Things I learned on TikTok: The hole in a pasta spoon is a piece of spaghetti. What to do when a collector knocks on the door. How to hot plug a Kia using a USB cable and a screwdriver.
Oh yes, you read correctly.
A trending TikTok challenge advertising a technique to steal certain makes and models of Kia and Hyundai vehicles caused vehicle thefts to skyrocket across the country, according to reports from multiple police departments.
Now Kia and its parent company, Hyundai, are being sued by angry victims.
On Wednesday, a national class action lawsuit was filed against the automakers over a defect that exposed the challenge. The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Orange County, California, alleges that Kias built between 2011 and 2021 and Hyundais built between 2015 and 2021 that were equipped with traditional key motors, rather than keyless fobs. , were “deliberately” built without “engine immobilizers.” This seemingly critical, inexpensive and very common device is meant to prevent cars from being wired up and stolen The complaint says virtually every automaker in the last 20 years has used it and yet Kia and Hyundai did not. , hence the ease with which children steal the car.
Kia and Hyundai declined to comment on the pending litigation but said immobilizers became standard on their vehicles after November 1, 2021.
Since the “Kia Challenge” began appearing on TikTok and then YouTube in July, police in several cities have reported some serious car theft statistics. In St. Petersburg, Florida, more than a third of all car thefts could be challenge-related, according to a CNBC report. In Chicago, that number reached 77%, representing a 767% increase in thefts from Kia and Hyundai, according to a community notice from the Chicago Police Department that linked thefts to the TikTok challenge.
The lawsuit claims that Kia and Hyundai had previously investigated the effectiveness of building with engine immobilizers and decided against it, “blatantly valuing profits over the safety of their customers.” In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the automakers did not even make an effort to warn customers about the risk of theft by young people seeking street credibility on social media.
“With the massive increase in publicity of the defect, it is unlikely that the thefts will stop without active intervention from Kia or Hyundai,” the lawsuit reads. “An entire criminal ecosystem has materialized; exacerbated by thefts only fueled by TikToks, videos and memes promoting criminal behavior.”
A little dramatic, but seriously, what a shame to learn that your car was stolen, not by someone who maybe needed to sell it for parts and feed his family, but by your local branch of Kia Boys, the cute name for groups of youths. Leveraging your TikTok savvy for wild rides?
While the fact that many of these thefts were videotaped and posted online should make finding them easier, the plaintiffs argue that repair costs are often substantial. TikTokers must first get into the cars, which means smashing a window and ripping out the steering column, not to mention collateral damage from the ride, which can exceed $10,000 depending on the lawsuit. The lawsuit argues that the challenge has even caused supply chain problems: Parts needed to repair any salvaged vehicle have been delayed due to high demand for them.
Hyundai said it will start selling and installing security kits that should protect against the entry method thieves use to break into vehicles at Hyundai dealerships across the country. The automaker is also working with police departments to make steering wheel locks available.
Putting aside the humor of this situation, these carjackings have real consequences in people’s lives. Stephanie McQuarrie, one of the three named plaintiffs, said she woke up the morning of September 11 to find her 2015 Kia Optima missing from her driveway in Davenport, Florida, leaving her unable to get to work, which resulted in the loss of his job as a cleaning supervisor. The car was later found on the side of a road, unable to start, and is presumed to be a total loss.
MLG Attorneys at Law, the auto defect firm that filed the complaint, told TechCrunch that 35 people have reached out about the class action lawsuit. Plaintiffs seek monetary damages and equitable relief on behalf of themselves and “all other persons and entities nationwide who purchased or leased 2011-21 Kia vehicles or 2015-21 Hyundai vehicles equipped with traditional key ignition systems.”
For its part, TikTok has a policy that asks users not to post, upload, transmit or share content that promotes vandalism or damage to property. So if you, too, are looking for an instructional video on how to hook up one of these now-infamous vehicles, you’re out of luck. Instead of instructional videos, you’re more likely to find evidence of the aftermath, including videos of the damage done, public service announcements from concerned citizens, and tips on how to keep your car from being stolen by wandering Kia Boys.
TikTok did not respond to a request for comment.
This article has been updated to reflect the number of victims who have contacted MLG about the class action lawsuit.
Source: techcrunch.com