Kia America, Inc. makes popular models of vehicles such as the Sportage and Sorento. But the complaint for this class action claims that Kia vehicles in recent years have the same defect as Hyundai vehicles in recent years, in that they have been manufactured without engine immobilizers. The complaint alleges that this has led to a substantial rise in thefts of Kia vehicles.
The Nationwide Class for this action is all persons who, within the applicable statutes of limitations, bought or leased a vehicle made by Kia that does not have in engine immobilizer, in the US. An Illinois Class has also been defined, for those in the above class who bought or leased the vehicle in Illinois.
Engine immobilizers help prevent vehicle theft. The complaint alleges, “An engine immobilizer works by transmitting a code to the vehicle when the key is inserted in the ignition switch or a key fob is inside the vehicle.”
The complaint quotes Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114 (FMVSS 114), which requires that motor vehicles have “a starting system which, whenever the key is removed from the starting system prevents: (a) the normal activation of the vehicle’s engine or motor; and (b) either steering, or forward self-mobility, of the vehicle, or both.” This is meant to prevent both vehicle rollaways and auto theft.
Because of the lack of immobilizers, the complaint alleges that Kias and Hyundais are easy to steal, with videos on TikTok providing step-by-step instructions of how to do it.
The complaint reports a statement by the owner of a car-repair facility quoted in a Milwaukee newspaper article as saying, “Kia thieves know they can break the back window without setting off an alarm, unlock the door, quickly peel back the steering column, and either use a screwdriver or a USB port to crank the car and go.”
Because of this, thefts of these vehicles have risen across the country, the complaint alleges, saying, for example, “In St. Louis, Missouri, Kia and Hyundai thefts account for nearly 77% of all vehicles stolen in 2022.” Also, it says, in Colorado, although in 2019 only a little more than 200 Kias and 200 Hyundais were stolen, by 2022, the numbers have risen to more than 3,000 Kias and 3,000 Hyundais.
“In response to the significant rise in thefts of their vehicles,” the complaint alleges, Kia and Hyundai are now putting immobilizers in their new vehicles. However, that does not help the owners of the vehicles that are already out there, it says, and Kia “has not provided a solution to the thousands of Kia owners whose vehicles remain without engine immobilizers.”
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Automobile
Most Recent Case Event
Kia Vehicles Made Without Immobilizers Complaint
November 16, 2022
Kia America, Inc. makes popular models of vehicles such as the Sportage and Sorento. But the complaint for this class action claims that Kia vehicles in recent years have the same defect as Hyundai vehicles in recent years, in that they have been manufactured without engine immobilizers. The complaint alleges that this has led to a substantial rise in thefts of Kia vehicles.
Kia Vehicles Made Without Immobilizers ComplaintCase Event History
Kia Vehicles Made Without Immobilizers Complaint
November 16, 2022
Kia America, Inc. makes popular models of vehicles such as the Sportage and Sorento. But the complaint for this class action claims that Kia vehicles in recent years have the same defect as Hyundai vehicles in recent years, in that they have been manufactured without engine immobilizers. The complaint alleges that this has led to a substantial rise in thefts of Kia vehicles.
Kia Vehicles Made Without Immobilizers Complaint