Hyundai and Kia Installing Software Patch to Prevent Car Thieves

by Mindy Cohn

After insurance companies began refusing to offer coverage for Hyundai and Kia vehicles, given how easy it has been to steal the cars, as reported by BoroPark24 here, the car companies announced this week that they are offering a free software patch to owners of 8.3 million vehicles.

The 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models with turn-key ignitions are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of a similar age as they lack some of the basic auto theft prevention technology that is included in most other cars.

To combat the problem, the automakers have created a software patch that resolves the issue. The car manufacturers said the software update will be provided completely free at local brand-name dealerships.

The software will also block the car from being started after the doors have been locked using the key fob remote control. The vehicle will need to be unlocked before it can be started. Additionally, the new software extends the length of the alarm to a full minute rather than the thirty seconds the alarm rang previously. As a bonus, Hyundai dealers will attach window stickers stating that the car has anti-theft software installed.

While Hyundai is already providing the software for the most vulnerable models, Kia said it has only offered the update to some customers so far. It is expected that the company will make it available for other owners over the next few months.

Photo Credit: Flickr