We've Come Full Circle: Baltimore Sues Hyundai For Making Cars That Criminals Steal

[John Stark]

How many times have we talked about how the government doesn't go after auto makers because people steal them or use them to break the law, but go after gun manufacturers because people... steal guns and use them in crimes?

City of Baltimore Files Lawsuit Against Hyundai, Kia Over Car Thefts

The City of Baltimore joins Seattle, St. Louis, and a number of cities nationwide by filing a lawsuit against Hyundai and Kia for failing to equip their vehicles with industry-standard vehicle immobilization technology.

mayor.baltimorecity.gov

So the cars in question are "easy to steal" because "they can be started without a key"... as if car thieves have a hard time stealing other cars without starting it with a key...

Our society is malevolently insane, driven by the fascist know nothing morons who think they rule over us. They don't know their ass from a hole in the ground, but we're all supposed to march to their tune.

 

[FP1201]

Given the price point of these aforesaid cars, I say they're no great loss...
See, when the government and lawyers went after guns used illegally as the fault of the makers, the flood gates for lawsuits were flung open... I really wonder wtf happened to the common sense that was our Legal system. Democrats anyone?

 

[Zerex]

Fat dumb ugly cat lady reasoning............. is on display.

You can see their mindset, regarding objects like guns, in this idiocy...

 

[Jmac00]

Rochester is also suing Kia for the same shit. One of the CO's friends had here Kia stolen, it cost her $700 in rentals before she got her car back, and the Irondequiot PD gave her "The Club" because the stupid car is so easy to steal.

 

[dwa12479]

Kia/Hyundai are going to get sued into oblivion by the time this debacle is all over. Most modern cars are nearly impossible to steal without the proper key. Even the cheap junk. Kia/Hyundai has no immobilizer software on their cars, and the ignition housings are made of plastic. It was a cost saving option, and it's going to come back to bite them in the ass. I can nab one of these in under a minute and be down the road. That's negligence on the part of the manufacturer. They cut corners to save a buck, and it's gonna torch them.

I have no idea how a municipality could have standing to sue them, but insurance companies and customers sure as hell do. And there will be a HUGE class action suit coming.

 

[dwa12479]

Rochester is also suing Kia for the same shit. One of the CO's friends had here Kia stolen, it cost her $700 in rentals before she got her car back, and the Irondequiot PD gave her "The Club" because the stupid car is so easy to steal.

Other than parking inside, the club is really the only effective anti-theft method for these right now. It makes it impossible to drive, and they can't defeat the club in a short amount of time. Biggest issue right now is getting parts. We're waiting 5-6 weeks on some of these cars as many of the parts are on backorder. And we're putting in the same trash that was already defeated. We had one poor customer a while back that we delivered his car back to him after 6 weeks, and it was stolen again and towed back in within 48 hours. Starting to see others that are also on their 2nd trip in. We have nearly 200 of these kicking around our lot right now.

There's a software enhancment coming, so it will not allow the cars to start without the key, but they're still going to be broken into and attempted. This issue is here to stay for a LONG time.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Maybe we should sue all these stores that are making it so easy for their merchandise to be stolen?

 

[Jmac00]

Other than parking inside, the club is really the only effective anti-theft method for these right now. It makes it impossible to drive, and they can't defeat the club in a short amount of time. Biggest issue right now is getting parts. We're waiting 5-6 weeks on some of these cars as many of the parts are on backorder. And we're putting in the same trash that was already defeated. We had one poor customer a while back that we delivered his car back to him after 6 weeks, and it was stolen again and towed back in within 48 hours. Starting to see others that are also on their 2nd trip in. We have nearly 200 of these kicking around our lot right now.

There's a software enhancment coming, so it will not allow the cars to start without the key, but they're still going to be broken into and attempted. This issue is here to stay for a LONG time.

so what exactly do "they" do to break in, all I know is there is a USB cable involved and they fuck up the steering column

 

[1075tech]

Look for more municipalities to sue anyone for anything. They're just after the money. It has nothing to do with getting anyone "justice".

 

[dsdmmat]

Why don’t we just make it illegal to steal thing that are not yours? Oh wait…….

 

[Acer-m14]

?? how does a usb cable defeat the steering wheel lock when you turn the key for one .. ??

or are people leaving there Fobs in the car with a push button start and you don't need a key .. LOL ..

 

[Bustedknees]

I can help about 100 Hyundai owners with free gun padlocks.

 

[thughes]

Other than parking inside, the club is really the only effective anti-theft method for these right now. It makes it impossible to drive, and they can't defeat the club in a short amount of time. Biggest issue right now is getting parts. We're waiting 5-6 weeks on some of these cars as many of the parts are on backorder. And we're putting in the same trash that was already defeated. We had one poor customer a while back that we delivered his car back to him after 6 weeks, and it was stolen again and towed back in within 48 hours. Starting to see others that are also on their 2nd trip in. We have nearly 200 of these kicking around our lot right now.

There's a software enhancment coming, so it will not allow the cars to start without the key, but they're still going to be broken into and attempted. This issue is here to stay for a LONG time.

How about throwing the little fuckers that are stealing these cars into jail, perhaps for a month or so? I don't give a damn that they're only 12, 13, 14 years old.....best to nip this shit in the bud. I read stories of the same kids being caught, processed, and released by the cops repeatedly, yet city leaders are like "We need to sue the auto manufacturers and give away anti-theft devices to try and reduce these thefts." How about holding thieves accountable with jail time and a permanent criminal record? "Oh no, not our babies......they just need a constructive outlet to channel their energy into and then they'll stop stealing cars". Here in free America, the bastards go to jail for taking things that don't belong to them (if the owner's don't shoot them first).

 

[fresch]

If they break my door down on my house who do I sue?
The contractor, the door manufacturer, the lock Co., the person who sold me the house, the state for not protecting me?

 

[Cavalry]

They should sue GM as well. Light trucks have been stupid easy to steal for the last 40 years with very little know how or equipment.

 

[John Stark]

If they break my door down on my house who do I sue?
The contractor, the door manufacturer, the lock Co., the person who sold me the house, the state for not protecting me?

Yes.

 

[ManualF150]

They should sue GM as well. Light trucks have been stupid easy to steal for the last 40 years with very little know how or equipment.

But they'll get another Government Motors bailout...

 

[dwa12479]

How about throwing the little fuckers that are stealing these cars into jail, perhaps for a month or so? I don't give a damn that they're only 12, 13, 14 years old.....best to nip this shit in the bud. I read stories of the same kids being caught, processed, and released by the cops repeatedly, yet city leaders are like "We need to sue the auto manufacturers and give away anti-theft devices to try and reduce these thefts." How about holding thieves accountable with jail time and a permanent criminal record? "Oh no, not our babies......they just need a constructive outlet to channel their energy into and then they'll stop stealing cars". Here in free America, the bastards go to jail for taking things that don't belong to them (if the owner's don't shoot them first).

Agreed 100% thug.

 

[SonOfSun]

?? how does a usb cable defeat the steering wheel lock when you turn the key for one .. ??

or are people leaving there Fobs in the car with a push button start and you don't need a key .. LOL ..

The USB stolen car thing doesn't work on push button start. It only works on keyed ignition switch cars.

They pop off the cheap plastic cover in 10 seconds and just stick a USB cord in and it starts the car when you turn it. The USB cord end fits the box shaped hole. In reality any similar shaped device would work. USB cords just happen to be super common - I don't know anyone that doesn't have a bunch of them.



Kia and Hyundai basically skipped all anti theft deterrents. Pretty negligent on their part. This is one of the few times I agree with a lawsuit against the company.

 

[Deplorable Me]

And NY told us we have to lock our guns in the trunk!​

 

[dwa12479]

?? how does a usb cable defeat the steering wheel lock when you turn the key for one .. ??

or are people leaving there Fobs in the car with a push button start and you don't need a key .. LOL ..

so what exactly do "they" do to break in, all I know is there is a USB cable involved and they fuck up the steering column

They come in with the RR window smashed (keeps the glass off the driver seat).

4 seconds to jam a screwdriver into the column lower trim cover and snap it down. Its plastic with a couple screws.

About 10 seconds to stab the screwdriver between the plastic ignition housing and the ignition cylinder. One hard swipe down and the housing snaps and the cylinder falls out. (You can see it dangling in thenpic below) Behind it is a small tab, thats what the key cylinder rotates to start the car. This is where the USB cable comes in. U slide it onto the tab and use it to rotate the ignition switch and start the car. It also unlocks the steering wheel. Gone in 30 seconds. Youcould also use a pair of needle nose pliers. Its too small and tight to turn with just fingers.

It doesn't work for the push button starts.

 

[dwa12479]

Here's what the new security housing looks like. Its all plastic. If they had been metal, wouldn't have the problem.

 

[Celt]

Why don’t we just make it illegal to steal thing that are not yours? Oh wait…….

It is unreasonable to blame the car thief, instead we should blame the people who make the car for making it stealable. Seriously, this is Bizarro world.

 

[dwa12479]

It is unreasonable to blame the car thief, instead we should blame the people who make the car for making it stealable. Seriously, this is Bizarro world.

Theres no doubt that the perps should be jailed. Stupid liberal policies are preventing that, so these little shits are right back out on the streets doing the same thing because there's no consequences. It's mind boggling for sure.

Kia/Hyundai are going to be in trouble for some of this however. They cheaped out on their design, and it was flawed from the start. I again have no idea how a municipality could possibly have standing to sue, but customers and insurance companies surely do, they've been harmed tremendously. The average cost I see to fix most of these that JUST have column damage/broken window is a couple grand. Lots of them get abused on their joyrides and end up with lots of body and suspension damage. Had one the other day the seats inside were all slashed.

There is some liability from Kia/Hyundai. You could compare it to a data breach on a major company. The 2017 Equifax data breach comes to mind. I think they ended up paying out a couple hundred million, they were liable for not securing the private data of people. Ultimately the blame should be on the hackers who breached the system, of course. But Equifax had a responsibility to adequately protect their customers data, and they failed. Auto manufacturers have a responsibility to have adequate anti-theft systems in place. Kia/Hyundai failed. As I mentioned earlier, even just making the ignition housings out of metal rather than plastic would have prevented this whole mess. They cheaped out, and are going to take it in the ass for it.