(WJET/WFXP)– While social media trends tend to go as quickly as they arrive, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office is warning Kia and Hyundai drivers that one trend targeting their cars is still ongoing.
The DA’s office said those vehicles are still being targeted by thieves in parts of Pennsylvania, even when they’re locked, stemming from the 2020 TikTok “challenge” where thieves break in and steal cars that don’t have an engine immobilizer.
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Kia and Hyundai models built before 2023 never came with an immobilizer, which electronically shuts down the car when the key fob isn’t inside, allowing thieves to break in and get away with certain models.
Since the debut of viral videos showing how to steal them, Kia and Hyundai have been among the most commonly stolen cars in the nation since 2023, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which reported Hyundai Elentras as the most commonly stolen car over the last three years.
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To combat this, both car manufacturers have rolled out free software patches to fix the bug that allowed the cars to be stolen and offer free checks for engine immobilizers and their installation…