Hyundai, Kia Think They've Foiled the TikTok Theft Challenge

• Millions of Hyundai and Kia vehicles could be easily stolen—and thousands have—due to a decision not to install engine immobilizers when they were built.

• Popular TikTok videos challenged people to try to steal a car like this, which has led to all sorts of legal and financial trouble for vehicle owners and the two automakers.

• Four million Hyundai vehicles—affected Elantras, Sonatas, and Venues—can get a new software fix that introduces a workaround immobilizer starting today. Other affected Hyundais and Kias will get their turn in the coming months.

Millions of Hyundai owners are about to pay a visit to their local Hyundai dealership thanks to a bunch of TikTok videos.

The backstory, if you don't recall, is that someone figured out that some older Kia and Hyundai models built with a standard key starter, so not a push-button starter, were incredibly easy to steal and created a TikTok "Kia Challenge" encouraging others to try it. The challenge started in Milwaukee before spreading to other parts of the U.S. and forcing Hyundai and Kia to respond.