by Over the past four years, the number of vehicle thefts in the United States has increased with more than a million cars stolen in 2023 alone – but two specific car makes and models have contributed the most to that number.
Driving around in a Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata or Kia Optima puts you at increased risk of having your car stolen, according to data collected by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting insurance fraud. and crime.
Those three vehicles accounted for 11.8 percent of the total number of vehicles stolen last year – partly due to a TikTok trend from 2022 that showed people how to start the cars using USB cables.
Three other Kia models also made their way onto the list, with other frequently stolen vehicles in between.
Here’s a look at the 10 most commonly stolen vehicles and why they might be on the list.
Most likely to go
While Kias and Hyundais were the most at risk of theft, other vehicles such as the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ford F150 Series Pickup were also in the top 10.
Over the past five years, these four vehicles remain in the top five of the most stolen vehicle models.
Pickup trucks have historically had the highest theft rate because they are easy to spot on the road and can be sold at a lucrative price due to their size and versatility.
But the high theft rate of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ford F-150 Series Pickup can also be attributed to its ubiquity. They are the two best-selling vehicles in the country, according to him Car and driver.
Likewise, Honda Accords and Civics make the top 20 most popular cars, making them an easy target for thieves.
Patrick Clancy, vice president of law enforcement for LoJack Corporation, a company that makes stolen vehicle recovery systems, told ABC News that the prevalence of these cars means more get into accidents or need repairs.
And since car parts for similar models are often the same if not identical, thieves can make a lot of money selling the car for parts.
What’s unique about the 2023 list is how quickly Kias and Hyundais made it onto the list and then took the top three spots from other vehicles that normally occupy those spots.
Why are Kias and Hyundais at the top of the list?
Older models of Hyundais and Kias lack key security features, such as immobilizers that prevent cars from starting unless they detect a key fob. People realized that the lack of features made it easy to steal cars and took advantage of internet fame.
Videos circulated on TikTok, showing people stealing the car, teaching others how to do it and then going on joyrides. As more videos went viral, a formal challenge called the “Kia Challenge” emerged, encouraging others to steal cars and post it online.
The impact of the social media craze is tangible.
Kias and Hyundais didn’t even appear on the most stolen list in 2021 but then quickly rose to take the first, second, third, fifth, eighth and tenth spots by 2023 .
But it wasn’t until that dramatic increase, and tragic car crashes involving stolen vehicles, that the issue came to widespread attention.
At least eight people have died from taking stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles for travel since 2022.
Four teenagers between the ages of 14 and 19 were killed in a crash in October 2022 after driving a stolen Kia Sportage in Buffalo, New York.
A man was killed in Franklin County, Ohio when a teenager driving a stolen Kia Optima crashed his car.
And a teenager driving a stolen Kia Sedona SUV killed another driver in Indianapolis earlier this year.
Last April, attorneys general from 18 states sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) asking them to issue a recall for Hyundai and Kia vehicles that do not have motorcycles or push-start buttons.
A spokesperson for Kia said they will, “Continue to work with law enforcement agencies across the country to combat car theft and the role social media has played in fueling it, and we remain fully committed to supporting to our customers and to vehicle security.”
Hyundai said its vehicles are “fully compliant with federal anti-theft requirements” but that it has taken steps to support the safety of its customers. Hyundai did not respond The Independentrequest for comments before publication.
Hyundai and Kia introduced free, optional, anti-theft software upgrades for some drivers last year to combat the stolen vehicle problem. The update programmed cars to stay locked until they find the key fob. Kia offers steering wheel locks to drivers of affected cars at no cost.
The two automakers have agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit for owners of makes and models that don’t have immobilizers or push-button ignitions.
What can be done?
Car owners, and industry leaders, have asked automakers to install better security features to prevent this type of theft.
“From keyless entry hacks to keychain attacks, perpetrators are exploiting vulnerabilities in modern vehicle security measures with alarming rates of success,” said David Glawe, president and CEO of the NICB, in a statement.
The NCIB advises drivers to park in well-lit areas, close and lock all doors, hide valuables from view and take your keys with you when you leave your vehicle.
The organization says if you believe your car has been stolen you should contact local law enforcement and report your car stolen. More than 85 percent of vehicles reported stolen are recovered.
