COLUMBUS, Ohio — Kia is holding an event over the next several days to install free software that is designed to prevent their cars from being stolen.
For more than two years, car thieves have been targeting certain model Hyundais and Kias.
From January through August, there were about 7,300 cars reported stolen in Columbus. Of those, nearly 3,700 of them were either Hyundais or Kias.
Any vehicle from the Korean car maker that requires a key to start it is susceptible because the cars did not come with an immobilizer, an anti-theft technology that has long been the standard in other vehicles. Vehicles with a push-button do not have this issue.
James Bell, a Kia representative, says the software upgrade is made to restrict the operation of a car's ignition system when locked if a thief tries to steal it. So far, Kia has installed the software on about 800,000 vehicles across the state.
When asked why Kia won't just issue a recall, Bell says "there's nothing incorrect about the machines."
"According to the letter of the law and NHTSA standards for how vehicles need to be built and the technology within each vehicle, all Kias meet and exceed those standards. There's not really a recall in play here," Bell said.
Bell said the issue is very important to Kia.
"It's mostly important because we are sensitive to the peace of mind to our Kia owners. This issue, this theft issue being perpetrated by social media, actually goes back to vehicles built in 2011. Many cases these are long-time Kia owners," Bell said.
Bell says technicians will install the software at Obetz Athletic Club from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Friday through Sunday. It will take about 30 minutes to install. No appointment is necessary.