Woman Says Her Patched Hyundai Was Stolen With a USB Cable, Is the Update Effective?

In all three cases, the thieves used the infamous USB cable trick that went viral on social media. She believes the Kia Boys were involved in all the thefts, especially as she typically recovered the car fast. Apparently, the thieves were only interested in having fun with the stolen Hyundai and gaining Internet fame.

The Kia Challenge started in 2021 after a video posted on social media detailed the method of starting the engine of certain Kia and Hyundai models with a USB cable. All these vehicles lacked immobilizers, and thieves were able to exploit the vulnerability by breaking the driver's window, getting into the vehicle, removing the steering wheel column cover, and exposing the ignition.

The viral video rapidly became a hit with certain teen groups, eventually referred to as the Kia Boys, who tried, and often managed, to steal vulnerable vehicles. They recorded the thefts and posted the process online.

The Kia Challenge put a target on the back of nearly every Hyundai and Kia car on the road, with thousands of cars stolen in the United States. Most of the thieves were teenagers, and victims complained that the justice system didn't do enough to stop them from attempting other thefts even after being arrested.

A 2017 Hyundai Elantra owner from Minnesota had her car stolen three times, and in all cases, the Kia Boys were responsible.

However, the last theft is more concerning, as the woman installed Hyundai's anti-theft update days before the Kia Boys drove away in her car.

Kia and Hyundai released a patch to prevent cars from getting stolen with the infamous USB cord trick, urging customers to install it as soon as possible. The two companies offered the update for free and set up software clinics specifically to make it more convenient for customers to patch their vehicles.

The two companies said the software update works and prevents thieves from starting the engine in cars lacking immobilizers.

Angela Holliday says this isn't entirely true. Her Hyundai was found with a USB cable inserted into the ignition. Fortunately, the one lesson she learned after having her car stolen the first time was to install a GPS tracker that allowed her always to see where the vehicle was located. When the Kia Boys drove away in the car, she called the police and provided officers on the ground with real-time location data.

The woman describes the software update as a "Band-Aid," explaining that she did everything possible to prevent thieves from stealing her car. It's unclear if she also installed a steering wheel lock, as this is the anti-theft hardware deemed the most effective against the Kia Boys.

Asked why she's not selling the car, Holliday believes some people wouldn't even be interested in a Hyundai, considering the Kia Boys keep hunting for these vehicles.

The never-ending Kia Boys craze caught the attention of the Minnesota attorney general, who says that a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai is possible. Attorney General Keith Ellison says the two carmakers aren't doing enough to prevent these cars from being stolen, explaining that his office received multiple reports of cars stolen even with the software update installed.

"Thieves [are] getting around the software update," Ellison said. Hyundai and Kia were cited as saying that the two companies are not aware of any case where thieves bypassed the software update, but Ellison says his office "can provide numbers" if that's what the carmakers are looking for.

Meanwhile, Kia and Hyundai owners are facing another issue besides the risk of having their cars getting stolen at any moment. Insurance costs have skyrocketed, and Holliday says she ended up paying more for insurance than for the actual car. She is now charged $500 a month.

Kia and Hyundai continue to encourage everybody to install the software update, but law enforcement in several states recommend additional anti-theft hardware, including a steering wheel lock. The two carmakers are also providing customers whose vehicles can't be patched with steering wheel locks, but authorities in some countries also gave away these devices for free.

Additionally, car owners are being told to use AirTags planted inside their cars to provide the police with location data if the Kia Boys drive away in these vehicles. The AirTags are pill-shaped devices with batteries that can last up to six months per charge. They connect to nearby iPhones to broadcast their connection, but they don't have an integrated Internet connection, so the battery lasts longer.

Have you already installed Kia's and Hyundai's software update? Is it really as ineffective as some customers claim? Share your story in the comments box below.