Do you drive a Kia or a Hyundai?

The Manteca Police Department wants to work with you to make sure that they don’t have to come back and fill out a stolen vehicle report in the near future.

On Saturday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. – or until supplies run out – the agency will be handing out free steering wheel locks to prevent somebody from using something other that the key designed for the vehicle from starting it.

The Manteca Police Department is located 1001 W. Center Street.

Because Hyundai models before 2021 and Kia models do not contain an “immobilizer” inside of the steering column, thieves can use items other than the key that comes with the car to start it – making it incredibly easy to drive away with the vehicle once a thief gains entry.

Models that have push-button start don’t have to worry about the issue since the key fob that comes with the car must be present for the starter to engage.

While other auto manufacturers followed the guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to upgrade the ignition system to include an immobilizer, both Kia and Hyundai – Hyundai is the parent company of Kia, even though they operate as separate companies – delayed the implementation of such an installation.

And the public may have social media to thank for being aware of the vulnerability.

In 2021 the ease at which Kia and Hyundai cars can be stolen went viral on TikTok – prompting the theft of Kia and Hyundai models to soar across the country. In February the company issued a software update to more than 8 million vehicles intended to make it more difficult to steal and to patch the vulnerability.

The company agreed back in May to settle a lawsuit for more than $200 million that will reimburse owners for out-of-pocket expenses that occurred because of the theft. Cities across the country such as San Diego have sued the auto manufacturers for not installing adequate anti-theft protection on the vehicles that they sold.

To be eligible for the free steering wheel lock program residents need to bring their proof of residency – either a credit card statement, utility statement, or mortgage statement that shows a Manteca address – and the registration for the vehicle that qualifies. Hyundai models must be a 2021 or older model to qualify, while there are no stipulations for Kia vehicles.

To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.