No Surprise: Hyundai and Kia Are the Most Stolen Cars in the "Kia Boys" Hometown

Statistics shared by the National Insurance Crime Bureau reveal that Hyundai and Kia cars are among the most stolen cars in the United States. However, the two brands are by far the leaders when it comes to vehicles stolen in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the place where the Kia Boys challenge started, with users on TikTok sharing a method to start the engine of certain Kia and Hyundai models using only a USB cable. The TikTok challenge went viral, eventually spreading across all states, with thousands of cars getting stolen throughout 2022.

The 2017 Hyundai Elantra was the most stolen car last year in Wisconsin, with 697 reported thefts. The 2015 Sonata was the runner-up with 495 thefts, followed by the Kia Sportage, Kia Soul, Kia Forte, and Kia Optima. Hyundai Tucson is seventh in the rankings, with 312 reported thefts.

Hyundai and Kia models are typically among the top 10 stolen cars nationwide, but they hold the leading positions in several states, including Minnesota and Ohio.

However, last year, the most stolen vehicle in the United States was the full-size Chevy truck. The data shows that the most appealing model year was 2004, with the police receiving reports of nearly 50,000 trucks stolen in 2022.

Full-size Ford trucks come close with over 48,000 reported thefts, followed by Honda Civic and Accord. Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Elantra, and Kia Optima are next in the carts, with 21,707, 19,602, and 18,221 reported thefts.

Hyundai and Kia have been trying to deal with the infamous TikTok challenge for nearly a year. The two companies released an anti-theft software update in February, but most thieves don't care about the patch, breaking into cars without checking the model year. Hyundai and Kia also gave away stickers to let thieves know that the vehicle can't be stolen with the TikTok hack, but these didn't work either, as criminals don't typically scan the cars for them.

Hyundai and Kia have recently announced software update clinics to allow car owners to get their vehicles patched without going to a dealership. The process takes approximately 30 minutes, after which the carmakers guarantee that the TikTok challenge becomes obsolete. However, the anti-theft update doesn't resolve the other ugly side of the problem: thieves continue to break into Hyundai and Kia cars without even caring if they're patched, eventually causing damage worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Hyundai and Kia also offer reimbursements to owners whose cars can't be patched but purchased steering wheel locks.