NHTSA Won’t Recall Theft-Prone Kias and Hyundais

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has declined requests to issue a recall for Kias and Hyundais vulnerable to vehicle theft, KARE 11 News reports.

In the past year, a trend on social media has gone viral that has highlighted ways to bypass the security in certain Kia and Hyundai models. Models that lack engine immobilizers are targeted and can be accessed with tools as simple as a single USB port. 

Though 18 attorneys general nationwide have called on the NHTSA to issue a recall, the organization has responded that the criteria for a recall have not been met. 

Cem Hatipoglu, NHTSA's acting associate director for enforcement, said that federal automotive safety standards do not require cars to have engine immobilizers.

Though owners have received anti-theft software and steering wheel locks from the manufacturers, it hasn’t done much to curb the number of thefts. 

Hyundai wrote in a statement that they will expand their efforts to install anti-theft software by utilizing mobile service centers, and that as of November 2021, engine immobilizers are standard on all of their vehicles. Kia did not respond to KARE 11 when asked to comment.