The Design Flaw That Made Hyundais Absurdly Easy to Steal

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Video written by Amy Muller
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[@qovro]

Next episode: a collab with Legal Eagle on whether sending your employee to steal a car is technically "illegal" and could result in "jail time".

[@PaulMcElligott]

@@user-op8fg3ny3j”Disagrees with my favorite propaganda” = politically “biased”

[@Pyth110]

​@@user-op8fg3ny3jcalls out republican BS, gets called biased. Logic checks out.

[@RealUlrichLeland]

​@@user-op8fg3ny3j I too am politically biased against car thieves. If they steal it they should at least be paying taxes on it!

[@ThatLemonPancake]

@@user-op8fg3ny3j what do politics have to do with car theft law?

[@toastinghost5198]

​@@user-op8fg3ny3jfun fact: Lawyers don't need to be impartial. Judges do!

[@WesternGolfAlliance]

My son's Hyundai was stolen in July, and it took SIX WEEKS to get it repaired because ... SO many Hyundai's are being stolen that the auto repair shops can't get replacement drive shafts and windows anymore. On the night his car was stolen, the small town of 20,000 people he lives in had 19 reported car thefts. Bottom line: This is out of control!!

[@kirkmooneyham]

Curious what state you live in. Lots of Hyundai/Kia where I live, in a small town/rural area. No one I know has had any stolen.

[@Dubfiance]

Bottom line buy a better car than a hyundai or kia.

[@RoundShades]

@@Dubfiance , really it's kinda shitty to pass this onto the customer. That's like telling Iran they should have bought different computer components and software instead of the globally standard one that had CIA/Mossad backdoor hacks built in. It's their fault for their purchases that led to their centrifuges getting sabotaged. Or maybe that's a massive lemon law kinda thing.

[@Atmapalazzo]

My brother's hyundai was one of the cars affected by this. It took 3 months for them to fix it.

[@lazarskrbic]

@@RoundShades except it's very easy to not buy a shit car from a shit manufacturer when you can get literally any other one

[@rosstaylor1039]

I remember back in the "good old days" when TikTok challenges were things like "plank in unusual places" or "pour a bucket of ice water over yourself". I've got to admit, I didn't see the trend steering in the direction of "car theft"

[@MonkeyJedi99]

My favorite Tik Tok challenge is "maintain not watching Tik Tok"

[@Cheerybelle]

(I know this is a joke, but I'm pretty sure the planking trend and the ALS-Awareness Ice Bucket Challenge predate TikTok by several years. So, uh, if someone is reading this down the line, now you have some context. Have a nice day.)

[@bw-leftturnracing7779]

No no, those challenges were before tiktok existed. Tiktok challenges have always been horrible, from the very start.

[@pacicidal]

I'm pretty sure both of those challenges you mentioned were from the days of Vine, not TikTok. In recent memory, most TikTok "challenges" are just a mask for encouraging abhorrent (or even just outright _dangerous_ to attempt) behaviors in impressionable human beings.

[@Phatrikko]

Don't forget the Tide pod challenge!

[@romulusnr]

BTW Kia and Hyundai are technically one manufacturer. They're two different brands from the same company. In case anyone was wondering why those two companies both did the same thing -- they're one company.

[@DemonEyes23]

came here to say the same thing. Genesis is also part of the group though they are the higher end products so apparently did not skimp in this area

[@MinecraftMasterNo1]

I love chaebols

[@Zerbey]

Yep, when I replaced my ignition switch recently the part was labeled Hyundai. They share a lot of common components.

[@ethancannoy]

Maybe we need another Porsche owns VW owns Porsche to explain this one...

[@romulusnr]

@@ethancannoy Well, then we ought to have how AT&T bought Cingular bought AT&T.

[@tuckerhousman931]

"To show how easy it is to steal a hyundai, i sent my outside correspondent Amy into the world with a USB cord"😂

[@unknowing203]

😂😂😂😂

[@chrisb.2028]

Would love to se Amy's toitoks of her masterfully stealing hyundais and kias around the states 😂

[@nate_0723]

The current 'fix' for this according to Kia is a software upgrade. I do not see how software prevents bypassing the ignition switch, especially if there is no immobilizer in the first place.

[@AndrewGray1987]

If you don't unlock the car with the wireless keyfob it won't start.

[@rileycoyote4924]

Just buy a club.

[@swimdude2113]

It doesn't.

[@Your-Least-Favorite-Stranger]

@@rileycoyote4924 I would but they're stupidly expensive. Then theres overhead costs, liquor licensing, security, getting a couple djs on rotation, noise dampening and or noise ordinances to deal with, honestly its a bit of a hassle.

[@jakehix8132]

In a fully computerized car, a software update is king. In my state, at least, Hyundai and Kia also partnered with the Auto Theft Prevention Authority to give free steering wheel locks.

[@bananaboat1808]

Three of my college classmates had their cars stolen in a month. 2 Kias, one Hyundai. When I explained to them how the technology described in this video is exploited, they were blown away and asked why I would know how to steal their vehicle. I told them that thousands of teens across America literally make videos on TikTok showing people how to do it and that it has become common public knowledge. They were horrified, and sure enough, they returned to school with Toyotas.

[@samkelo27]

I would have had the cops called on me cause I failed to say the reason I know how to steal their cars is because of tiktok

[@bcubed72]

Install an ignition kill switch or fuel shutoff in an inconspicuous location.

[@zNoah]

The US should've forced Hyundai/Kia to recall all cars and install the missing immobilizer

[@y0Special]

Yeah that sounds like a made up story.

[@SchnurriTV]

And then everyone clapped

[@Enjoymentboy]

Let's be clear: this was NOT a design flaw. It was an accounting flaw. The engineers didn't cause this. The bean counters upstairs demanded it be done. Big difference. Lesson to be learned? Never let an accountant have a say in the final design.

[@SenorBigDong69]

I’m not sure if you are familiar, but typically the bean counter just has a price target, the engineer chooses how to make their design cheaper to meet that target

[@spicychad55]

Accounting flaw? CEO makes all the final decisions!

[@Enjoymentboy]

@@spicychad55 CEO is the head bean counter.

[@mariusvanc]

So you're saying it was designed to not have an immobilizer?

[@Enjoymentboy]

@@mariusvanc No. I'm saying that someone NOT an engineer said "Let's save $37 per vehicle and not put this thing in...but don't tell anyone. And keep the price the same too".

[@ed8586]

"The cheapest way to get a car" -agreed

[@FullAznBlood]

That’s how I got my first few cars

[@wilh3lmmusic]

Downloading it is cheaper

[@lazarskrbic]

@@wilh3lmmusic you wouldn't download a CAR

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Bonus points if you steal brand new cars from one of the factory's overflow lots. They don't properly monitor, patrol, or inventory the lots often enough, and sometimes they're nice enough to store the keys on site! And if you can sell them fast enough, they might not even be reported stolen for months.

[@casper14301]

​@@lazarskrbicYou're so smart

[@mvryan]

In 2004 I got a Hyundai and the dealer was already having so much trouble with them being stolen off the lot they installed aftermarket immobilizers on every car on arrival.

[@PaarthGuptaYT]

That is so funny!

[@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh]

What city was this in, btw? I'm sure it was flooded with all these White car thieves wearing skimasks, like the blood libel suggests.

[@westrim]

rent free@@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh

[@matta6088]

​@@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh u alright mate?

[@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh]

@@matta6088 I'm just wanting to make sure all those White car thieves wearing skimasks are brought to justice. That is who is stealing all these cars, is it not?

[@robinelliott-ni2eh]

I remember when no French cars had immobilisers but were almost impossible to steal because the steering wheel would come off in your hands if your tried to snap the steering lock 😂

[@gschgvt2956]

According to literature what you have an anti-theft shear pin drive vehicle.

[@notmenotme614]

I remember when Italian cars were almost impossible to steal because they’d break down less than 100 metres down the road 😂

[@artbk]

I remember when brazillian cars were impossible to steal because they'd rob you first

[@NSFWHarold]

I went over to Nebula, and was sorely disappointed that there was not a longer video that included Amy stealing cars. WTF am I even paying for?! 😘

[@yetinother]

Haha Nebulaizer (also similar experience with Amy not stealing my car)

[@sirBrouwer]

Sam can not pay Legal Eagles Nebula lawyer fee. (He did not accept the 3 kidneys)

[@seanj3667]

Donut Media has your back bro.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIXIh5qchbJjjtk

[@NSFWHarold]

@@usernamehere5812 while that's true, there is also a lot of great content that seems to toe the line acceptably. Can't boycott everything. I will support the content that stays out of the woke nonsense whenever possible. Most of Nebula fits that description.

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

@@usernamehere5812 yet you're back here on KZbin where the revenue generated by your views is even less controlled by you, your opinions or choices. I'm not sure your logic tracks that well.

[@S1apShoes]

As a Hyundai owner, I have bypassed this problem by having a stick shift.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

Which has, let's be honest, the best anti theft feature, the loud revving and instant alerting that no, that idiot trying to steal your car has no clue how to drive a manual. Way better than an alarm

[@holy3979]

Well, you'll find your car just up the road if it's stolen, only downside is you'll probably have to replace the clutch and gearbox

[@_Dimon_]

Only works in USA.

[@1cecreampize197]

@@_Dimon_ but the problem only exists in USA

[@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh]

@@1cecreampize197 That's because congoids exist in the USA in very great numbers. Don't worry... you'll get to enjoy them soon enough, once the judeo-democrats fully break this nation and the disease spills into yours. Though it might be fun watching the congoids fight your muslim raepists.

[@HirokaAkita]

I remember when Donut Media tried to "steal" a car with this flaw. It was stupidly easy to do XD *And now Amy knows how to do it. SOMEONE PLEASE NERF HER SO THE WORLD CAN BE KEPT SAFE D:* (?)

[@nomms]

Soon to be an ex-wroter of HAI, to break bad and become a car theif. Grand Theft Auto, Amy edition

[@herrmannmunster]

Anyone who's watched The Wire will surely react with a smile to the fact that Donut (Media) stole a car.

[@seanj3667]

Came to saw this.

[@DoctorX17]

I think she knew how to do it before this… she probably knows how to bypass the immobilizer in other models too

[@winzyl9546]

Who gives a fu

[@Croz89]

Least it's not quite as bad as the Vauxhall Nova in the 1990's. You could "hot-wire" one of those (along with a few other models, Astras and Corsas of the same age I believe), by, I kid you not, pulling out the hazard warning light button and reinstalling it upside down. No ripping out cables under the glovebox and stripping off insulation needed. There's a famous clip from Top Gear where they do just that.

[@BatCaveOz]

That is not how buttons work.

[@Croz89]

@@BatCaveOz It is in old cars! The whole module just clipped onto the dash.

[@_Miner]

This did work, it didn't start the car but did act like you turned the key 1 stage to get electrics on. Then you just needed to break the steering lock and bump start the car (rolling and lifting the clutch while in gear)

[@Croz89]

@@_Miner Yes, hence the air quotes. The steering lock could be broken with a stiff breeze, and as long as you had a mate with you (and most thieves and twocers did back in the 90's) bump start was no problem.

[@gormster]

1:55 mad props to the editor for assembling the entire video so far in Windows Movie Maker just to get this shot

I see there's a few of us who notice the important things.

[@sa1t938]

you mean to say they arent all made in movie maker?

[@Mr.Unacceptable]

I had a car that had a broken ignition for years. Nobody could steal it because they didn't know how to start it. Even though you didn't need a key. I had a notched piece of wood that would turn the ignition, hidden in the car. Also a switch to a solenoid that cut off all battery power because it had a small drain and would kill the battery if you didn't run it every day. You also needed to turn the solenoid off to turn off the car. You needed yo know where the switch and piece of wood is to start it. I parked it at a hiking trail for 6 days and it was still there when I got back. Obviously had several attempts to try and steal it.

[@MudakTheMultiplier]

I had a buddy who had a van with the wood block ignition switch and also every door could have the lock bypassed in a different way without tools. Driver's side could be jiggled, passenger side you could reach through a rust hole to the cable, side door you could just open because the lock didn't work. (Trunk door locked fine though). I borrowed it while he was out of state with the keys once. He always said that if someone stole it they clearly needed it more than him.

[@jlco]

Ah, good old security by obscurity.

[@B3Band]

Tow truck or flatbed is how to steal your car. If someone really wanted it, it would be gone.

[@jlco]

​@@B3Band Car thieves are usually opportunistic. Besides, if they have a vehicle to tow yours with, why do they want your car? Unless it's really expensive looking, in which case you probably should invest in a GPS tracker and come up with a non-standard spot to hide it (ideally with no obvious wiring leading to it). If they're going to spend the resources on a car-sized Faraday cage, then you might just need to hire an armed guard to protect it...

[@Mr.Unacceptable]

@@B3Band If I wanted real security I'd have flying gunship what's your point?

[@forgottenfamily]

In Canada, a class action lawsuit was settled and it looks like amongst the settlement details is Kia and Hyundai owners are getting steering wheel locks

[@pyropulseIXXI]

Those steering wheel locks suck; just get a manual and you will deter most car thieves

[@forgottenfamily]

@@pyropulseIXXI You can't change the transmission of a car and Kia/Hyundai are trying to provide a tolerable solution for their current owners without having to replace the whole car Also, the reason why manuals will deter most car thieves is that most people at this point can't drive manuals. Bully for you that you can but when you're trying to solve the problem for hundreds of thousands of people, it's not an answer.

[@TheDasHatti]

@@pyropulseIXXI those, the LockPickingLawyer reviewed lately?

[@nomms]

​@@TheDasHattiThose're the one

[@jwalster9412]

​@@pyropulseIXXIjust bring a 10MM wrench and carry the wheel with you wherever you go.

[@TheMAZZTer]

So it sounds like this is less of a flaw in those cars, than it is the old adage being proven true: You don't need to make your property impossible to steal, just slightly more inconvenient than the other guy's.

[@cuboidraptor2506]

Specifically, it needs to *look* more inconvienient.

[@Galactipod]

No, it's definitely a flaw with the cars. They're a lot easier to steal and everyone knows this.

[@B3Band]

No, it's definitely a flaw with the cars. It's kinda weird that you don't understand that.

[@etekweb]

I mean, it's both. On the one hand, if all cars had immobilizers, criminals would have to put in the extra effort to defeat those security devices (as noted in the many comments here from UK viewers - where immobilizers are mandatory - talking about how the immobilizers can be bypassed). On the other hand, if there is a type of car that is much easier to steal, that one is what criminals will go after, and leave the ones with immobilizers alone. It's definitely still a fault of Hyundai (and by extension Kia) for not keeping up with modern security standards. But that security flaw in Hyundai vehicles, in a way, does make your Toyota more secure from theft.

[@Mitzoplick]

@@Galactipod Considering that they are about as easy to steal as almost all cars were in the 80s, it is simply that they do not have modern tech that other companies have implemented. The bigger issue is why are there so many garbage people out there stealing cars for fun?

[@bbbo85]

It's funny how US does not mandate immobilizer and EVEN amazing how Hyundai/Kia actually let customers choose as an option

[@2DogsVlogs]

I had no idea they weren't on all newer cars in the USA. I've a Kia Cerato S (the base model) and it came with an alarm and immobilizer. What you call a Kia Forte LX in the USA except it has a proper gearbox and not a CVT and a lot more safety features.

[@Mitzoplick]

The government should mandate every aspect of our lives, then we would be safe.

[@user-zp7jp1vk2i]

@@Mitzoplick so you prefer freedom fry even if your car goes to some thug?? yeh, guess there's a price to pay for freedom.

[@Mitzoplick]

@@user-zp7jp1vk2i the problem is the thug, not the object being coveted.

[@GhostSheep96]

Hyundais Development Department be like: When car gets stolen, People buy new car. STONKS!

[@kjh23gk]

They certainly won't be buying a new Hyundai, though!

[@GhostSheep96]

@@kjh23gk im sure some people will do so 😅 Not many, but some

[@B3Band]

Hyundai can buy stock in other car companies and enjoy a share of their additional profits. LITERALLY STONKS!

[@GhostSheep96]

@@B3Band didn’t thought about this, good idea 😁

[@renakunisaki]

@@kjh23gk "screw this, I'll buy a Kia instead!"

[@shubhamdeshmukh6795]

Oh wow, Sam, your video was soooo persuasive! I rushed out and stole 5 Kias immediately after watching it!

[@100beep5]

Amateur. I stole five while watching it.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Instructions unclear, went out and stole an akita. Please send first aid supplies...

[@HazewinDog]

what kind of attempt at humor is this lol

[@natec1]

1:50 Critically, and in a very basic description, the ignition, as the name implies, also enables the engine ignition. It basically turns on the computer that controls the spark. There's a lot more to it than that, but it's a reason why hotwiring a car isn't as easy these days. Spinning the engine on its own won't do you much good unless the engine starts spinning itself.

[@marcellkovacs5452]

Right, so the only part not shown in that graphic is that you also have to bridge the wires that power the car before you bridge the engine starter wires. It's still not rocket science.

[@mjc0961]

They didn't say or show that because we already knew that ;)

[@atlas2296]

Thank you for skipping the boring parts about how to actually do the thefts. I was getting worried you thought we were a bunch of idiots!

[@ChristopherBurtraw]

Ignition switch wiring does not have the voltage necessary to electrocute you... It can short out shutting the car off and possibly blowing fuses though.

[@CubicSpline7713]

Absolutely correct. 12 volts will make your tongue fizz a bit, if you had a long enough tongue.

[@mjc0961]

r/woosh

[@1337GameDev]

It'll just burn out the starter relay, starter motor or burn the starter fuse. Usually it just kills the relay, and if that closes shut the starter....

[@Dr_KW]

Funny how many people think electrocute = give a very mild shock to

[@VoidOneGamer]

@@Dr_KW One of my biggest gripes is the misuse of that term lol

[@heartofdawn2341]

Careful. Hyundai is suing people for talking about this. Apparently, it's your fault for saying their cars are easy to steal, and totally not their fault at all for skimping out on a basic security measure and making cars that are way too easy to steal.

[@2010hyundaielantra]

not even the Russian government does this to people who criticize Ladas. with that said, I own one of these and have had not a problem.

[@TheSpiritombsableye]

It would be both parties faults. This is why Sam wanted to be vague in the description.

[@LRM12o8]

@2010hyundaielantra Well, you'll only ever notice the problem when your car is gone. And judging by your username, your car is DEFINITELY affected by this design flaw!

[@LRM12o8]

@TheSpiritombsableye the f@ck it's not! When someone publishes criticism of a company's product that damages the company's repetition, it's either the company's fault for selling a crappy product if the criticism is true, or the publisher's fault for slander/misinformation if the criticism is not true, there is no scenario where both (or neither for that matter) are at fault! What kind of corporate tyranny hellscape do you want to live in, where people aren't allowed to voice factually correct criticism of a company's shitty product?!! 🤦‍♂️💥🤯

[@TheSpiritombsableye]

@@LRM12o8 I never referenced slander. Information is paramount to an optimal outcome. But with power comes responsibility. Anyone can read the information and misuse it. Let the people who need to know it, know it; no one more.

[@d.b.cooper1]

In the UK whilst we have immobolisers it's super easy to clone the signal & disable the alarm. Theives/organised crime have been targeting high end value cars for years now, don't bother with Kia/Hydunadi's but thankfully it's not really a tiktok challenge....despite not being hard to do. Criminals will always find a a way, people now keep their keys far from their door step to prevent signal theft

[@trumpet12345]

at that point, just get an rfid blocking box. can even decorate it if one is bored.

[@fs5866]

Install a CAN-BUS immobiliser on your car which requires a dash button sequence to start the car ignition, regardless if you have a key fob or regular key.,you can get in your car, unlock it turn or the dash and everything but as soon as you press to start the ignition it will not do so unless you insert the button sequence.

[@d.b.cooper1]

@@fs5866 yeah i mean after market immobilser's aren't really uncommon here & often a insurance requirement for some car brands prone to theft like Range Rovers. But thankfully it's only needed luxury suv's which people tend to steal, most cars you won't need it/isn't worthwhile

[@starguard4122]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. It was very useful and informative (especially the sponcer advertisement for "Brilliant")

[@zeph_os]

It's amazing how far this issue reaches, even if your community wasn't directly affected by it. My roommate bought a 2015 Kia, and his insurance was very expensive because of all the thefts that happened

[@Megasteel32]

and not because of any other factors? sure.

[@dollhousemakr]

@@Megasteel32 My husband and I bought a Kia Carnival a year ago and the insurance for it is insane, and both of us have clean records. We heard from his sister that it's because of the thefts.

[@rogermac358]

@@Megasteel32 I'm 63, no accidents or tickets in over 8 years. Bought a 2 year old Hyundai Accent 6 years ago and my insurance just went up by about $25 a month, just because of the theft problem!

[@Megasteel32]

@@rogermac358 and not because of ya know inflation?

[@rogermac358]

@@Megasteel32 Amazingly enough, I have been around long enough to grasp the concept of inflation adjustments to the cost of goods and services. The total of the rate increase on my insurance premium exceeds the current rate of inflation by a sizeable margin. However, I am absolutely convinced that you will have another well thought out and articulately presented rebuttal to my post... Therefore, I concede the point to your superior intellect, and humbly ask your forgiveness for disagreeing with such a well reasoned and logical position. Rant away, my friend, it's been fun, but I'm bored with it already!

[@DigitalDiabloUK]

Here in Britain, an immobiliser doesn't stop them. They've figured out that they can "relay" the signal from your key in your house to your car and open and start it that way. None of this breaking things lark - just wave and go. 😢

[@kngofbng]

Put your car keys inside a metal can with a lid, that will block the radio signals from the fob.

[@yetinother]

That's also a thing in many places in the world including euro and USA markets. The easy solution is to put your keys inside of a metal box or wrap them in aluminum foil and not being used. They also make pouches that have a metal weave in them that work "mostly" well.

[@justsomeguy5470]

​@yetinother Ya, there's RFID blocking stuff too

[@nicholasvinen]

When I bought my car I was a little disappointed it didn't have keyless ignition. Now I'm glad...

[@HazewinDog]

so basically our keys need an off switch. easy fix, but I somehow doubt we'll see this happen any time soon.

[@Joshuastem5622]

This only applies to low end trims with a traditional key. All Hyundais and Kia’s that have pushbutton start and keyless entry are equipped with an immobilizer by default.

[@dpyro]

Note this is only an issue in the US. In Canada it is mandatory to have engine immobilizers since 2007.

[@liamfoxy]

Next HAI video: How to Break Into a County Jail and Bust Out Your Gullible Video Editor

[@rileyates]

My car was so good at not getting stolen that it wouldn’t even recognize my key. The original key. Took it to the dealership multiple times and each time it would get reprogrammed but it would eventually forget that and say I was stealing the car again when I used the key 😭

[@Chris-onyt]

its the so good no one can drive it. that must suck maybe low battery in car or remote

[@Terabit3]

Your car must have had alzheimers

[@casuallystalled]

your car must not accept you as its owner 😆

[@choo_choo_]

@@casuallystalled he needs more gym badges

[@tom-xq7pt]

Fun fact, Audis auto start works by keeping a separate car key hidden by a 3rd party in the car to disable the immobilized. -source, talked to an Audi mechanic

[@nec3f]

From a kia owner in Milwaukee, one of your stats is (likely) incorrect. Some people have had their car stolen, recovered, and stolen again (sometimes all in the same day). That would push the date, by which every Kia has been stolen, back a bit.

[@callabeth258]

I’m glad you said the immobiliser is mandatory in Australia because troubled youth dont need any extra help stealing cars in my home town they do that plenty already!

[@DescendingVelocity]

“Troubled youth” lol that makes it sound like they had bad childhoods and need counseling, when in reality it’s just idiot kids that never faced consequences for their actions

[@namingisdifficult408]

@@DescendingVelocitya child can be both

[@d.b.cooper1]

I mean immobilsers are also easy to bypass if you're motivated enough, in the UK high end cars get their signal from key cloned by robbers outside peoples home & simply drive away in seconds. Only reason it hasn't taken off in the UK/Australia mass scale is it hasn't been a tiktok trend here....thankfully not all our cars are automatic either so it deters most 12-16 year olds at least unlike in states where literal kids are seen driving

[@2DogsVlogs]

You must live in Toowoomba LOL. On average we have one stolen car a night. Not bad for a town of 130,000. Usually from houses being broken into or carjacking.

[@k3nblock66]

Let's also remember that the program to create new Proximity keys for ALL Stellantis (Chrysler,Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Fiat etc) vehicles got stolen. So they can get stolen by anyone because they can tell the car that the proximity key is with in the car.

[@LRM12o8]

So anyone can easily copy the keys of those cars? Wow, that's horrible security! Granted, any proximity/remote key can be cloned with some cheap RF equipment. But it usually requires a bunch of coding and code-cracking that's probably not worth the effort or too complex for your average street criminal...

[@k3nblock66]

@@LRM12o8 Exactly. There have been 100's of High performance SRT Mopars stolen to be used as transport to steal other SRT's, they all get stripped and dumped.

[@trumpet12345]

dang - even at that, no one loves my minivan enough to even steal it. O well, the trusty stead remains i the stable.@@k3nblock66

[@johncena-hq1ti]

@@LRM12o8 the guys who do that are somewhat sophisticated. Their devices can cost $1k-$10k+. And the very expensive ones can be used on more than just molars. Car theft is a huge business. Not just chop shops, they swap vins and resell or send them over seas on ships.

[@Smart-Towel-RG-400]

​@@LRM12o8yes this is why you want to have a box that blocks the signal that you can put the keys in when you get in the house so they cant do a relay hack ....they also sell keychain pouches you can wrap the fob in soon as you stop to blocj the signal

[@1ahs921]

Fun fact. The parking lot in 3:38 is not in fact in Miluakee. It is in Trumbull, CT.

[@examininglife4338]

When is Amy going to be on Jet Lag?

[@solracer66]

In my neighborhood of a 100 or so homes we have had three Hyundai thefts in just the last 6 months. Having looked at the ignition of one of those cars after it was recovered it was obvious why, the ignition switch looks like it was made by Fisher-Price and is as noted so flimsy that the whole process takes less than 90 seconds if you have a screwdriver and a USB cable. In fact it is so flimsy that I am convinced that a thief with strong hands could do it with just the USB cable. I really think that a forced recall is needed to not just add an immobilizer but to replace the entire ignition switch/lock assembly with something more substantial.

[@B3Band]

Hyundai should just buy every Hyundai owner a Toyota

[@nickolaswilcox425]

hey now, thats offensive to fisherprice, ive got some of their older stuff thats still indestructible, heck they used one of the only truly secure security screws left for a lot of their stuff. the newer stuff has admittedly seen some cheaping out but its still kidproof for reference the screw in question is a trigroove, with the only other unbeaten screw i know of being a dtc-40, if you dont have the bit you aint getting in non destructively and you arent finding a bit

[@izackrl]

Can confirm how easy it is. My Elantra was stolen last week and until we got it fixed, we just used a normal USB cable to start it. Absolutely ridiculous.

[@skolarii]

dumb question but if it was stolen, how do u still have the car?

[@izackrl]

@@skolarii they found it in like 4 hours and I had to go pick it up from the impound

[@EvanAviator]

@@skolariiquite possibly the easiest stolen good to find and track idk why people steal cars thinking they can get away with it

[@lazarskrbic]

@@EvanAviator prolly to just trash them around and leave cuz they know cops won't bother searching for them cuz the car was found

[@LRM12o8]

@skolarii Plot twist: OP's car wasn't stolen *FROM* OP, it was stolen *BY* OP! 🤣

[@nbooth]

Technically, the ignition switch does not close a circuit between the battery and the starter. That would require the full current of the starer to run through the ignition, which is dangerous and requires thick wires. Instead, the ignition switch closes a circuit to a mechanical relay (electromagnetic switch), and that closes the circuit to the starter.

[@ChaseTheHighpoint]

4:09 “A very good question for an algebra test” Me, an algebra teacher, frantically writing that down-

[@jensschroder8214]

That means you don't even have to know which cable colors you need. You simply lever out the lock and start with a USB plug

[@LRM12o8]

Yes. Not only _CAN_ these cars be hotwired umlike any other manufacturer's car, they don't even NEED to be hotwired in order to start them without a key

[@jensschroder8214]

In Germany, the radio transmitter in the key is mandatory for new cars, including KIA and Hyundai. I haven't heard here in Germany that the theft rates for these brands are particularly high. These are not required in the US.

[@B3Band]

Yeah but what if I put the USB in upside down?

[@renakunisaki]

@@B3Band that's why you use type C

[@jackmccabe3107]

4:00 times .99 would be 99% not 9.9% but the answer seemed to line up with times .099 so I guess it’s time to fire an editor 😅

[@RosaParksShoe]

This has made me turn away from hyandais and kias, especially how they handled the situation was terrible. This didn't affect newer models, but how they handled this shows me they don't care about their current customers.

[@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh]

The congoid children stealing the cars don't care about you either. Or the judeo-democrat activist prosecutors in these "diversified" cities that refuse to actually charge these thieving congiods when they are caught. Kia cares about you far more than any coingoid, and leagues more than any judeo-democrat ever would.

[@B3Band]

I just stick with Toyota and stop worrying about trying to save a couple hundred bucks for Great Value cars.

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

​@@B3BandIf it was just a couple of hundred, that'd be no biggie. I've seen them for several thousand dollars more and it's damn near impossible for me to see a Toyota at a used dealership at all. I can't afford the extra thousands but honestly, if they had just added the immobilizer to these vehicles, I would say my Rio is perfect. Mine is low in mileage and has run amazingly well. I get the oil changed before it ever gets close to the mileage it needs to be changed at (so I go by the date instead) and don't drive it too much. Only light that has ever come on in the year and a half I've had it was for low tire pressure during a cold snap here in the south. I really love my car! But it hurts knowing that yet again, safety is always the first thing to go to save money when it comes to transportation. I need to look and see if a class action lawsuit is happening here in the states and no, the steering wheel locks they offered is not a good compromise.

[@tomtom1541]

If you think that's bad just check out their engine recall. 4cyl engines only last 100k miles before you need a whole new engine lol.

[@Bonanzaking]

This actually does affect newer models in the sense not everyone can tell what year a car is by looking at it, not like the year is part of the badging. People with newer cars are still having their windows broken as people still try to steal them not knowing it won’t work. Just stick to the toyota for fewer headaches.

[@_jaykay_]

Looking forward to your math being in the annual goofs video!

[@canalespiero]

At 2:39 "receiver" is misspelled as "reciever"

[@GelatinCoffee]

I do this with my own car 💀😂, got it from my great grandmother and like 2 weeks after I got it the steering column locked up. Key wouldn't turn so I could take it out or start the car, and I was like "fuck it, I'll hotwire my own car" now my anti theft device device is my lack of trunk lid, no muffler, and a giant ass rust hole in my console basically right at the end of my "exhaust" system 😂. It looks like a junkyard car, it sounds like a junkyard car, you will go deaf driving it (I drive with noise cancelling headphones 😃), and well. You have to know how to hotwire And climb in through the trunk 🤣

[@alpharius7755]

stupid question, isn’t it illegal to drive with headphones?😂

[@kevinbooth-]

​@@alpharius7755in many places the exhaust problem is itself illegal...

[@alpharius7755]

@@kevinbooth- why do one crime when you can do dozens

[@MasterChaoko]

If it was good enough for great-grandma, then it's still a great ride.

[@GelatinCoffee]

@@alpharius7755 I haven't been pulled over for it 🤷🏻‍♂️, besides it's way less impactful than all those fancy new cars that effectively completely block out all sound from outside the car. It's the reason they're making emergency sirens vibrate the ground (because people are too stupid to use their mirrors I guess) I have been pulled over for the "abnormally loud exhaust" which usually means the car also has no catalytic converter on it, but as long as you still have that (it helps reduce your car's emissions or something) you're legal. Was kind of difficult to prove I had one on the side of the road though 😅

[@nikolus24]

I love the ambiguity of the description on how to. Also the way zoomed out description gets the idea across without to much info

[@PickleRick65]

I've Never heard of Anyone been "electrocuted" by a 12v/24v system. You would do more damage dropping the battery on them

[@Bikes0420]

Seriously you can literally lick the battery terminal of your vehicle. It’s not gonna do anything.

[@Faraonqa]

its not a design flaw...is just cutting costs

[@Bird_Dog00]

I would argue that design flaws can be knowing or even intentional.

[@justalilred]

You own a kia or Hyundai huh😂

[@d.b.cooper1]

You'd think when you're forced to do things in other key countries on a mass economies of scale would kick in forcing you to do it in every market like Apple with their USB-C due to EU laws....alas USA industry protectionist laws force manfuacters to build in their country meaning they're incentivtised to build just for the local market & cut costs, whereas a lot of their bigger plants abroad export to a lot more countries from the same factories

[@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh]

Agreed; it's incredibly expensive to find someplace to live without all the congioids that keep stealing cars living in it.

[@miketech1024]

1:56 Glad to see Windows Movie Maker still going strong at HAI Headquarters. 🤣

[@mrhatch117]

Your videos are hilarious…. Thanks for bringing joy to my day!

[@talonarayan]

Amy is going to be a super spy with all the different skills she has to learn for all of these videos.

[@Sammie1053]

As a Hyundai owner, I really wish people would stop covering this scandal. My car is old enough that it doesn't have the same design flaw, so you can't hijack it like that. But the kind of person who would do this probably isn't smart enough to know that, so I'm just waiting for the day someone sees the Hyundai badge on my trunk and smashes a window for no reason. I'm tempted to put a note in my back window straight-up explaining that my car doesn't have the exploit to deter would-be thieves.

[@meair]

would probably be easier to buy two honda badges and replace the hyundai badges with them

[@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh]

As a fellow white person, I wish woke propaganda would stop exclusively using white criminals to represent this string of thefts happening in very non-white cities. It's blood libel from my tribe, and it (quite correctly) makes people hate us for it.

[@justsomeguy5470]

​@@meairOr just remove the old ones

[@itsorcacraft9037]

This is how i own 5 cars

[@Coogan2003]

Yeah but they’re all Kias and Hyundais, so…

[@mjc0961]

Hahaha not for long if they're all Kias and Hyundais though

[@calebforbes9169]

Love the topic! Was aware of the issue, but you might say I was only “half-interested” in the specifics.

[@poodlescone9700]

Even if there is a security flaw, the problem is only prevalent in inner cities in the US. We do not see rises in Kia thefts in other parts of the world selling those same cars. The real problem is the lack of arrest and prosecution of crimes in US cities.

[@The_Blazement]

the problem is that the police spend too much time arresting random dudes for smoking weed instead of going after actual dangerous criminals

[@MicahThomason]

I actually used to be a street criminal. Cars from mid 90's and older were quite easy to steal. Those were the good old days.

[@yitzakIr]

"Fuck car alarms" - Biggie

[@Mitzoplick]

I wonder why auto theft and joy riding was supposedly not as rampant back then though....

[@MicahThomason]

@@Mitzoplick Because, back then, when you got caught, you went to jail and stayed there for a while. I finally got tired of prison. Now, it appears, the punishment is much less severe.

[@Mitzoplick]

@@MicahThomason exactly. The issue is social / political not any particular vehicular technology. Transferring the responsibility from the actions of the people blatantly breaking the law and onto the vehicle manufacturer is part and parcel to the reason it is happening in the first place.

[@MicahThomason]

@@Mitzoplick Yep. Lawn furniture and potted plants are easy to steal. We don't blame Home Depot.

[@dankification]

Kia and Hyundai basically did worst PR error by trying to save manufacturing cost vs owners financial purchase of a new car

[@MostlyHarmlessNebr-gb6di]

Another ongoing problem is that people who own the 24% of old Hyundai/Kias that did have immobilizers (and of 2022+ models... which all do) are getting their windows and steering columns broken because explaining which models are vulnerable and which aren't *does* unfortunately take longer than a TikTok.

[@cameronwood1994]

In the UK, the thieves have come up with a new solution. It's called relay theft. If that doesn't work, they just break into your house and steal the keys. Alternatively, as a friend's son found, they just carjack you.

[@caltheuntitled8021]

I heard that the city of Milwaukee was considering suing the car manufacturers for wasting so much police time with their negligence, but I’m not sure if that’s true or not

[@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh]

... yet those same hebrew prosecutors have no intent to actually prosecute the lawyers and engineers stealing all the cars. They just want more gibs from Kia and Hundai while letting congiods legally shoplift all day long.

[@Br3ttM]

The police, and especially the prosecutors and courts, are the reason so many cars get stole. It's teens doing it, and in cities and states where teens don't really get punished for crimes. There was a pre-teen in Chicago that stole a dozen different cars, and he was young enough they didn't even prosecute him as a juvenile, so just took him home each time they caught him. Many of these cities also have major theft problems of people just walking into stores, grabbing things, and walking out, and regular "spontaneous events" where dozens of people just rush in and empty out entire stores. Security cameras mean nothing, because they won't be investigated even with video of their face.

[@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh]

@@Br3ttM Let me guess, that pre-teen was White and wearing a ski mask, like all the jewish blood libel depicts?

[@The_Blazement]

@@RabbiGoldberg-bk4qh damn, it's crazy how people who live in poverty will steal more often because they desperately want to get out of poverty, who would've thought?

[@Mitzoplick]

Ah yes, the people in Milwaukee are so garbage that they constantly steal from each other, and it is a corporations job to make sure that they can't.

[@june_senpai9846]

I did lose the magnet in my father's key before.Basically it has a certain magnetic range that is require to make the circuit work.Without being too technical.

[@ejenda9909]

I don't actually know, but I would assume the immobilizer communication uses a rolling key so you cant just intercept it once.

[@JamesCusano]

Then again, we all assumed Hyundai wouldn’t make the design decision that they did…

[@keysontrains538]

love the environmental story telling the writers are putting in my life rn. before this video I was just guilt tripping myself into thinking the car insurance went up cuz my grades weren’t as good as last year. partially a relief this video but now a new, not self inflected, but still very much worrying source of anxiety.

[@nikjost3137]

Me, a hyundai owner, watching this video…

[@GeoVW72]

I would be more interested to know when coulomb locks started to be phased out. That is what truly prevents a car from being driven anywhere. Push button start seams to have killed it, though I have found older cars without the feature

[@roots4x]

Steering column locks would require an immobilizer in this case to have been effective. BMW phased out column locks a little while back because they deemed them redundant, and they kinda are if you have an immobilizer but still an extra layer of security. You can have a column lock without an immobilizer but that would have to rely on the physical key to unlock it. Since these Kias had easily removable key cylinders, that doesn't really work. Column locks only prevented hotwire thefts and required hardened cases for both the column lock and the key cylinder. If these cars had a steering wheel lock, the fact that they had piss poor lock security means they would have been stolen regardless.

[@alyx6427]

5:00: love how the car used for this is a passat b6, which has a simple insert key, so it relies entirely on the immobiliser as you can insert fingers into the cylinder

[@Tacoaloto]

The crazy thing is that this only tends to affect the lowest trim (SE normally) of most vehicles, but that means that many people still will have their vehicle broken into despite not actually being stolen via this method.

[@aaroncostello8812]

Me, last week: "How do thieves get around the car's immobilizer? Do they hook up a tablet or something with the USB?" Me, today: "Oh." 😂😂

[@renakunisaki]

Well, USB is involved, just not how you'd think...

[@timkimzach]

I like how the stock footage of the theifs matches demographic reality.

In europe, we get locks for the steering wheel and for the stick. Big chunky metal with a strong lock. Costs like 20 bucks, and also comes handy if you need to really swing at a thief :D

[@davidewhite69]

I bought a Kia Sportage new in 2017 and not only did it have a mobiliser, it had keyless starting. ie no key barrel to pull out

[@kuromad]

I was always under the impression that cars also locked their steering column physically with the key. At least all I owned did. Also makes sense as starting the car isn't required to move it, as long as you have another car and a piece of rope. But that becomes harder when you can't steer. But I wonder... how does hotwiring solve this?

[@BatCaveOz]

A hard turn of the wheel will break most steering locks.

[@renakunisaki]

My father has a truck with a safety feature where, if you start it by remote and don't actually put the key in, it will let you move, but shut off as soon as you press the brake. Apparently this is meant for some kind of emergency where you need to move it right away? But you also need to press the brake to shift out of park, so... 🤷

[@Zerbey]

You didn't mention that Kia (and I'm sure Hyuandai too) now have a recall for this issue and will fix it for free. Took less than 45 minutes at the dealer.

[@mmagscott]

Haha, my stealership fixed my Hyundai by giving me one of those stupid clubs.

[@theleftuprightatsoldierfield]

I was going to college in Milwaukee in 2021 and I specifically remember this being a really big deal there at that point

[@jul1440]

Door locks are part of the *"vehicle contents protection system",* along with the alarm. They are, in no way, related to vehicular antitheft; that's what immobilizers are for.

[@ClanGauss]

Funny thing is, Kia and Hyundai were already including immobilizers in their vehicles in other countries in quite long ago(about 94~02 in South Korea, europe, etc). The reason for this is that American dealers did not request this option, so the feature was removed and shipped or produced in the United States.

[@Arihantsharmaincyber]

Amy is speeding up the process and shrinking the timeline closer than November 2025😂😂😂😂

[@geoffsantore9621]

The movie theater that pops up when he first talks about Milwaukee is in Trumbull, Connecticut 😂 used to go there all the time as a kid

[@Jutty04901]

I have a 2013 Hyundai Accent and when I went to the dealership last week to schedule service they informed me about 2 recalls on the vehicle. One of them had to do with the ignition. I didn't completely understand but I wondered if it this same issue.

[@NegussugeN]

It definitely isn't going to electrocute you. 😂 2:17

[@kiradotee]

2:24 HAHAHAHA you've shown all those metaphorical clips of bumbling balloons together and then after almost 20 seconds of that unrelatedly you've just shown an actual hot wiring clip 🤣🤣

[@thulioleandro2003]

starts talking about milwaukee then shows a clip of a cinema in CT, gotta love it 😂

[@TinklestheGoat]

Save $23 on a vehicle to lose sales from all of Zoomers. Great plan.

[@rorybaker5799]

An even easier anti theft method, just don’t have the battery and engine starter wires both in the steering column. Or use a power amplifier somewhere not in the steering column so that even if you did Hotwire it, you wouldn’t have enough power to start it.

[@loadingcylinder9067]

they arnt the wires in the column control a realy witch controls the starter

[@Muttisuri]

My car from 1997 has no alarm, but it does have an immobilizer (no I ain't sure of how safe it is, but it has one) heck took me a bit to realize it had since I didn't expect it and one of the two keys that I have for the car has no immobilizer, which also tells me that it's the fuel blocking type, since I could hear my engine starter going with the non-chiped key.

[@joshuakarr-BibleMan]

1:24 Thanks for clarifying. For Dave.

[@shanemjn]

Stories like this make me glad I value my property more than the lives of those who wish to take it

[@all462]

Petition to include Amy in next episode of JetLag.

[@1337GameDev]

And this can be added easily actually. A basic rotating code transceiver can be added along with a basic module immobilizer module (or even just a hidden remote controlled switch for fuel/starter control) to prevent theft. Only around $200 and few hours to install max.

[@gersonrendon2188]

It's weird that this only happened in the US. Hyundais have had immobilizer systems since the early 2000s. My grandpa's Hyundai Atos from 2003 uses a transponder key and it's been like that ever since. I'm a locksmith and have known for a while that Hyundais don't require transponder programming in order to make a key duplicate, but only those that have been imported from the US like the Elantra, Soul, Optima, etc., from the 2010s or so.

[@glenngoetz3054]

They were imported from the US because they were stolen in the US..............

[@captaincole4511]

Right, it was definitely the slight lack of foresight on the car manufacturers that caused the spike in car theft. Definitely not any other reason . . .

[@mjc0961]

When the spike is attributed to the theft of the two brands that lacked that foresight, yes. Yes it is.

[@swimdude2113]

This happened to our Kia Optima. So absurd. Never buying a kia again.

[@phobos258]

I had a 2000 Plymouth neon who's ignition fell apart and I was able to start it the same way. for a few weeks I rolled around with a screwdriver as a key until I got the parts in

[@SeanBZA]

Thing is, those exact same models in any other world market come with a pretty decent immobiliser from the factory, because insurers in those countries demand them or no insurance, which makes selling them from a dealership a very difficult task. US insurers did not demand this, and thus some accountant saw they could save $1 on the production price of the base models, but the top models still had the transponder in the key and the coil. Cheaper models they removed the transponder, and the coil, but, because changing the loom is expensive, left the plug there unused, and programmed the BCM and ECU to not use security.

[@Atomgatyapootis]

the stupidity and malicious intent of tiktok trends never fails to amaze me

[@samuelwoolwineiv7886]

TikTok is cancer.