Chicago Files Lawsuit Against Kia and Hyundai, Which Account for More…

(WTTW News)

The city of Chicago on Thursday filed a civil lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai alleging the auto makers’ failure to equip vehicles with certain anti-theft technology resulted in a steep rise in auto thefts in the city.

“The rise in thefts led to a rise in reckless driving, motor vehicle accidents, violent crimes, injuries, and property damage,” the lawsuit alleges.

According to the complaint, Kia and Hyundai touted “advanced” safety features but failed to equip U.S. vehicles sold between 2011 and 2022 with engine immobilizers that other manufacturers made standard more than a decade ago. Kia and Hyundai include that technology in their vehicles sold outside of the U.S., the lawsuit alleges.

Engine immobilizers “make a car engine operable only if the correct key having coded information is used,” the lawsuit states. Since last year, social media videos showing how to hot-wire certain Kia and Hyundai models have gone viral.

“The failure of Kia and Hyundai…