HARTFORD —The state has launched a consumer protection investigation into Hyundai and Kia concerning the companies’ failure to equip their vehicles with industry standard anti-theft technology, officials say.
In a release, Attorney General William Tong’s office said the investigation is the latest in a series of steps Tong has taken over the companies’ continued failure to address the public safety concerns of their vehicles.
“Kia and Hyundai chose not to include engine immobilizers as standard equipment on several vehicle models sold in the United States between 2011 and 2022, a period when every other car manufacturer was doing so,” the attorney general’s office said. “During this same time period, the companies were installing immobilizers on the same model vehicles sold in Canada and Europe.”
Officials have raised concerns about the lack of anti-theft immobilizer, an electronic device that prevents a car from being hot-wired and stolen by someone who doesn’t have the key, for some time. Last year, police around Connecticut warned drivers of a TikTok challenge showing how thieves can easily steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
The attorney general’s office said the vehicles are being stolen at high rates, harming consumers and contributing to an erosion of public safety.
“The thefts have frequently been accompanied by reckless driving and further criminal activity, causing injuries and deaths,” it said. “The thefts have even gone viral, with videos on social media showing how to hotwire these vehicles and challenging others to steal them. Following these videos, thefts began surging across the country.”
The thefts have forced local law enforcement and first responders to divert resources to increased patrols and theft investigations, anti-theft initiatives such as the distribution of steering wheel locks, and public education about the trend. In April, some police departments, such as East Hartford’s, began giving away anti-theft devices for residents who could prove they lived in town and had a Kia or Hyundai made between 2011 and 2022.
The attorney general’s office said Hyundai and Kia vehicles stolen in that manner have been involved in numerous crashes and multiple fatalities nationwide, and the stolen vehicles have also been used to commit additional, sometimes violent, crimes.
“Civil investigative demands sent to both Hyundai and Kia seek detailed records and information regarding susceptible vehicle sold in Connecticut, along with any complaints to the companies about the issue,” it said. “The records requested include internal reports regarding the company’s decision-making, possible mitigation measures, the company’s anti-theft software and internal communications.”
Tong said the state has “called on Hyundai and Kia over and over again to make this right and address the glaring public safety vulnerabilities in their vehicles.” Whatever they have done to date, he said, is clearly not working.
“We’ve got viral videos all over the internet teaching kids how to hotwire these cars in a matter of seconds and glorifying reckless driving that has resulted in injuries and multiple deaths nationwide,” he said. “These cars are such sitting ducks that some insurers are reportedly now refusing to insure them, rendering them essentially undriveable.”
Tong said he launched the investigation to force Hyundai and Kia to disclose every discussion and decision leading up to the sale of these theft-prone cars, as well as the costs and analysis of potential fixes.
“We are going to figure out exactly how this public safety threat came to be, and we will not hesitate to hold Hyundai and Kia fully accountable for addressing this disaster,” he said.
Earlier this year, the automakers rolled out a software update that extends the vehicles’ alarm from 30 seconds to a full minute, and requires the key to be in the ignition for the car to start, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Last month, 23 state attorneys general sent a letter to the companies, claiming the move was “not enough.” The letter, which was also signed by Tong, urged the automakers “to do everything in your power to accelerate the implementation of the software upgrade and to provide free alternative protective measures for all those owners whose cars cannot support the software upgrade.”
Bryan Cafferelli, Connecticut’s consumer protection commissioner, said personal vehicles are “no small purchase for most families” in the state, and consumers should expect their purchase is safe from theft.
“Consumers should continue to take additional safety precautions such as using a steering wheel lock, and contact Hyundai or Kia regarding the free theft deterrent software they are offering to affected consumers,” he said.
When Tong announced the investigation at a news conference at the East Hartford Police Department on Tuesday, Police Chief Scott Sansom said the safety and well-being of residents is his department’s “utmost priority.”
“We commend the Attorney General’s decision to launch an investigation into Hyundai and Kia. Consumer trust and confidence are paramount when it comes to the automotive industry, and any concerns regarding safety and compliance must be thoroughly addressed,” he said.
