Certain Hyundai and Kia models saw a 10-fold increase in thefts in just the past three years, a wildly dramatic increase in the wake of a series of social media posts showing people how to steal the vehicles.
I’ve finally decided to trade in my Kia for a Subaru. I’m tired of the anxiety of coming out to an empty parking spot in the morning. Really stupid decision by them to not install immobilizers as standard on all vehicles, and very poor and slow response to the issue. Never buying a Hyundai/Kia again, which is too bad because their cars look great.
Same but don't know replacement vehicle will be, hoping to just not need the car with remote work. Received 3 recall notices for our SUV last year: anti theft Kia boyz, trailer-hitch-wiring-spontaneous-combustion-so-park-outside-until-we-issue-a-fix-that-is-still-pending, and a catastrophic engine failure replacement class action lawsuit that we had to use the recall for as the engine suddenly seized up and they fully replaced the engine.
I loved how they say "park away from structures" as if most people in cities have the luxury of doing that or may not even have the option to park somewhere other than an assigned or owned parking spot?
Spent last fall wondering whether our car would be stolen or spontaneously combust first. It was measurable constant anxiety for most of the year.
Chrysler is not even recalling a lot of problems I see on their vehicles. I've had 3 Pacificas with loose LF axle nuts and no recalls There are other problems from their other vehicles too and no recalls. At mazda they recalled ridiculous stuff, like the corner edge of the rear door on top rubber seal was too sharp if it came loose, so we had to fill it with glue.
Even if they got an immobilizer, people might still try to break into them given their reputation for being easily stolen. At the very least, they'd have to worry about broken windows and messed up steering column stuff. It's probably a decent idea to sell and move on if they can afford to, although I'd personally go with another brand than Subaru.
Basically what the the other guy said. The idiots stealing these cars won’t know that you installed one and will break your window and steering column anyway to try. Using a steering wheel lock is actually more effective because it’s a visual deterrent, and most of these thieves are out for a joyride only and won’t bother wasting time trying to break a steering wheel lock.
This is what happens when there is not regulation for this shit: some dumbshit MBA comes up with a bright idea to save $5/car by removing an "unnecessary" part that every other manufacturer has. The people higher up okay it because it increases short term profit and their payout. By the time things shit the bed, the executives that signed off on it already sold large shares when the stock price went up and the MBA dude is already a VP at another company. Rinse and repeat.
Part of the problem is lots of places in the US are no longer prosecuting theft. The police arrest them, the prosecutor gives them the listest possible bail, and they're immediately out again. This has caused police to not even bother. Why risk it when there's no real consequence?
Had my Hyundai stolen two weeks ago. Had my Kia, which does not have the "Kia Boys" vulnerability vandalized two weeks before that.
Feels like I have a giant sign above each car that says "please steal me". Just don't buy these cars. Even if it's impossible to steal a particular model, people will still fuck with it.
It's kind of amazing to be honest. Kia and Hyundai went from being "cheap reliable car" to "great value for the money" to "driving this car invites crime" within like 5 years.