TikTok Challenge Sparks Car Thefts and Class-action Against Kia, Hyundai

Amidst a rapid proliferation of social-media posts offering people tips on how to easily steal a Kia or Hyundai automobile, two Iowans have filed a class-action lawsuit against the car makers.

Ann Brady of Polk County and Leah Price of Decatur County are suing Kia America, Inc., Hyundai Motor America, and Hyundai Kia America Technical Center. They allege the companies produced a defect in their vehicles that makes them ‘easy to steal, unsafe, and worth less than they should be.’

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, alleges the companies ‘admit there is a theft and safety problem with these vehicles but refuses to fix them, compensate consumers or otherwise take actions’ to address the issue.

The two Iowans are suing on behalf of themselves and a nationwide class of thousands of persons who purchased a Kia or Hyundai in recent years.

According to the lawsuit, one of the reasons older Kia and Hyundai cars can so easily be stolen is that they do not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that requires vehicles to have a starting system that, once they ignition key is removed, prevents the activation of the engine and locks the steering column.