Photo: Screenshot from YouTube video
Park smart. That’s the advice of the Nashville Police Department for Kia and Hyundai owners after dealing with a worrying increase in the number of thefts involving the two brands.
The reason is the same one that has been making the headlines for the last few years: the Kia Boys. The notorious group uses a vulnerability highlighted on TikTok where the lack of an immobilizer in certain Hyundai and Kia model years allows anyone to start the engine using only a USB cable – typically found in the car.
The viral video was posted in 2022, leading to a nationwide trend that put a crosshair on the back of every Kia and Hyundai parked outside. While the vulnerability only existed in some Kia and Hyundai models produced between 2011 and 2021, thieves sometimes attempted to steal other model years or vehicles fitted with a push-to-start.
Kia and Hyundai have already released software patches in 2022, but the Metro Nashville Police Department notification is another reminder that many owners ignored the call to update their cars.
The police claim that over 180 Hyundai or Kia vehicles have already been stolen this year alone, and the number of thieves involved in these attempts reached 250. It’s unclear how many of these people are members of the Kia Boys gang.
Photo: WTHR on YouTube/Alissa Smart
The Kia Boys are a group made mainly of teenagers who steal cars for joyrides or to conduct other criminal activities. Most of them break into cars just to see if the method described online still works, while others record the thefts and post the videos online for Internet fame. The most experienced Kia Boys need only 25 seconds to get into a car and drive away, police previously said.
The method typically involves breaking a side window and ripping off the steering wheel column to reach the ignition. Kia has also released an ignition cylinder protector to prevent this exploit, and both carmakers are also giving away steering wheel locks for models not eligible for the software update.
The MNPD says customers should park smartly and lock their vehicles. But more importantly, they should patch their cars, as this security update prevents model years exposed to the famous Kia Challenge from being stolen with the TikTok method.
Photo: WTHR on YouTube/Alissa Smart
Once installed, the engine won’t turn on unless the original key is used. To enable the additional security layers, vehicles must be locked with the key fob.
Kia and Hyundai owners can check if their vehicles are eligible for the software update on these two pages, where simply providing the VIN does the check. The software update is free of charge and can be performed at any Kia and Hyundai dealer. Just call the nearest dealership for additional information.
Hyundai and Kia have not provided any information about the number of vehicles that have already been patched. However, considering these repeated calls for patching cars, mainly coming for police departments across the United States, it’s obvious that many Kia and Hyundai cars are still exposed to the TikTok hack.
“It’s a trend that’s lingered the last few years & we need YOUR help to make it harder on those committing crimes in our city,” the Metro Nashville Police Department explained in a post. “Call your local dealership or check if your car requires the FREE recall online.”
Photo: WTHR on YouTube/Alissa Smart
The Kia Boys can sometimes be as young as 12, and many escape unpunished, being released by the police to their parents. More often than not, the Kia Boys are repeat offenders who attempt to steal more cars after they are released.
Police in multiple US regions have already recommended that Kia and Hyundai owners install additional anti-theft protections to block thieves, no matter if their cars have already been patched or not. In some rare cases, owners complained that their vehicles got stolen by the Kia Boys even after installing the software patch.
The main requirement for the software update to work is that the car is locked with the key fob, so it’s unclear if these people used this method after patching their vehicles.
Photo: Prince George’s County Police Department
Steering wheel locks appear to be the most effective anti-theft hardware, as they could also play the role of deterrents, making the Kia Boys walk away when noticing them through the window. This means they could also help owners avoid hundreds of dollars caused by the Kia Boys who got inside the car by breaking a side glass or removing a door handle, even if they didn’t manage to steal their vehicles.
Alarm systems and GPS trackers can also come in handy. AirTags, Apple’s pill-shaped Bluetooth trackers that connect to nearby iPhones to broadcast their location, can aid in the recovery of a stolen vehicle, helping the police track it down before the Kia Boys total it.
In some cases, the Kia Boys set the cars they stole on fire or crashed them into other vehicles.
Calling all Hyundai and Kia owners! Have you checked to see if your model requires an important anti-theft upgrade? It’s a trend that’s lingered the last few years & we need YOUR help to make it harder on those committing crimes in our city. So far this year more than 180 Hyundai/Kia vehicles have been stolen & nearly 250 suspects have tried to take them, but weren’t successful. It’s no fun having your vehicle broken into, but what’s worse is when your car is GONE. Please help us prevent that by PARKING SMART. Lock your vehicle, take your valuables with you (especially firearms), and get the necessary recall to stop these suspects from driving off with your car. Call your local dealership or check if your car requires the FREE recall online. https://t.co/mSql3VzLdF https://t.co/VsdH296D9o
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) September 25, 2026
