Kia and Hyundai have agreed to a $1 million settlement with the City of Columbus, which accused the automakers of selling vehicles with substandard anti-theft technology in a 2023 lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the city alleged Kia and Hyundai knowingly sold vehicles without proper anti-theft technology, skyrocketing car thefts and draining police resources.
“Kia and Hyundai cut corners and sold cars to customers they knew weren’t up to industry standards," Columbus City Attorney Zach Klien said in a news release. "Taxpayers and the City should not foot the bill to pay for the problems these corporations created."
About 9 million Kia and Hyundai vehicles made from 2011-2022 were unusually
easy to steal because they were made without electronic immobilizers, which prevent cars from starting unless they detect a radio code from the car's key. This lead to the viral spread of "Kia Boys," usually teenagers who stole the cars using common tools like USB cables or screwdrivers and sometimes filmed joyride videos to post on social media.
In September 2023, over half of vehicles stolen in Columbus so far that year were Kias or Hyundais, the Dispatch previously reported. Hyundai and Kia rolled out free anti-theft software upgrades to vehicles and offered owners free steering wheel locks.
Columbus City Council is set to approve the settlement at a Sept. 28 meeting, according to the news release. The $1 million will go to the city's general fund.
Previously, Kia and Hyundai agreed to pay about $200 million to car owners in 2023 to settle a class-action lawsuit over the vehicles thefts.
Public safety and breaking news reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Kia, Hyundai agree to $1 million settlement with Columbus for car thefts
