Kia and Hyundai Theft Lawsuit Revived After Appeals Court Ruling

Case Overview: A federal appeals court has revived a class action lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai, alleging their failure to include industry-standard anti-theft devices led to a surge in vehicle thefts, crashes, injuries, and wrongful deaths.

Consumers Affected: U.S. consumers who own or have been affected by theft-prone Kia and Hyundai vehicles.

The nationwide controversy over theft-prone Kia and Hyundai vehicles has taken a new turn. A federal appeals court has revived a class action lawsuit claiming the automakers put drivers and pedestrians at risk by failing to include industry-standard anti-theft devices in millions of cars.

The Rise of the “Kia Boys” Theft Wave

The lawsuit stems from a viral trend that swept across TikTok in 2022. Videos showed how to hotwire certain Kia and Hyundai models with nothing more than a USB cable. Teenagers across the country shared clips of stolen-car joyrides, sparking what police departments called the “Kia Boys” theft wave.

According to the plaintiffs, the problem was not social media but the cars themselves. They argue that Hyundai and Kia built vehicles with flimsy ignition assemblies and without engine immobilizers, a basic security feature that most other automakers had already made standard.

Families Push for Accountability After Tragedies

Two of the lead plaintiffs are not just car owners but victims of crashes caused by stolen vehicles. One plaintiff was severely injured, and another family lost a loved one when teenagers driving stolen Kias collided with them.

Their attorneys say these tragedies were predictable given how easy the cars were to steal. The lawsuit argues that the manufacturers should not escape responsibility simply because the immediate cause of harm came from teenage drivers.

Lower Court Tossed the Case, Appeals Court Disagrees

A district judge originally dismissed the case, finding that the reckless drivers, not the carmakers, were to blame. But the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has now overturned that decision.

In its opinion, the panel wrote that the theft risk was foreseeable and that the lack of immobilizers created conditions that made injury and death more likely. The court concluded that Kia and Hyundai must face claims in district court.

Connection to $145 Million Nationwide Settlement

This revived lawsuit comes alongside another high-profile case. In 2024, Kia and Hyundai reached a nationwide class settlement valued at up to $145 million. That deal aimed to compensate owners of 2011–2022 models that lacked immobilizers, covering repair costs, insurance hikes, and diminished vehicle value.

While that settlement won final approval in October 2024, payments remain on hold due to appeals. The revived case stands apart, focusing not on property damage but on physical injuries and wrongful deaths linked to stolen vehicles.

Automakers Scramble to Contain Fallout

In response to mounting theft reports, Hyundai and Kia rolled out software patches meant to block the easy-start trick. They also distributed free steering wheel locks through police departments while upgrades were being installed.

Critics argue those fixes came too late, after years of rising theft rates and viral videos had already spread nationwide. Plaintiffs in the revived lawsuit say the patches do little to help families already impacted by crashes and injuries.

Are you an owner of a Kia or Hyundai vehicle? Have you experienced any theft-related issues? Share your story below.