The update is already available for some models. More will get the update in June 2023.
Hyundai and Kia are tackling the spate of car thefts by introducing a free software update for millions of vehicles. The thieves recorded the relatively simple process of stealing the models and posted the videos on social media, especially TikTok. According to NHTSA, this trend has caused at least 14 reported crashes and eight deaths.
The software will cause locking the doors with the fob to activate a “power off” feature. Also, the duration of the alarm sound will increase to one minute when activated, instead of the current 30 seconds. Owners will have to use the remote to unlock the vehicle and have the key start the engine.
Hyundai ultimately plans to install this software update in almost four million vehicles. The first phase is now available and covers over a million examples of:
- 2017-2020 Elantra
- 2015-2019 Sonata
- 2020-2021 Venue
In June 2023, the software update will be available for many more vehicles. They are:
- 2018-2022 Accent
- 2011-2016 Elantra
- 2021-2022 Elantra
- 2018-2020 Elantra GT
- 2011-2014 Genesis Coupe
- 2018-2022 Kona
- 2020-2021 Palisade
- 2013-2018 Santa Fe Sport
- 2013-2022 Santa Fe
- 2019 Santa Fe XL
- 2011-2014 Sonata
- 2011-2022 Tucson
- 2012-2017, 2019-2021 Veloster
“We’ve prioritized the update’s availability to owners and lessees of our best-selling and most thief-targeted vehicles with dealers serving them first,” Hyundai Motor America CEO Randy Parker said in the announcement. solution by the car manufacturer.
Owners will need to take their vehicle to a Hyundai dealer for a software update. The process will take less than an hour. The repair will include placing window stickers that will tell would-be burglars that this model has the solution.
