Hyundai and Kia face lawsuit over TikTok challenge

Hyundai and Kia have agreed to settle a 200 million USD class action lawsuit related to a viral TikTok challenge called Kia Challenge, which includes nearly 145 million USD for vehicle owners who had their cars stolen. The settlement applies to approximately 9 million vehicles lacking the factory-installed anti-theft device and push-button start feature.

A group of thieves known as the Kia Boyz posted multiple videos demonstrating how to bypass the security systems on various Hyundai and Kia models simply by tampering with the USB port. The group named these videos Kia Challenge, which were posted on TikTok and YouTube.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the Kia Challenge has resulted in hundreds of car thefts in the United States, causing 14 accidents and 8 fatalities.

There is currently no accurate statistic on the number of Hyundai and Kia vehicles stolen nationwide in the United States. However, a report from the City of Milwaukee indicated that less than 1,000 Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen in 2020, but that number increased to nearly 7,000 in 2021.

In February of this year, Hyundai and Kia provided an extended alarm time update from 30 seconds to 60 seconds when the vehicle is breached, and the key must also be inserted into the ignition to activate the ignition system. The NHTSA noted that the two automakers have provided more than 26,000 steering wheel locks to consumers since November 2022.