TikTok "Kia Challenge" Turned 7 Million Cars Into Theft Targets — 4 of Top 10 Stolen Vehicles Are Kia or Hyundai

Viral Videos Show How to Steal Cars With USB Cable

A TikTok trend that began in Milwaukee in 2021 has turned millions of Kia and Hyundai vehicles into the easiest targets for car thieves across America. Videos demonstrating how to steal certain models using only a screwdriver and a USB charging cable have been viewed more than 66 million times under the #kiaboyz hashtag.

The vulnerability affects an estimated 7 to 9 million Kia and Hyundai vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2022 that were sold without engine immobilizers — basic anti-theft technology that most competitors included as standard equipment during those years.

Four of Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles

By 2025, the impact became undeniable. Four of the 10 most stolen vehicles in the United States are now either Hyundai or Kia models, according to Autoblog. The Hyundai Elantra and Sonata, along with the Kia Optima and Soul, regularly appear near the top of national theft charts.

The surge in thefts has been staggering. Milwaukee saw an 836% increase in Kia and Hyundai thefts between 2021 and 2022. In Minneapolis, 55% of all stolen vehicles in 2022 were Kias or Hyundais. Los Angeles reported an 85% increase in thefts of these vehicles in 2022 compared to 2021.

$200 Million Settlement, Free Repairs Coming

Hyundai and Kia reached a $200 million class-action settlement in May 2023 to compensate owners for theft-related losses. The settlement covers approximately 9 million owners of vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2022 with traditional turn-key ignition systems.

Eligible owners can claim up to $6,125 for total vehicle loss, up to $3,375 for damages to the vehicle and personal property, and up to $375 for damage from attempted theft, NPR reported.

In December 2025, the automakers reached an additional $9 million settlement with 36 state attorneys general. Under this agreement, more than 7 million vehicles will receive free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors and software upgrades. Notifications will begin in early 2026, with owners having until March 2027 to complete the retrofit at authorized dealerships.

Eight Deaths Linked to Challenge

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has linked the Kia Challenge to eight fatalities. In October 2022, six teenagers aged 14 to 19 stole a Kia Sportage in Buffalo, New York. Four of them were killed when they crashed the stolen vehicle.

In April 2024, a 16-year-old driver was killed after crashing a stolen 2013 Hyundai Elantra into a tree in Johnston City, Illinois, leaving three other teenage passengers with serious injuries. In May 2024, five teenagers in a stolen Kia struck and killed a 55-year-old motorcyclist in Philadelphia.

Cost-Cutting Decision Created Vulnerability

The security flaw stems from a cost-cutting decision by Hyundai Motor Group. While the company installed engine immobilizers on vehicles sold in Mexico and Canada, it omitted this basic anti-theft technology from millions of vehicles sold in the United States market.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison captured the scope of the problem at a December 2025 press conference announcing the state settlement.

"This crisis that we're talking about today started in a boardroom, traveled through the internet and ended up in tragic results when somebody stole those cars," Fortune reported.

Ellison was joined by a woman whose mother was killed when a stolen Kia crashed into her parents' vehicle, and a Minnesota man whose car has been stolen nine times — most recently the night before the press conference.

Insurance Companies Refuse Coverage

The theft epidemic has had real consequences for owners trying to maintain insurance coverage. State Farm stopped offering policies to new customers with affected models in Georgia, Louisiana, Washington, Oregon, and Pennsylvania due to the extremely high theft rates.

Thieves typically abandon the stolen vehicles with varying degrees of damage, including smashed windows, broken steering column covers, graffiti, missing license plates, and dented bodywork. The average cost of damage is estimated at $2,000 to $3,000, with many necessary spare parts on backorder due to increased demand.

"Kia Boyz" Started the Trend

The trend began in Milwaukee in February 2021 when a group calling themselves the "Kia Boyz" started stealing the vulnerable vehicles. The perpetrators remained relatively isolated until videos circulated in August showing drivers nearly striking pedestrians at a Milwaukee high school.

A July 2022 TikTok video demonstrated the theft method, showing how easily someone could use a USB connector on an exposed key slot to start affected vehicles. The vulnerability exists on ignition switches used in many Kia and Hyundai cars sold through 2021 that lack immobilizer systems.

Underage drivers have used the stolen cars for joyrides and, in some cases, to commit other crimes including robberies and shootings. Conservative estimates place the total number of vehicles stolen as part of the challenge between 50,000 and 100,000 from 2021 through April 2023.

Automakers Promise Standard Immobilizers

Both Kia and Hyundai have committed to including engine immobilizers as standard equipment on all future vehicles sold in the United States. Starting with 2022 model years, new Kia vehicles come with immobilizers installed.

TikTok has also committed to removing videos related to the Kia Challenge from its platform, though the damage from years of viral spread continues to affect owners and communities across the country.