Memphis city officials are considering legal action against Hyundai and Kia due to a significant rise in car thefts involving their vehicles. The city alleges that these automakers’ vehicles are particularly vulnerable to theft due to a lack of essential anti-theft features, leading to an increase in crime, law enforcement expenses, and a general public safety concern.

Car Theft Crisis in Memphis

Over the past two years, Memphis has seen more than 22,000 vehicle thefts, with Hyundai and Kia models disproportionately targeted. The spike in thefts can be traced to a viral social media trend demonstrating how easily these vehicles can be stolen using a USB cable due to a design flaw that makes them vulnerable without immobilizers. This design flaw has placed a strain on Memphis law enforcement, prompting the city to allocate additional resources to combat the thefts, delaying responses to other emergencies and increasing municipal costs​

Legal Action Under Consideration

The Memphis City Council has moved to explore litigation against Hyundai and Kia, following the example of other U.S. cities such as Cleveland and St. Louis. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland stated that the city is in the process of hiring a special attorney to potentially sue the automakers. The legal claims suggest that Hyundai and Kia’s negligence in not equipping their vehicles with standard anti-theft technology has contributed to the theft surge, resulting in millions of dollars in damages to the city​

Automaker Responses and Mitigation Efforts

Hyundai and Kia have taken steps to address the issue, including rolling out software updates to improve security and distributing steering wheel locks to affected vehicle owners. Hyundai has also introduced an ignition cylinder protector for vehicles that cannot receive the software update. Despite these efforts, Kia has dismissed the potential lawsuit as “without merit,” citing compliance with federal safety standards and the lack of a formal recall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)​

Broader Legal Landscape

Memphis is not alone in pursuing legal remedies. Other municipalities have filed similar lawsuits, arguing that the automakers’ failure to implement basic theft prevention measures has led to increased crime rates and associated costs. These legal battles could set a precedent regarding manufacturer responsibility for vehicle security flaws, especially in the context of public safety​

Keywords:

• Memphis car thefts
• Hyundai Kia lawsuit
• Anti-theft technology
• Municipal lawsuits
• Car theft epidemic