U.S. theft claims soar for Hyundai, Kia vehicles
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Theft claims in the United States were roughly twice as prevalent for Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp vehicles as for all other manufacturers from 2015 to 2019, a non-profit organisation report reveals.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Highway Loss Data Institute, many 2015-19 model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles lack electronic immobilizers, which prevent break-ins and ignition bypasses. During that time period, the function was standard equipment on practically all automobiles manufactured by other manufacturers. According to Hyundai, engine immobilizers will be standard on all vehicles manufactured after November 1, 2021.
The majority of Kia cars sold in the United States have a key fob and a ‘push-button-to-start’ technology, making them more difficult to steal. According to the insurance company, immobilizers were standard on 62% of other manufacturers’ models in 2000, rising to 96% by 2015. However, just 26% of Hyundai and Kia vehicles from the 2015 model year have them, according to the report.
