The California lawyer normal and the attorneys normal of 17 different states on Thursday requested a federal regulator to recall Hyundai and Kia autos, saying they’re extra prone to be stolen as a result of they lack security options which are normal in different vehicles.

Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. autos characterize a big share of stolen vehicles in a number of U.S. cities, in line with information from police and state officers. Whereas most vehicles in recent times have been put in with trade normal anti-theft units, some entry-level fashions from the Korean automakers weren’t geared up with engine immobilizers or push-button ignitions.

Hyundai Motor is the most important shareholder of Kia.

“Kia’s and Hyundai’s failure to put in normal security options on lots of their autos have put automobile homeowners and the general public in danger,” California Legal professional Normal Rob Bonta, who’s spearheading the push by the states for a recall, stated in a press release. The states have written to the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration with their considerations.

Hyundai argued that whereas a few of its autos lacked immobilizers, they have been compliant with federal anti-theft necessities as engine immobilizers aren’t federally mandated.

“These particular fashions comply totally with all relevant federal requirements, a recall is neither acceptable nor essential beneath federal legislation,” stated Kia in a press release.

U.S. theft claims have been almost twice as widespread for Hyundai and Kia autos in contrast with all different producers amongst 2015-2019 model-year autos, the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security’s Freeway Loss Knowledge Institute stated final yr.

TikTok movies that present how you can steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles with out push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft units have unfold nationwide, resulting in a raft of automobile thefts.

Bonta stated the carmakers included the trade normal immobilizer in the identical fashions in Canada and Europe however selected to “carve out” america.

“As a substitute of taking accountability with acceptable corrective motion, these carmakers have chosen as an alternative to go this danger onto customers and our communities,” Bonta stated.

The automakers in February stated they might supply software program upgrades to eight.3 million U.S. autos to assist curb thefts.