agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Hyundai, Faced With Blowback Over Thefts, Adds Protections

Works with insurer, expedites software upgrade, and offers steering wheel lock reimbursements to protect vulnerable models.

April 18, 2023
Hyundai, Faced With Blowback Over Thefts, Adds Protections

Hyundai said independent AAA insurers in most states will offer new and renewal policies for eligible customers with affected models.

IMAGE: Hyundai

2 min to read


Hyundai, pressed by attorneys general and municipal governments across the country to do more to protect owners of its models from theft, has responded with more aggressive steps to do so.

The moves come after scathing criticism and a series of lawsuits over its response to a nationwide rash of thefts of U.S.-sold 2011 to 2022 models without immobilizing antitheft technology as standard equipment.

Ad Loading...

The South Korean carmaker at first said it was doing everything it could to protect owners of the models in question. But it’s now outlined the additional measures it’s taking.

Sued by some major U.S. cities and urged by about two dozen attorneys general to do more, Hyundai said it will expedite a software upgrade for models without antitheft devices and reimburse owners of models that can’t be upgraded for the purchase of steering wheel locks. It said it also worked out an arrangement with independent AAA insurers to insure theft-vulnerable models in most states.

It said the independent AAA insurers will offer new and renewal policies for eligible customers with affected models. Before, many owners were struggling to secure insurance for the vehicles because of their vulnerability to theft.

Hyundai also said it’s expedited a software upgrade for the models by two months. The upgrade is designed to prevent them from starting via a method popularized in social media videos.

“Our goal is to get every one of these vehicles into a dealership for the free software upgrade,” said Hyundai Motor America CEO Randy Parker.

Ad Loading...

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Industry

Group photo of men outside storefront.
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 28, 2026

Pennsylvania Dealership Under New Retailers

The sale of the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store puts a family auto group on a leaner path as first-time dealers take the helm.

Read More →
Hallway with lockered wiring and computer
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMay 28, 2026

Battery Storage Takes Priority Over EVs

U.S. automakers are prioritizing battery energy stationary storage over electric-vehicle production as the consumer demand for EVs lags the rest of the world.

Read More →
Gray-scale photo of a line of Mini cars in a dealership parking lot
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 27, 2026

Auto Dealers Feel Better But Not Great

A second-quarter Cox Automotive poll of franchised retailers and independents found better views of the current market after a good spring but anticipation of third-quarter storminess.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Closeup photo of the front of a white car
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 21, 2026

New-Vehicle Sales Picture Relative

A May forecast is complicated by last spring’s trade tariff effects on auto retail. Despite continued hard realities, many consumers took advantage of ways to bite the bullet.

Read More →
Nissan logo on front of building
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMay 21, 2026

Auto Group Acquires Third Nissan Rooftop

Iowa-based Coleman Automotive Group recently acquired its seventh dealership, McGrath Nissan, which it renamed Nissan of Elgin.

Read More →
Couple talking with auto salesman next to new car inside dealership
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 20, 2026

April Less Affordable

Based on prices, reduced incentives and slower household income growth, consumers found it more challenging to buy new last month, Cox Automotive reported.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Wooden people figures of different colors in a row, similar to board game pieces
IndustryMay 20, 2026

Building an Extraordinary F&I Agency

Work to determine your specialized talent, because that fact will determine everything about your agency’s future.

Read More →
Ingredient card, policies and procedures, fixed operations, variable operations, data security, audit
Industryby Jim GantherMay 19, 2026

Recipe for Compliance

The secret to both amazing barbecue and compliance is the same: understanding the basics and committing to a process.

Read More →
Photo of new Chevrolet Bolt parked on a beach
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 14, 2026

EVs Getting More Attractive

A growing percentage of U.S. consumers are open to switching and fewer are adverse to the idea, according to a recently completed survey. That’s despite the end of a tax break.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Benchmark bar graph showing April 2026 EV Sales
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMay 14, 2026

EV Sales Drop in April Following Surge

North American electric-vehicle sales were down 28% year-over-year, a sharp contrast from global EV sales growth of 6%.

Read More →