MIAMI VALLEY — Six months after News Center 7 started reporting on the social media challenge that sparked an increase in thefts of certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles, one of the automakers is rolling out a new plan to protect vehicle owners.
Our team obtained a letter sent to Kia owners from the automaker informing them about a software upgrade they can now have installed at dealer.
>> ‘It’s a nightmare;’ Area Kia owner has car stolen for second time amid ongoing social media trend
The letter starts off by addressing “risky social media ‘challenges’ encouraging young people to break-in and steal certain Kia vehicles.”
Kia officials said in the letter that they have now developed a software upgrade that can be installed to “restrict operation of [the] vehicle’s ignition system should [the] locked vehicle be the subject of a break-in or theft attempt without a key.”
The update comes after law enforcement in Montgomery County formed an auto theft suppression unit. Last year in Dayton, car thefts rose by more than 500 compared to the previous yearly average. Of the 1,500 reported car thefts and attempted thefts last year, 662 of those involved Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
While the software helps combat one consistent issue, Kia owners, like Mercedes Mason, said they are also watching other safety concerns.
Mason told News Center 7 she was at a stoplight in Dayton Wednesday when a truck driver told her that her 2017 Kia Sportage was smoking.
“The car caught on fire. I don’t know exactly what caused it,” she said.
Mason said her mom already replaced the engine once after a recall notice due to fire risks. While she and her son were lucky to be unharmed, her car was a total loss.
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