5 months ago
- Ohio Politics
- Updated: Dec. 26, 2025, 1:57 p.m.
- Published: Dec. 26, 2025, 1:45 p.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohioans who ain aliases lease definite Kia aliases Hyundai vehicles whitethorn beryllium eligible for compensation aliases free anti-theft protection arsenic portion of a ineligible colony pinch nan carmakers, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced this week.
For years, thieves posted videos connected TikTok and different sites showing really comparatively easy it was to break into Kia and Hyundai models, particularly those made from 2011 to 2022, bypass ignition locks and thrust disconnected successful nan cars.
Breaking into cars became known online arsenic nan “Kia Challenge.” A group known arsenic nan “Kia Boyz” successful particular gained notoriety for breaking into nan vehicles pinch conscionable a screwdriver and USB cable.
In Cleveland, the thefts soared.
Under nan multistate settlement, eligible consumers whitethorn receive:
- Free installation of a zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector for affected vehicles.
- Restitution for definite expenses related to a theft aliases an attempted theft if a conveyance was stolen aliases targeted connected aliases aft April 29, 2025.
Ohioans who suffice will person announcement from Hyundai aliases Kia and person 1 twelvemonth to schedule nan free installation astatine an authorized dealership.
People seeking compensation aliases much accusation astir eligibility aliases really to record a declare tin visit:
The suit was revenge by galore authorities attorneys general. At nan time, Yost said Ohio lacked nan grounds to writer nan South Korean carmakers and he didn’t subordinate nan suit.
It’s unclear whether Ohio ever joined nan lawsuit. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer contacted a spokeswoman for Yost to inquire astir that.
Even if Ohio didn’t thief pinch nan litigation, its residents are eligible for nan settlement.
The repairs could costs nan companies complete $500 million. Restitution to group could costs up to $9 million, Reuters reported.
This colony is different than a abstracted way of litigation revenge by dozens of American cities, including Cleveland, Columbus and Parma seeking reimbursement for constabulary clip and resources that went into investigating nan Kia and Hyundai thefts.
That litigation is ongoing.
Laura Hancock is an award-winning authorities and argumentation newsman successful Columbus for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. She chiefly covers K-12 schools, higher acquisition and kid care. She besides occasionally...
