Kia And Hyundai's Theft Mess Could Turn Into A $1B Legal Pileup
A federal appeals court has revived a massive legal showdown over the viral theft epidemic involving millions of Hyundai and Kia vehicles across the country.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a lower court's dismissal (per an early report by the LA Times), giving roughly 200 insurance companies another chance to pursue reimbursement from the South Korean automakers. The insurers are seeking to recoup upwards of $1 billion in payouts made for claims related to stolen vehicles and property damage linked to a viral social media trend.
Basically, the number of thefts really started to escalate after videos surfaced online demonstrating how simple it was to bypass the ignition systems of certain MY 2011 through 2022 Hyundais and Kias, which lacked electronic engine immobilizers (that prevent an engine from starting without an authorized key). Exploiting this flaw, thieves, operating under the "Kia Boyz" moniker, used nothing...
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