Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Willoughby Police Department
It already starts to feel like it'll take years before Kia and Hyundai manage to deal with the Kia Boys madness, as no matter how hard they insist, people still won't patch their cars.
Not installing the anti-theft update means the door to your Kia remains open for teenagers planning to take a ride for Internet views.
Unfortunately, a Kia Telluride owner from Willoughby, Ohio, learned this the hard way when a group of five juveniles (three girls and two boys) stole the car and went for a ride in town. Police spotted the stolen car at 2.45 AM – which made me wonder how come a group of teenagers, including three girls, were out so late – and tried to block it at a gas station.
The three girls went inside a store and were captured on camera, but jumped back in the car when they spotted the police car. Multiple police agencies teamed up to catch the teens, but the driver took off and jumped right on I-90, where the vehicle reached 115 MPH (approximately 185 KPH).
Due to the risk of an accident, police officers abandoned the pursuit but turned to social media to identify the suspects based on camera footage.
It didn't take long before the case was partially resolved. Two of the three Kia Girls went to a police station with their parents. However, the boys were still on the run, and later the same day, police officers spotted the stolen Kia a second time, with three boys (a third Kia Boy joined the group) abandoning the car and running away on foot.
Police say they are still searching for the three boys.
Kia and Hyundai call for customers to install the anti-theft updates to prevent the Kia Boys from starting their engines and driving away in their cars. The vulnerability allows thieves to break into vehicles, rip off the steering wheel column, and start the engine with a USB cable due to the lack of an immobilizer. The software update resolves the glitch by preventing the engine from starting, albeit some Kia Boys still break into the cars without caring to check if they have already been patched.
Authorities in multiple US states have also recommended that Kia and Hyundai car owners install additional hardware to deter thieves, including steering wheel locks. AirTags could also help provide critical location information when a vehicle is stolen, and police tell car owners to report the theft immediately when they notice the car is stolen.
Kia's and Hyundai's software update is free of charge and takes approximately 30 minutes to install, and customers can obtain additional information from a local dealership or the official websites.
Unfortunately, a Kia Telluride owner from Willoughby, Ohio, learned this the hard way when a group of five juveniles (three girls and two boys) stole the car and went for a ride in town. Police spotted the stolen car at 2.45 AM – which made me wonder how come a group of teenagers, including three girls, were out so late – and tried to block it at a gas station.
The three girls went inside a store and were captured on camera, but jumped back in the car when they spotted the police car. Multiple police agencies teamed up to catch the teens, but the driver took off and jumped right on I-90, where the vehicle reached 115 MPH (approximately 185 KPH).
Due to the risk of an accident, police officers abandoned the pursuit but turned to social media to identify the suspects based on camera footage.
It didn't take long before the case was partially resolved. Two of the three Kia Girls went to a police station with their parents. However, the boys were still on the run, and later the same day, police officers spotted the stolen Kia a second time, with three boys (a third Kia Boy joined the group) abandoning the car and running away on foot.
Police say they are still searching for the three boys.
Kia and Hyundai call for customers to install the anti-theft updates to prevent the Kia Boys from starting their engines and driving away in their cars. The vulnerability allows thieves to break into vehicles, rip off the steering wheel column, and start the engine with a USB cable due to the lack of an immobilizer. The software update resolves the glitch by preventing the engine from starting, albeit some Kia Boys still break into the cars without caring to check if they have already been patched.
Authorities in multiple US states have also recommended that Kia and Hyundai car owners install additional hardware to deter thieves, including steering wheel locks. AirTags could also help provide critical location information when a vehicle is stolen, and police tell car owners to report the theft immediately when they notice the car is stolen.
Kia's and Hyundai's software update is free of charge and takes approximately 30 minutes to install, and customers can obtain additional information from a local dealership or the official websites.
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