New study finds software updates for Hyundai and Kia cars help reduce theft rates

(AP) — Improved anti-theft software in Hyundai and Kia vehicles that are regularly targeted by thieves has reduced the number of thefts by more than half, according to a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute.

Theft rates of affected cars have spiked after thieves discovered that some car models lack engine immobilizers, an anti-theft technology that has long been standard on other vehicles. Thieves have used a technique popularized on TikTok and other social media platforms to steal the vehicles.

The software update began rolling out in February 2023 following numerous theft claims that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the case of vehicles with the new software installed, the car will only start if the owner’s key or an identical duplicate is in the ignition. Vehicles with the software also receive a sticker on the window to deter potential thieves.

About two dozen Hyundai and Kia models from 2011 to 2022 are eligible for the software update. Vehicles that received it in December 2023 — a total of 30% of eligible Hyundais and 28% of eligible Kias in the HLDI database — had a theft claim rate 53% lower than vehicles that did not receive the update, according to HLDI.

These claims are not just about whole vehicle theft. They also include claims for damage to vehicles that were stolen and recovered, theft of vehicle parts and items stolen from inside the vehicle. The incidence of whole vehicle theft, which HLDI calculates by matching the cost of a claim to the amount insurers would pay for the same model if it were completely destroyed in a crash, fell by 64% for vehicles with the upgrade.

The HLDI study ended in December. The organization said Hyundai and Kia have continued to roll out software updates to vehicles since then. The automakers said about 60% of eligible vehicles had been upgraded as of last month.

HLDI said the frequency of Hyundai and Kia vehicle theft reports remains high, even for models with the new software. The organization believes one reason may be that the software-based immobilizer only activates when the driver remembers to lock the vehicle with the key, whereas many people use the switch on the door handle.