Accidents, injuries and tragically, deaths tied to accidents involving stolen Hyundai and Kia vehicles continue to climb, including a West Garfield Park crash where a 6-month-old child was killed, forever changing one family’s life.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weeklyThe videos went viral, and so did reports of Hyundai and Kia thefts to police departments nationwide. James Bell, a spokesperson for Kia, told NBC 5 Responds on Monday that the company expects its “comprehensive software upgrade program to include remote start vehicles within the next few weeks.”
While Gatlin waits for the upgrade, her SUV is still at-risk, and that’s why auto safety advocates feel the automakers and federal regulators should be doing more. Kane added, “To fix that problem with simply a customer satisfaction campaign – that doesn't have the same requirements as a formal safety recall – is problematic.”
A potential solution is on its way for millions of Hyundai and Kia drivers whose vehicles are more vulnerable to theft, but safety advocates believe the free fix may have come too late and doesn’t go far enough. Lexi Sutter has the story.