Nearly 60 percent of vehicles stolen in Minneapolis this year have been Hyundais or Kias, and St. Paul has seen the same pattern in one-third of auto thefts. Now, both car manufacturers are holding free mobile clinics in the coming days in the Twin Cities to upgrade software systems in their vehicles, which they say will make them harder to steal.

David VandeLinde, Hyundai’s vice president of after sales, shows an anti-theft software sticker in Minneapolis on Nov. 9, 2023, that will be attached to vehicles during free anti-theft software installation clinics for Hyundai owners in Minneapolis on Nov. 10 and 11, and St. Paul on Nov. 12 and 13. (Mara H. Gottfried / Pioneer Press)

Police started seeing the problem in recent years when videos spread on TikTok and other social media, “exploiting a flaw in vehicle manufacturers that allowed those vehicles to be easily stolen,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Thursday. Young people, sometimes calling themselves “Kia Boys,” have sought attention on social media for the thefts.

Last year in Minneapolis, stolen Kias and Hyundais were tied to five homicides, 13 shootings, 36 robberies and 265 collisions.

“I have been to too many scenes in this city where I have seen young people injured in a coma or dead as a result of an incident involving one of these stolen vehicles,” O’Hara said.

Until recently, Kia and Hyundai did not include anti-theft “engine-immobilizer” technology in many of their vehicles sold throughout the U.S. An engine immobilizer prevents a vehicle’s engine from starting without using the key.

People with a 2011 to 2021 Hyundai vehicle that starts with a key in the ignition can go to Minneapolis on Friday or Saturday, or St. Paul on Sunday or Monday to have their vehicle updated with immobilizing software. Vehicles with a push-button start already have immobilizers.

Kia America is holding a mobile anti-theft deterrent software upgrade at Canterbury Park in Shakopee on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ellison: Mobile clinics insufficient

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called on Kia and Hyundai in March to recall any of their vehicles that didn’t have anti-theft engine immobilizers.

Engine immobilizers are standard on all Hyundai vehicles produced as of November 2021. If there was to be a recall, it would be determined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but “the vehicles meet all the safety standards for the years that they were produced,” David VandeLinde, Hyundai vice president of after sales, said at a Thursday news conference in Minneapolis.

Ellison’s press secretary Brian Evans said the automakers offering clinics “does not come close to remedying the problems caused by their failure to equip their vehicles with industry standard engine immobilizers. Attorney General Ellison’s investigation into the threat to public safety posed by Kia and Hyundai vehicles remains ongoing.”

The clinics “are just one of the many measures that Hyundai has initiated to combat the theft of our customers’ vehicles and support local communities and police departments,” VandeLinde said.

A sticker showing a Hyundai is equipped with anti-theft software in Minneapolis on Nov. 9, 2023. Hyundai is hosting free anti-theft software installation clinics for Hyundai owners in Minneapolis on Nov. 10 and 11, and St. Paul on Nov. 12 and 13. The stickers will be attached to vehicles. (Mara H. Gottfried / Pioneer Press)

When the “Kia Challenge” started spreading on social media in 2021, Hyundai “took immediate action to engineer software upgrades,” he said. They’ve also been distributing free steering wheel locks.

“We understand that these social media-driven thefts impose a significant burden not just to our owners, but also to the surrounding communities,” VandeLinde said. “Our customers are our top priority and we encourage all vehicle owners to get the software upgrade, whether at your dealer or at a mobile clinic.”

Hyundai will also put a decal on the driver and passenger side front windows that says, “This vehicle equipped with Hyundai anti-theft logic.”

6 Hyundais stolen on average day in Minneapolis

In St. Paul, year-over-year auto theft reports are down. There were 1,702 reported through the end of September, with 587 of them being Kias or Hyundais, according to police department data. There were 2,554 auto thefts during the same period last year, of which 959 were Kias or Hyundais.

“Many of our community members have been impacted by Kia and Hyundai thefts for the past couple of years,” said Alyssa Arcand, a St. Paul police spokeswoman. “People depend on their vehicles to accomplish life’s daily activities and these thefts greatly impact our community members in many ways.”

O’Hara said he’s frustrated that while they’ve “made significant progress dealing with violent crime,” the auto theft problem has exploded.

In Minneapolis, motor vehicle theft reports climbed from 5,170 at this time last year to 6,937 so far this year. Of this year’s stolen vehicles, 4,085 have been Hyundais or Kias, compared with 1,775 during the same period last year, according to Minneapolis police.

“Prior to the flaw being exploited in these vehicles, one Hyundai had been stolen in the city every other day,” O’Hara said. “Today, we are averaging six Hyundais every day and that’s completely unacceptable. … The most alarming facet of this issue is the involvement of juveniles, youths as young as 11 and 12 years old, who are jumping in and taking advantage of this crime of opportunity.”

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced in June the launch of a “new focused collaboration” with Hennepin County law enforcement aimed at combatting youth auto theft. The goal is to “provide earlier opportunities for intervention and accountability” by having a county attorney’s office social worker contact families of high-risk youth that have come to the attention of law enforcement and offer to connect them with support and resources, the county attorney’s office said at the time.

“If those issues are not addressed, youth remain at risk of escalating behavior that could lead to legal system consequences in the future,” Moriarty’s office said in its announcement.

Through the initiative, there were 112 young people referred by 13 law enforcement agencies as of Oct. 11. Of those eligible for the initiative, three were subsequently charged with a new offense, according to the county attorney’s office.

Kia and Hyundai free mobile clinics

Kia will have a mobile anti-theft deterrent software upgrade service center at Canterbury Park at 1100 Canterbury Road in Shakopee from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 10, 11 and 12. Kia says the process can take as little as 30 minutes.

Owners of Kia Forte 2014-2021, Rio 2012-2021, Soul 2020-2022, K5 2021-2022, Sedona 2011-2021, Sportage 2011-2022, Optima 2011-2020 and Seltos 2021-22 can enter their vehicle’s VIN at ksupport.kiausa.com/ConsumerAffairs/SWLD to confirm eligibility.

Hyundai’s mobile clinic will be in the parking lot of the old Kmart, 10 W. Lake St. in Minneapolis, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 10 and 11, and the Allianz Field parking lot, 400 N. Snelling Ave. in St. Paul, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 12 and 13. It’s for 2011 to 2021 Hyundais that start with a key in the ignition vs. a push-button start. The process is estimated to take 20 minutes.

Kia and Hyundai owners can also contact their local dealer for more information.

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