Several Hyundai and Kia models are flagged by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as easy targets for thieves, with rising reports of vehicle thefts in this segment.
Vehicles from these brands that were built roughly between 2015 and 2019 are most frequently targeted. A key factor is that many of these cars did not come with an electronic immobilizer that blocks the ignition during a theft attempt.
Research indicates theft rates declined after immobilizers became common, but Hyundai and Kia have lagged behind other manufacturers in making immobilizers standard equipment across all trims, according to Matt Moore, senior vice president at the Highway Loss Data Institute.
In several model years within the affected range, immobilizers appeared mainly on higher trim levels, leaving many base trims without this protection. Starting November 1, 2021, both brands began equipping all vehicles with electronic immobilizers as standard.
For cars missing an immobilizer, security experts advise adding an independent anti theft system. The additional layer of defense increases the time and effort a thief must invest, which makes alternative targets more appealing to criminals.
These assessments come from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and align with broader industry findings on how immobilizers influence theft risk. Security researchers note that standardizing immobilizers across all models significantly reduces vulnerability and helps protect owners regardless of trim level. Cited information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety underscores the importance of up to date factory security features as part of responsible vehicle ownership.