Kia America introduced final week that it’s unveiling a further safety measure to assist its clients in response to criminals utilizing strategies of theft popularized on social media to steal or try and steal sure car fashions. This new {hardware} modification—an ignition cylinder protector—is designed for the autos that aren’t eligible for the safety software program improve that Kia launched earlier in 2023 and works to fight theft by reinforcing the ignition cylinder physique and stopping its elimination by means of the strategy of theft promoted in movies which have unfold throughout social media encouraging prison exercise.

This extra modification was obtainable starting December 20 by means of a free Buyer Satisfaction Initiative for the fashions that aren’t eligible for the software program improve. Following the completion of the set up, every car might be affixed with window decals to tell would-be automobile thieves that the car is provided with enhanced theft safety.

Along with this ignition cylinder protector, Kia has additionally designed a software program improve that additional enhances a car’s safety by proscribing the operation of a car’s ignition system ought to a possible prison try and steal a locked car with out the important thing, and the corporate continues to strongly encourage eligible clients to have this software program improve put in. Since January 2023, sellers have put in the anti-theft software program improve on near 940,000 autos, and Kia has hosted a number of non permanent software program improve clinics to help native sellers with set up in key cities with many extra deliberate in early 2024.

Kia additionally continues to supply free steering wheel locks on to affected homeowners of autos that aren’t eligible for the software program improve, and the corporate can be working with native regulation enforcement companies and public officers to distribute them as nicely. These free steering wheel locks additional improve the car’s safety and may function a visible deterrent for potential automobile thieves. So far, Kia has distributed greater than 325,000 locks and can proceed to supply them as they’re wanted. Earlier this yr, the corporate additionally introduced an settlement that can enable clients who’ve been impacted by car thefts to obtain extra advantages.

Kia is notifying impacted homeowners about this new anti-theft Buyer Satisfaction Initiative by means of a number of factors of contact with directions to deliver their car to the closest Kia dealership to have the free ignition protector put in. Extra data is offered at https://ksupport.kiausa.com/ConsumerAffairs/SWLD, the place clients can enter their car’s Automobile Identification Quantity (VIN) to verify eligibility for the software program or protector set up.

Subset of Eligible Autos with Key Operated Ignition System:

▪ 2011 – 2016 Sportage

 ▪ 2011 – 2016 Forte

 ▪ 2010 – 2022 Soul

 ▪ 2011 – 2021 Rio

▪ 2014 Sedona