Hyundai Data Shows Many Customers Don't Care About the Kia Boys, Don't Install Patch

Data shared by Hyundai shows exactly why. Too many customers ignore the requests for patching, so many vehicles on the road are still sitting ducks in front of the Kia Boys.

The Kia Challenge started three years ago when a video posted on TikTok told Internet users that certain Kia and Hyundai models shipped without engine immobilizers. The method described in the videos showed everybody that these cars could be started with a simple USB cable, so all a potential thief had to do was break into these vehicles and rip off the steering wheel column cover.

Given TikTok's audience, the method became particularly popular among teens. It didn't take long for this surprisingly easy way to steal a car to take off.

Shortly after, no Kia or Hyundai were safe on the road. Teenagers started breaking into cars, sometimes without even doing their lessons, and targeting cars that weren't vulnerable to the hack, just for the sake of Internet fandom. They recorded the thefts and posted them online with their faces covered.

The Kia Boys trend was a nightmare. Kia and Hyundai thefts skyrocketed as wannabe thieves as young as 10 or 11 attempted and eventually succeeded in driving away in vulnerable vehicles.

Statistics show that the number of thefts in some regions increased by more than 10 times due to the Kia Challenge. In Baltimore County, police recorded a 1,100% increase in the number of stolen Hyundais and Kias in 2023. This means the Kia Boys have stolen 11 times more cars last year.

Hyundai and Kia have already released an anti-theft patch. The next step appears to be convincing customers to install it.

While the two carmakers have tried to contact every customer to inform them about the patch availability, the current statistics are concerning. Only 64% of the vulnerable Hyundais received the anti-theft patch, so nearly 3 in 10 vehicles on the road are still exposed to the hack.

The reasons are ridiculous. Carmakers struggle to contact these customers because their contact information is outdated. Because they've been living under a rock for the past three years, they have no idea their car might be targeted by the infamous Kia Boys.

Others don't have the time or struggle with other problems that prevent them from going to a dealership to install the update. Hyundai and Kia have also set up software clinics across the United States to make it easier for customers to deploy the patch. However, this is still not enough, as some can't reach these locations.

Eventually, some drivers don't want and don't care about their patch for a ridiculous reason. They live in areas with low rates of vehicle theft, so they see no reason to bother with software updates.

However, Kia, Hyundai, and law enforcement insist on installing the software update. Some cars are not eligible for the patch, so the carmakers are giving away steering wheel locks to prevent thieves from driving away after breaking inside – this anti-theft hardware can sometimes act as a deterrent for thieves, so customers of patched cars should also install steering wheel locks.

Studies have shown that the anti-theft update launched in early 2023 resolves the vulnerability and significantly reduces the chances of a car getting stolen. The number of Kia and Hyundai cars stolen dropped by as much as 50%, and Kia and Hyundai see the trend as confirmation that the patch works.

That's not what some customers claim.

Unlucky Kia and Hyundai customers have already seen their cars stolen twice or even three times. Most recently, the Kia Boys have been using a new method that no longer involves breaking the side window. They remove the door handle, open the door, and then use the same old Kia Challenge trick.

One Hyundai customer says her car was stolen even after installing the anti-theft update. It was the third time the Kia Boys drove away in her car.

Authorities insist on installing anti-theft hardware in addition to the software update released by Kia and Hyundai. GPS trackers and AirTags could also help, as they reveal the vehicle's location in real-time and help authorities track it down faster, increasing the chances of recovery.

Unfortunately, the Kia Boys too often do not care about any anti-theft measures and still break down the glass before realizing they can't still the cars.

Police say customers should park their cars inside or in well-lit areas where observing the thieves is easier. However, the Kia Challenge is still here after three years, putting a target on the back of every Kia and Hyundai on the road.