Like many cities, Chicago has seen car thefts skyrocket as it emerges from the pandemic.
The City of Chicago is suing Hyundai and Kia, alleging the South Korean automakers failed to include “industry-standard” engine immobilizers in many models between 2011 and 2022, fueling a surge in vehicle thefts and related crimes.
“The surge in thefts has hit Chicago especially hard — placing pedestrians, drivers and bystanders in harm’s way,” the lawsuit states. “This crime wave has also further stressed Chicago’s law enforcement and emergency services.” “The impact of car theft on Chicago residents can be deeply destabilizing, particularly for low- to middle-income workers who have fewer options for getting to work and taking care of their families,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a news release. “The failure of Kia and Hyundai to install basic auto-theft prevention technology in these models is sheer negligence, and as a result, a citywide and nationwide crime spree around automobile theft has been unfolding right before our eyes.
Both Kia and Hyundai are offering free “fixes” to make the older vehicles safer, including software updates and steering wheel locks. In its lawsuit, Chicago said the software fix has proved ineffective, with Kia and Hyundai owners reporting their vehicles stolen even after the upgrade. One owner had his 2020 Kia Optima stolen 15 hours after leaving the dealership with the upgrade, according to the lawsuit.Meanwhile, the city alleges Kia and Hyundai have failed to follow through on promises to provide steering wheel locks to Chicago, with Hyundai delivering fewer than 20 locks by the end of 2022, according to the lawsuit.
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