LEXINGTON, Ky. — The city of Lexington filed a lawsuit July 23 against Hyundai USA and Kia Corporation, claiming both car manufacturers have created a safety nuisance, said Mayor Linda Gorton.
The city said it is one of many across the country that has sued both companies because their vehicles lack anti-theft technology. It added Hyundais and Kias made up roughly 40% of vehicles stolen this past winter and spring in Lexington and recorded more thefts of Hyundais and Kias than all other manufacturers combined in Dec. 2023.
“Hyundais and Kias are stolen at alarming rates in Lexington and across the country because they lack engine immobilizers or other reasonable anti-theft technology that has been used by other carmakers for decades to prevent vehicle theft,” Gorton said. “Our top priority is to make sure streets are safe.”
From 2011 through 2022, the city of Lexington said only 26% of 2015-model Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the U.S. had immobilizers, compared to 96% of vehicles from all other manufacturers. Hyundai and Kia install immobilizers in 100% of their models for sale in European and Canadian markets, the city added.
“By cutting corners on safety, these car manufacturers are leaving it to American communities to clean up their mess,” Gorton said. “These cases consume our law enforcement and emergency resources. Car theft goes hand in hand with reckless driving, which in turn results in injuries and even death.”
The lawsuit seeks monetary and injunctive relief, the city said, including costs related to Lexington law enforcement’s time and resources, the cost of emergency services and other harms to the community related to vehicle thefts. It was filed in the Central District or California, where litigation against Hyundai and Kia for vehicle thefts has been centralized.
Seattle-based firm Keller Rohrback and Louisville-based Poppe Law Firm are representing Lexington, the city said. They are both working on a contingency-fee basis, meaning any compensation they receive would come from either manufacturer.
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