Hyundai launches software update to prevent car theft | Daily driving | Consumer Guide® The Daily Drive
Last fall, we reported that a repair software is working to help tackle a wave of thefts of some Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Korean automakers have begun rolling out this update to affected owners.
Thefts gained attention on social media in late 2021, when perpetrators posted videos of their crimes, showing that because the vehicle did not use an anti-locker, they could easily be started with a simple USB device purchased online. The problem became so pervasive that major insurance providers began refusing to issue new policies on the models in question.
The software fix tries to solve the problem of missing immobilizers by requiring owners to unlock their vehicles with a factory remote in order to be able to start them. It might not be an entirely easy fix, but Hyundai says it’s enough to stop people from stealing vehicles based on techniques used in the social media videos.
Owners of the 2017-2020 Elantra, 2015-2019 Sonata, and 2020-2021 Venue will be the first to receive the update, which Hyundai says will take less than an hour. Other models, some dating from 2011, will receive the fixes starting in June. Hyundai and Kia owners can visit Hyundaiantitheft.com and owners.kia.com, respectively, to see if their vehicle is eligible for the update. Software fixes will be provided free of charge to consumers. A hardware-based solution is still available, but automakers are charging up to $500 for parts and labor to install it.
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CG says:
We are pleased to see Hyundai and Kia responding reasonably quickly to this rather serious matter. The problem with a software update, however, is the possibility that it could eventually be ignored, meaning we could see theft return. This could then turn into a cat-and-mouse game, where the manufacturer would have to be so one step ahead that it would probably be cheaper in the long run to provide the hardware anti-theft kits they currently have. having. recharge.
