Theft deterrent software has been developed by Hyundai and Kia following an increase in reported vehicle thefts. The affected vehicles lacked an immobilizer, and the software updates include extending the length of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to one minute and requiring the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the vehicle on.
The effort is in response to a TikTok social media challenge that has resulted in at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities. The videos that circulated online detailed how to start the vehicles without a key. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urges owners of these vehicles to contact Hyundai or Kia for information on the update.