LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Metro Louisville is taking steps to reduce car thefts in the city.
On Thursday, city leaders announced a lawsuit filed against automakers Hyundai and Kia. City leaders accused the automakers of failing to install industry-standard safety features on Hyundais and Kias.
"I saw the glass exactly where the car had been," Amanda Rhye, a victim, said. "I instantly knew that someone had stolen it."
Earlier this year, both Asama Zaher and Ryne were victims of car thefts.
"I think it took them 12 days to find it," Rhye said.
Both women owned Kias and Rhye said it took police 36 hours to find her vehicle. But both of their vehicles were not in the same condition they were stolen in.
"It was badly damaged and everything was in the car, it was stolen," Zaher said.
"Basically crashed," Rhye said. "They don't even know what it was crashed into. And it was just destroyed without being salvageable."
The lawsuit accuses the car companies of putting profit over safety. According to the city of Louisville, here's how big the change in vehicle thefts have been:
- Jan. to July 2022 - 109 Hyundai, 152 Kia thefts
- Jan. to July 2023 - 899 Hyundai, 1,211 Kia thefts
"Thefts of Hyundai and Kias have skyrocketed in Louisville," Mayor Craig Greenberg said. "These two automakers account of nearly 60% of the vehicles that were stolen in our city this past summer."
City leaders believe the car thefts have been a public safety issue. Metro Louisville joins several other cities suiting the automakers.
In a statement, Kia said Thursday, "As we have said from the outset, lawsuits filed by municipalities against Kia are without merit."
Greenberg said the automakers are responsible for the ongoing car thefts because of their failure to include important, industry-standard anti-theft technology.
"Such as an engine immobilizer... technology that has been around for decades," Greenberg said.
That includes New York, Cleveland, Columbus and Seattle.
The full statement from Kia can be read below:
"Kia continues to take comprehensive action to support our customers in response to this situation that has been created by criminals using methods of theft promoted and popularized on social media to steal or attempt to steal certain vehicle models.
We’re continuing to strongly encourage eligible customers to have the software upgrade that we developed and rolled out earlier this year installed. The upgrade is designed to restrict the operation of the vehicle’s ignition system should a potential criminal attempt to steal a locked vehicle without the key, and we remain confident that this upgrade further enhances the vehicle’s security once it is installed. To date, more than 300,000 vehicles nationwide have received the upgrade and Kia continues to spread awareness about its availability by establishing a dedicated website with detailed information, hosting off-site events in multiple cities to make it easier for eligible customers to have the upgrade installed, and partnering with Carfax to inform owners that their vehicle is eligible for the upgrade.
We also continue to provide steering wheel locks to owners of impacted vehicles that are not eligible for the software upgrade at no cost to them. These free steering wheel locks further enhance the vehicle’s security and can serve as a theft-deterrent for potential car thieves. Kia customers can obtain free, Kia-provided locks through their local law enforcement or they can request a steering wheel lock from Kia directly through the dedicated website. To date, we have distributed more than 290,000 locks and we will continue to provide them as they are needed. Earlier this year, we also announced an agreement that will allow customers who have been impacted by vehicle thefts to receive additional benefits and we’re hopeful that the individuals who have been affected will soon be able to access these benefits.
As we have said from the outset, lawsuits filed by municipalities against Kia are without merit. Like all Kia vehicles, the specific models at issue in this case are subject to and comply fully with the requirements outlined in applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including FMVSS 114 that governs theft protection measures. Additionally, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has publicly stated that it has not determined that this issue constitutes either a safety defect or non-compliance requiring a recall under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Kia is actively working cooperatively with law enforcement agencies in Louisville and across the country to combat car theft and the role social media has played in encouraging it, and we remain committed to supporting our customers and to vehicle security.”
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