COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus city officials are filing a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai for selling vehicles vulnerable to theft, according to a news release Monday.
City Attorney Zach Klein said the automakers cut corners on safety features leading to a rise in thefts and millions of dollars in costs for both the city and customers.
Klein announced his intent to file a lawsuit as Columbus continues to deal with a surge of theft of vehicles. In Columbus, there has been a 450% increase in the number of Kia and Hyundai thefts for the past year.
The rise puts the city at 17 thefts each day this year, with Kia and Hyundai models accounting for nearly two-thirds- of all vehicle theft attempts in the city.
“For years, Kia and Hyundai cut corners and sold vehicles they knew were so unsafe they could be stolen with ease by a teenager with access to simple tools and a TikTok account,” said Klein in a news release. “Kia and Hyundai’s negligence in pursuit of corporate profit is unconscionable. It’s time we held these automakers accountable for cheating consumers and passing the buck and responsibility to clean up the mess they made onto the rest of us.”
The vehicles are missing engine immobilizers or other safety features such as reinforced steering columns and sensors to detect window glass breakage.
On social media, content creators have described how to steal a vehicle in a few minutes using nothing but a screwdriver and USB charger. City officials believe a good amount of the thefts are being done by juveniles, including a group known as the “Kia Boyz” who steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles and post their exploits online.
“In my 16 months as the chief of police, I have often asked what more can we do as an agency to save our children from themselves. We enforce the laws, are engaged with parents, collaborate with our judicial system, and are exploring programming in our schools,” said Columbus Chief of Police Elaine Bryant. “And on this issue, we’ve asked Kia and Hyundai for their assistance. To date, we have received no meaningful cooperation. These automakers should be just as concerned as we are that their products are so easily accessible and are being used to commit felonious acts. As a result, our children are putting not only the community in harm’s way, but themselves as well. We owe it to our children and our community to do all we can to prevent these often tragic events from occurring.”
City officials say the thefts have cost consumers, insurance companies, local governments and law enforcement millions of dollars over the past year besides additional harm including juveniles being injured or killed during joyrides.
According to Forbes, both automakers began offering security kits earlier this year. There were no recalls or repairs for the vehicles to create better security.
“The victims of these thefts aren’t CEOs and executives, they’re teachers and servers, retail workers and nurses—people whose lives have been upended and who’ve likely spent nights lying awake thinking about how they’re going to afford to buy a new car while putting food on the table and making rent,” said Klein. “These victims had their cars stolen through no fault of their own. They shouldn’t have to bear the responsibility to make this right. The corporations who put profit above all else should be held accountable.”
The city plans to ask the court to compel both Kia and Hyundai to abate the public nuisance caused by their inaction and the substantial cost incurred by the city, according to the news release.
Additionally, officials plan to seek relief to prohibit the continued sale of unsafe vehicles and require Kia and Hyundai to recall, repair or replace the unsafe vehicles currently on the road and damages in excess of $25,000, punitive damages, legal expenses and pre- and post-judgment interest in the case.
“Kia and Hyundai marketed and sold cars they knew were unsafe and now refuse to take any responsibility as others have to bear the consequences of their decisions. That’s not right,” said Columbus Solicitor General Rich Coglianese. “This is a mess these automakers made, and the City of Columbus will use every tool we have to hold them accountable for their inaction.”
Klein said he intends to file the lawsuit on behalf of the City of Columbus in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in the coming weeks, but first needs City Council to approve a contract to hire special counsel for the City in the case, Allen, Stovall, Neuman and Ashton LLP.
The motion will come before Council at its Nov. 7 meeting.
