what is the kia challenge

The Kia Challenge is a viral trend that has led to a series of motor vehicle thefts targeting Kia and Hyundai vehicles in the United States manufactured between 2011 and 2021. The trend began in October 2022 and has led to hundreds of car thefts nationwide, including at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities. The challenge exploits a design vulnerability in some Kia and Hyundai cars which allows the ignition to be bypassed using a USB cable. The trick to stealing the cars is hiding in plain sight on social media, specifically on TikTok, where instructional videos are posted. The thefts are reportedly easy to pull off because many Hyundai and Kia vehicles manufactured between 2015-2019 lack electronic immobilizers that prevent would-be thieves from simply breaking in and bypassing the ignition. The feature is standard equipment on nearly all vehicles from the same period made by other manufacturers. The challenge has caused financial and physical harm on a mass scale, and the numbers of stolen Kia and Hyundais have increased by triple and even quadruple percentages in some areas. Kia and Hyundai dealers are offering free in-person software downloads to prevent the thefts, and police are recommending steering wheel locking devices as another means.