Kia, Hyundai Plan $200M Settlement After Rash Of Milwaukee, US Thefts

WISCONSIN — Car manufacturers Kia and Hyundai on Friday announced a $200 million settlement that will compensate customers impacted by a scourge of thefts across the nation.

The companies also announced plans to fix the software on problematic car models, and for cars that cannot be fixed with a software update, Kia and Hyundai said they will offer up to $300 in compensation to install other anti-theft devices.

The settlement plans come after Milwaukee saw a massive uptick in vehicles being stolen in 2021. Thefts against Kia vehicles increased by nearly 3,200 percent in the first half of 2021, according to a report by Kelley Blue Book.

The spike in thefts came along with a loose-knit collection of car thieves known as the "Kia Boys," which came under scrutiny by police and media after a YouTuber released a documentary on the often-juvenile members.

Thefts continued to spike nationwide in the summer of 2022 after car thieves posted videos on TikTok and other social media in the "Kia Challenge," the companies said.

"In these videos, thieves documented and promoted a specific method by which to bypass the vehicles’ security features, dismantle their steering columns and create direct access to their ignitions and challenged others to copycat their crimes," the company news release said.

Related: Milwaukee Police Investigate 'Kia Boys' YouTube Documentary

The agreement, which comes to resolve a class action lawsuit, affects the vehicles without push-button ignitions and engine immobilizers. Around 9 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles from between 2011-2022, mainly the base trim models, were at risk of theft.

The settlement is set for court review in July. Kia owners can find more information about the settlement on Kia's website. Hyundai owners can find more information at HyundaiAntiTheft.com.

See also:

Milwaukee Paving Way For Legal Action Amid Kia And Hyundai Thefts

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