 2023

    Inglewood Special Planning Commission Meeting: Full-motion digital billboards at Kia Forum

    May 27, 2023

    Inglewood taxpayers slated to subsidize ongoing costs of transit connector

    May 24, 2023

    Inglewood taxpayers to fund maintenance, operations cost of transit connector

    May 23, 2023

    Inglewood seeks to establish street-vending guidelines

    May 21, 2023

    Judge rules in favor of renters in renter protection laws in LA

    May 22, 2023

    City Council approves $13B budget for upcoming fiscal year

    May 18, 2023

    LA extends homeless emergency declaration citing frustration with data

    May 16, 2023

    Suspended LA Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas convicted in public corruption trial

    March 30, 2023

    Off-duty Orange County deputy dies in single-vehicle crash

    February 9, 2023

    2 dead after wrong-way driver causes multi-vehicle crash in Orange County

    February 6, 2023

    Pedestrian killed while crossing street in Orange County

    February 6, 2023

    Man faces life sentence for kidnapping, rape of girl in Orange County

    February 4, 2023

    Powerball jackpot grows to $239 million

    May 30, 2023

    Winning Powerball lottery ticket sold in Texas

    May 28, 2023

    5 Winning SuperLotto Plus tickets sold across the state

    May 28, 2023

    Mega Millions jackpot grows to $187 million

    May 27, 2023
  • News
    • Elections
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Opinion
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Word on the Streets
  • Things to Do
    • Arts & Culture
    • Entertainment
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Mediakit
  • Shop
    • Cart
2UrbanGirls2UrbanGirls
Home»Legal»Hyundai, Kia sued in rash of car thefts
Legal

Hyundai, Kia sued in rash of car thefts

City News ServiceBy City News ServiceSeptember 21, 2022Updated:September 21, 2022No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Owners of Kia and Hyundai cars filed a class-action lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in Santa Ana alleging that the Orange County- based companies failed to install technology to thwart car thieves, leaving the vehicles vulnerable to a rash of thefts spurred by a video that went viral on social media.

The federal lawsuit was filed by Stephanie McQuarrie of Florida, Kaitlynn Marchione of Nevada, and Omar Becerra of Los Angeles County, who claimed their vehicles were stolen following a video on TikTok that they say exposed a vulnerability in the vehicles making them easier to steal. Kia has headquarters in Irvine and Hyundai is based in the United States out of Fountain Valley.

“This matter rises out of a blatant breach of public trust and a determination to put corporate profits over public safety,” the lawsuit alleges. “In an effort to maximize their return, defendants Kia America Inc. and Hyundai Motor America actively withheld vital security systems from countless vehicles for years. This has led to a severe defect that has already both endangered the public and drastically decreased the value of vehicles.”

The plaintiffs allege Hyundai executives considered adding “engine immobilizers” in the company’s vehicles to reduce thefts in 2007, as did Kia in 2009.

“Without the engine immobilizers, the cars can be easily hotwired and stolen, however Kia and Hyundai made no effort to warn their customers about the risk to their vehicles,” the lawsuit alleges.

Hyundai issued a statement saying the company was “concerned about the recent rise in auto thefts of certain Hyundai model vehicles. While all of our vehicles meet or exceed federal motor vehicle safety standards, unfortunately, our vehicles have been targeted in a coordinated effort on social media. Criminals are targeting our vehicles without engine immobilizers. Immobilizers became standard on all vehicles produced after November 1, 2021.

“In order to assist customers with earlier model year vehicles without an immobilizer, Hyundai has been working with and will continue to support local police departments to make steering wheel locks available for affected Hyundai owners. Additionally, Hyundai has identified a Firstech / Compustar security kit that targets the method of entry thieves are using to access these vehicles.

“Beginning October 1, 2022, this security kit will be available for purchase and installation at Hyundai dealerships and Compustar authorized installers across the country. Hyundai will provide additional details soon, and customers who have questions can always contact the Hyundai Consumer Assistance Center at 800-633-5151.”

Kia officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A TikTok “Kia Challenge” video posted in July 2022 went viral on the platform as well as on YouTube. In it, viewers are challenged to steal a Kia or Hyundai by “simply peeling back the steering column and inserting a standard USB cable,” allowing the security systems to be bypassed and igniting the engine, the lawsuit alleges.

“The Kia Challenge and the publicity regarding the defect has directly contributed to an enormous surge in vehicle thefts of the defective vehicles throughout the United States,” the lawsuit alleges. “In Los Angeles alone during 2022, Hyundai and Kia vehicles accounted for 20% of all vehicle thefts in the city, a sharp increase from only 13% the year prior. Similarly, the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin reported motor vehicle thefts had climbed 152%. In July of 2022, the city of Chicago, Illinois reported a 767% increase in Hyundai and Kia vehicle thefts.”

Related

Hyundai theft Kia theft Tik Tok challenge
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
City News Service

City News Service is a regional wire service covering Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties. Its reporting and editing staff cover public safety, courts, local government and general assignment stories.

Related Posts

Driver crashes into apartment building in Orange County

May 21, 2023

Former employee identified in lawsuit against Encino doctor

March 16, 2023

Black tenant seeks to intervene in ongoing discrimination case

February 7, 2023
Add A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Most Read
Local

Winning Powerball lottery ticket sold in Texas

By 2UrbanGirlsMay 28, 20230

LOS ANGELES – There were no tickets sold with all six numbers in the latest…

30 years later Susan Smith is up for parole after drowning her kids

May 23, 2023

Winning Powerball lottery ticket sold in Kansas

May 21, 2023

Winning Mega Millions lottery ticket sold in South Carolina

May 6, 2023
Business

Can your shopping create direct access to your favorite influencers?

May 26, 2023

East LA McDonald’s celebrates Chicano Car Culture at launch of new Cold Brew Coffee

May 26, 2023

Brandale Randolph named one of ’50 Most Influential Business Leaders of Color’ in Boston

May 24, 2023

Fashion Nova may owe you a refund

May 19, 2023
California

CA State Senate passes significant legislation addressing judge shortages, opioid crisis

May 25, 2023

CA State Assembly approves legislation to allow certain staff to join a union, next stop is Senate

May 25, 2023

Caltrans receives $7M grant for mobility project

May 25, 2023

Push to fast-track harsher consequences for fentanyl dealers fails, LA Assemblymember explains why

May 9, 2023
Elections

Assembly District 57 delegates pledge full support to Efren Martinez

May 25, 2023

Warrant issued for court reporters in Compton voter fraud case

May 21, 2023

Former U.S. Rep Laura Richardson announces bid for Senate District 35

May 17, 2023

Efren Martinez continues to gain support in Assembly District 57 race

May 11, 2023
Entertainment

Hollywood’s Magic Castle co-founder Milt Larsen dies at 92

May 29, 2023

Disney’s `The Little Mermaid’ opens with $95.5 million

May 28, 2023

Former employee drops lawsuit against Ye

May 26, 2023

John Wick 5 in early development, Lionsgate confirms

May 26, 2023
Things to Do

Inside Disneyland’s reimagined Pixar Palace Hotel

May 25, 2023

Cast Announced for Horror Play THE ANTS at Geffen Playhouse

May 23, 2023

Celebrate Soulfully returns to Disneyland Resort for Black Music Month

May 19, 2023

Meet the Cast: “The Mountaintop” by Katori Hall opening at Geffen Playhouse June 15

May 9, 2023
Transportation

Metrolink now offering $15 day passes

May 30, 2023

Metrolink service resumes in San Clemente

May 27, 2023

Metro adopts $9B budget for 2024

May 25, 2023

Caltrans receives $7M grant for mobility project

May 25, 2023
Travel

Memorial Day travel underway

May 25, 2023

NAACP issues travel advisory warning Black people against visiting Florida

May 23, 2023

Post Office to hold passport fair in Long Beach, South Gate

May 16, 2023

5 Hidden Gems in Los Angeles You Need To Visit

February 22, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok
  • Cookie Policy
  • DMCA
  • Privacy Policy
© 2023 2UrbanGirls. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.