Attorneys general of 18 states have written a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) asking for the recall of certain models of Hyundai and Kia vehicles due to the carmakers’ failure in taking necessary steps to address the ease with which these vehicles are being stolen.
The April 20 letter (pdf) asked the NHTSA to institute a recall for “unsafe” Hyundai and Kia vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2022. These vehicles have “easily bypassed ignition switches” and also lack engine immobilizers, making them quite easy to steal. “Due to this vulnerability in their starting systems, the vehicles can be hotwired and stolen in a matter of minutes, presenting a serious safety issue nationwide,” the letter states.
