ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — In its continuing war against the so-called "Kia Boyz," Hyundai will have technicians available in the parking lot of the Chesterfield Mall later this week to make its most commonly stolen vehicles harder to steal.
The automaker, along with its sister company, Kia, did not install engine immobilizers on millions of makes and models for almost a decade. Most cars are equipped with the technology, which prevents an engine from starting without a computer chip recognizing a key.
Thieves figured out the flaw and began stealing certain makes and models of Hyundais and Kias by the thousands in cities across the country.
The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb. 3, on the parking lot near the former Sears store, said County Councilman Mark Harder, whose district includes the mall. Chesterfield police also are participating in the event.
“This will be helpful for people in the western part of the county as well as into St. Charles,” Harder said, adding all Hyundai owners are welcome.
A similar event happened in the fall in Jennings, and the upgrade process takes about 20 minutes. More than 290 vehicles visited during that event.
The event is part of Hyundai’s Campaign 993 program, which includes the anti-theft software upgrade and window decal campaign. The company insists all of its vehicles meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, but the I-Team reported those standards do not include engine immobilizers.
In November 2021, engine immobilizers became standard on all Hyundai vehicles produced, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
All vehicles that have push-button ignitions are already equipped with an engine immobilizer.
For more information about what to expect during the event, click here.
No appointments, registrations and sign-ups are needed. There is no cost for the event.
Affected Hyundai models include:
- 2018-2022 Accent
- 2020-2021 Palisade
- 2011-2022 Tucson
- 2011-2022 Elantra
- 2013-2022 Santa Fe
- 2012-2017 & 2019-2021 Veloster
- 2013-2020 Elantra GT
- 2013-2018 Santa Fe Sport
- 2020-2021 Venue
- 2013-2014 Genesis Coupe
- 2019 Santa Fe XL
- 2018-2022 Kona
- 2011-2019 Sonata