[Cessna170B]

Base model Kias and Hyundais until 2021 were not equipped with an engine immobilizer, a device that requires a transponder in the key fob to communicate with a receiver in the car in order for the car to start.

A Tik Tok video called the Kia Challenge showed how easy it is to steal a car without an engine immobilizer. Consequently, there has been a nationwide rash of thefts. Goggle "Kia Boyz" if you don't know about this social phenomenon. It has resulted in class action lawsuits and raised insurance premiums.

Kia has been hard hit by all of this. Question: Is the Elantra community suffering from increased car thefts?

 

[Scott91370]

I wondered this and talked to the guys in Patrol and Auto Theft divisions of Tarrant County and they said in our area it seems it is happening more to the Kia than Hyundai. They didn't have a reason though.