- TikTok’s never-ending saga of challenges is slowly coming to an end.
- Hyundai has announced that its software updates, which make the cars no longer as easy to steal as they are in the popular videos, are now available for all affected models, a few months ahead of schedule.
- AAA also announced that it will offer owners of the affected models insurance options, following news earlier this year that both Progressive and State Farm either raised rates on the affected models or simply declined to offer new policies.
Hyundai has just finished rolling out a series of model-by-model software updates for the nearly 4 million of its vehicles that, until the update, remained vulnerable to an ultra-easy theft method popularized on TikTok.
The software rollout began in February, and the availability of later models is coming a few months ahead of Hyundai’s previously announced schedule.
Hyundai’s new code is intended for affected vehicles without integrated electronic immobilizer. The update makes the TikTok method not work because cars now require a physical key to disable the new “kill ignition” feature. Hyundai (and Kia, which has also affected vehicles) have made it clear how important it is to install this update and have said that any Hyundai dealer could perform the update, which should take less than an hour.
An insurer that doesn’t go away
In addition to this, the automaker announced last week that it is partnering with AAA to provide insurance coverage for the affected vehicles. That might not sound like much of a deal, but earlier this year both State Farm and Progressive said they would no longer accept new policies for easily stolen models or inflated prices, so having at least one guaranteed coverage provider is better than none .
Of course, now that the software fix is rolling out, the vehicles aren’t as temptingly viral anymore, which should mean AAA won’t have to pay out as many potential dollars to recover stolen Hyundais as insurers once faced.
Hyundai and AAA said the new coverage options would be available in “most” states except Alaska, Massachusetts and Washington, because AAA does not operate in those states.
How to know if you have an affected vehicle
If you have an affected vehicle or think you might get one, you can learn more at the official HyundaiAntiTheft.com website.
If you can’t get the software update for your car, Hyundai offers a program for free steering wheel locks or other anti-theft devices such as alarm kits. All Hyundai vehicles built since November 2021 have an integrated engine immobilizer.
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Collaborating editor
Sebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk and other outlets. His first green car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift to gasoline vehicles and discovering the importance of new technology not only for the automotive industry. automobile, but for the whole world. . Throw in the recent shift to self-driving vehicles, and more interesting changes are happening now than most people might realize. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV.
