Chicago sues Kia, Hyundai after surge in car thefts
The lawsuit accused the companies of failing to equip cars with anti-theft technology that's standard in vehicles sold overseas.
Watch CBS News
The lawsuit accused the companies of failing to equip cars with anti-theft technology that's standard in vehicles sold overseas.
The City of Chicago filed a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai after a huge surge in thefts last year.
Raoul wants a stronger class-action settlement with Hyundai and Kia – asking the companies to recall or buy back “theft-prone” vehicles and equip them with engine-immobilizer technology.
Raoul and seven other state attorneys general argued that the current proposed class-action settlement requirements are not sufficient, and will not resolve the Hyundai and Kia theft crisis that jeopardizes public safety everywhere.
The 2011 Kia Sorento has two different wheel types and a temporary registration plate number 4-3-5-A-B-3-8-5 but police said it may have been removed.
An estimated 9 million vehicles are impacted in the rash of thefts.
It appears to be a win for Kia and Hyundai owners up to 9 million Kia and Hyundai owners who could have cash coming their way in the settlement over rampant thefts.
While Kia and Hyundai will shell out $200 million over theft issues, some Kia owners believe it won’t settle anything. CBS 2's Jermont Terry talked to one such owner.
In the span of a week, at least 16 Kias or Hyundais were stolen or broken into within one police district.
A letter claims the thefts have led to at least eight deaths and countless injuries, and have diverted emergency responders from other priorities.
Chicago police say the victims would park their cars but when they returned, they were either stolen or had the steering column damaged.
Chicago police say the victims would park their cars but when they returned, they were either stolen or had the steering column damaged.
For months, CBS 2 has been tracking how thieves break into the steering columns on certain models without engine immobilizers.
Help is on the way for Hyundai drivers. The automaker announced it's teaming up with AAA to offer new insurance options for those car owners.
More thieves are stealing Kia cars - this time police say they're taking them to commit armed robberies.
CBS 2's Tara Molina brought concerns about the glitch straight to Kia.
CBS 2’s Tara Molina brought us a first look at the update. On Tuesday, she brought concerns about the glitch straight to Kia.
Police in the 3rd District are hosting a wheel lock giveaway at the Jewel-Osco on 60th and Cottage Grove starting at 10 a.m. until they run out.
To get one, you must own a kia or Hyundai, have proof you live in Chicago, and have proof of ownership of the car.
The companies are recalling more than 550,000 vehicles that could catch fire while parked or driven.
The owner said the thieves grabbed two key fob programmers – devices criminals use to steal cars with the tap of only a few buttons.
Since a surge in thefts of the vulnerable Kia and Hyundai models, the South Korean automakers have rolled out more anti-theft software, but the attorneys general are pushing for them to do more.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is joining more than 20 other state attorneys general to call on Kia and Hyundai to take more steps to prevent a surge of auto thefts tied to a TikTok challenge.
This latest warning comes just a week after CBS 2's Tara Molina got an inside look at the anti-theft software Kia has deployed to prevent this continued spike.
This latest warning comes just a week after CBS 2’s Tara Molina got an inside look at the anti-theft software Kia has deployed to prevent this continued spike.