Does My Kia or Hyundai Have a Recall? How To Discover Out

In response to rampant theft brought on by safety vulnerabilities in Kia and Hyundai autos, the automakers have announced sweeping recalls to handle the problems. Based on some sources, greater than 8.3 million of those autos may be began with no key because of the lack of an immobilizer. 

A lot of the autos made between 2011 and 2022 by each firms have this flaw, that means many Kia and Hyundai homeowners are topic to the recall. That will help you discover out in case your Hyundai or Kia has been recalled, our group put collectively a brief information.

Why Is There a Kia and Hyundai Recall?

In the summertime of 2022, thefts of Kia and Hyundai autos elevated dramatically. This development adopted the viral recognition of the “Kia Problem” that began on the social media app TikTok. 

The development was began by a group known as the Kia Boyz, who demonstrated a easy technique to begin Kia automobiles with out an ignition key. Utilizing easy instruments and a USB cable, the Kia Boyz confirmed that they may break into the autos and begin them in just some minutes. These movies have been later popularized by fashionable YouTuber Tommy G. 

This gave technique to the “Kia Problem,” which inspired TikTok customers to make the most of the strategies within the video to steal Kias and later, Hyundai autos. Because the development grew, so did theft charges of automobiles made by the 2 producers – typically fairly considerably. Between 2019 and 2021, insurance coverage claims for thefts of Kia and Hyundai automobiles rose 3,246% in Wisconsin, for instance.

The Kia Boyz and those that adopted have been in a position to begin the autos with no key because of the lack of an immobilizer within the ignition system. This “kill change” prevents a automobile from being began with something aside from a key that corresponds to a chip contained in the ignition system. Based on the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS), only 26% of vehicles made by Hyundai and Kia were equipped with immobilizers. Amongst automobiles made by all different producers mixed, 96% featured immobilizers.

Authorities officers on the native, state, and federal ranges have urged Kia and Hyundai to rectify the issue as theft increased. Officers cited property injury, accidents, and dying related to the thefts, in addition to a disproportionate demand on legislation enforcement sources as causes for the automakers to behave.

On February 14, 2023 the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) announced that Kia and Hyundai planned to implement a recall. The producers quickly started to roll out a phased recall.

Which Kia and Hyundai Automobiles Are Being Recalled?

A majority of autos made by Kia and Hyundai between 2011 and 2022 are topic to the recall. Solely a handful of fashions characteristic the immobilizer know-how that makes them tougher to steal. Within the following sections, you’ll discover a full record of the Kia and Hyundai autos being recalled.

Kia Automobiles Being Recalled

The next Kia autos fall below the recall and are eligible without cost fixes from the producer:

• 2011-2022 Sportage
• 2011-2020 Optima
• 2011-2022 Sorento
• 2011-2021 Forte
• 2020-2022 Soul
• 2012-2021 Rio
• 2011-2021 Sedona
• 2021-2022 Seltos
• 2021-2022 K5

Hyundai Automobiles Being Recalled

The next Hyundai autos are eligible without cost recall work from the producer:

• 2018-2022 Accent
• 2011-2022 Elantra
• 2013-2020 Elantra GT
• 2018-2022 Kona
• 2013-2022 Santa Fe
• 2013-2018 Santa Fe Sport
• 2019 Santa Fe XL
• 2011-2019 Sonata
• 2011-2022 Tucson
• 2012-2017 and 2019-2021 Veloster
• 2020-2021 Venue
• 2013-2014 Genesis Coupe
• 2020-2021 Palisade

How Can I Discover Out if My Hyundai or Kia Has Been Recalled?

Should you personal one of many Hyundai or Kia fashions listed above, you’re probably eligible for the recall. As of July 2023, many house owners of the autos have acquired an official discover of recall from the producer. This discover will offer you the data you should have the providers carried out in your automobile. Nevertheless, if you happen to haven’t but acquired your discover, don’t see your automobile listed above, or just need to verify your recall eligibility, there are just a few methods to examine.

Earlier than you examine your standing, you’ll have to find your automobile identification quantity (VIN). Your VIN is situated on the automobile on the backside of the windshield on the driving force’s aspect and on the door jamb on the driving force’s aspect. Insurance coverage and registration paperwork will even have your VIN listed.

A method for homeowners to examine on their recall standing is to name the producer instantly. Kia homeowners can name Kia Client Affairs at 1-800-333-4KIA (4542). Hyundai homeowners can attain the corporate’s customer support line at 1-855-671-3059.

Nevertheless, each automakers supply a free on-line instrument to examine your automobile’s eligibility. You’ll merely have to enter your VIN into the search subject on the positioning, after which you’ll obtain a response telling you whether or not or not your automobile falls below the recall discover. The hyperlinks under will take you to the recall eligibility pages.

What Will Occur on the Recall Appointment?

Kia and Hyundai have tried to repair the problem with a software program replace. This replace requires the ignition key to be absolutely inserted to begin the autos, successfully putting in an immobilizer. The brand new software program additionally upgrades the autos’ alarm system logic.

As well as, Hyundai and Kia will present homeowners with stickers that make it clear {that a} automobile is provided with anti-theft know-how. These stickers can alert potential thieves that the autos are not in a position to be began with the TikTok hack.

Some experiences say that the recall appointment takes about an hour to finish. Different sources have mentioned the appointment may take between an hour and a half to 2 hours. You may ask the restore middle about their common recall appointment time whenever you schedule your go to.

Can I Get Paid Out From the Kia and Hyundai Lawsuit?

Along with the recall, Kia and Hyundai have been topic to a category motion lawsuit across the theft vulnerability. Attorneys representing Kia and Hyundai homeowners accused the companies of placing hundreds of thousands of individuals in danger by selecting to not set up immobilizers. In Could, the automakers reached a settlement during which they agreed to pay out greater than $200 million in advantages to automobile homeowners.

Kia and Hyundai homeowners who suffered losses because of the security flaw are eligible for compensation. The businesses have agreed to pay $3,375 in automobile and private property injury compensation and $6,125 in circumstances of whole losses.

With the settlement being reached not too long ago, Hagens Berman Shobol Shapiro LLC – the lead agency within the lawsuit – has but to arrange a claims web site for qualifying members. The agency’s web site says that web sites will probably be arrange quickly. You may periodically examine the agency’s web site for updates. Some homeowners could also be notified of eligibility by mail.

Kia and Hyundai Remembers: What’s Subsequent

In principle, the software program replace and different measures within the recall ought to forestall the strategy popularized on TikTok from working. Nevertheless, a report from the Related Press in Could mentioned that regardless of the software program replace rollout, theft of Kia and Hyundai autos continued. 

This could possibly be due, partially, to solely a comparatively small proportion of autos finishing the recall, with many autos having but to repair the vulnerability. But it surely may be that the software program replace and different strategies have failed to resolve the issue solely.

In case your Hyundai or Kia is eligible for a recall, it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to get the replace. Even when it doesn’t fully forestall your automobile from being stolen, any further impediment for would-be automobile thieves makes your automobile a much less interesting goal than ones with out the replace, that are extra susceptible.