Posted on 01/25/2023 5:20:47 AM PST by EBH
If your Hyundai or Kia uses a physical ignition key, it can be stolen with relative ease. As we've reported, a USB cable is all that's necessary to get away with a new car. It's a costly problem for police in cities such as Columbus, Ohio, and Denver. Insurers in these regions and others have now had enough. Insurance giants State Farm and Progressive are now refusing to insure many vehicles sold by the two Korean auto brands in those cities and others now.
In a statement to The Drive, Progressive confirmed that it was no longer issuing new insurance policies to "some" Hyundai and Kia vehicles in certain cities. "Due to the theft risk that some Hyundai and Kia vehicles present, in many cases it makes these vehicles difficult to insure, so in certain areas of the country we have adjusted our acceptance criteria for new business (there is no change for existing customers) on some of these models," the spokesperson said. "We’ll continue to monitor how this issue plays out and are hopeful to be able to revisit our decision as the theft risk diminishes and community awareness improves."
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
USB cable to steal a car? The old GM cars of the 60’s-2000 could be stolen with a screw driver. We had to add a hot switch to the ignition coil power to prevent them from being stolen but then you had to buy a new key switch or even steering column depending on damage done by the attempted thief.
Can’t believe, well I can, that the Koreans would make them that easy to steal!
Steering wheel lock?
Install a hidden ignition switch?
My wife has a Santa Fe that would be easy to steal but it has pushel to start and an immobilizer. This hasn’t stopped them from trying though.
“as community awareness improves”
Then we’ll be even worse off.
My daughter is negotiating today with a guy to sell her Hyundai Veloster. It’s 2017 and I don’t think it’s on the hot list
“This hasn’t stopped them from trying though.”
Treat motor vehicle thieves as if they stole a horse.
I was able to hot wire my ‘66 Dodge Dart with copper wire and a couple of alligator clips. The alternator gauge ran hot on Mopars of that era, and the under dash was wide open.
Bluetooth(R) or other coded keys might send out a code permitting the microcomputer controlled engine to start.
Unfortunately I’m in the People’s Republic of minnesota. The thieves family would get a check and I’d go to prison
How about mandatory minimum 2 year jail sentences for folks who steal cars?
When I was young car theft was primarily used to supply ‘chop shops’.
If your wife’s car has push to start and an immobilizer, then the USB cable hack won’t work for your car.
It only works on the low end Kias and Hyundais that only have a keyed ignition and no immobilizer.
I have a Kia soul, but it’s a manual 😈
They won’t steal a manual transmission vehicle.
Whatever happened to THE CLUB.
I visited my best friend 35 years ago when he moved to San Antonio. EVERYONE had a CLUB device to put on their steering wheel because car thefts were very high in the area due to its proximity to Ol Mexico.
The Club was relatively inexpensive especially in comparison to what a LOJACK system cost at the time.
Sounds to me like IF you own one of these lower priced South Korean autos you might want to buy a CLUB.
https://www.amazon.com/Club-1000-Original-Steering-Wheel/dp/B0000CBILL?th=1
Years ago I had a Jeep Wrangler that I had trouble insuring. I had to buy and use a steering wheel lock bar. The agent told me if my Jeep was stolen and the lock bar wasn’t in use, they would not pay. Pain in the behind though.
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