Syracuse, N.Y. — A Syracuse auto dealer next week will shut down its service department so its workers can install free Hyundai security upgrades.
Matthew’s Hyundai of Syracuse at 2601 Erie Blvd E. will focus solely on Hyundai upgrades 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday, said Matthews Hyundai General Manager Robert Guarente. No appointments are required.
Nationwide, Kia and Hyundai vehicles are a big target of car thefts due to the car’s lack of anti-theft software. The rise in car thefts has been linked to the so-called Kia/Hyundai challenge, online posts that show how to steal Kias and Hyundais using a screwdriver and a USB cord in less than a minute.
Video shows how a car was stolen in Eastwood:
More than half the cars stolen in Syracuse are Kias and Hyundais, according to a Syracuse.com analysis of data from the city police for the first seven months of 2023. That’s 352 vehicles out of 692 reported stolen.
Guarente said the software upgrade should take, at most, 40 minutes to complete.
Drivers can tell they need an upgrade by the type of ignition the car has, said Guarente said.
“If they do have a Hyundai that has a push button start, they do not need to worry about anything; those vehicles are not affected,” Guarente said. “If it is a key start, if it has a stick key with an ignition, they can call us.”
The dealership will give away free manually starting key fobs and steering wheel locks, he said
“It can be locked with the key fob, and once that key fob is locked, it sends the signal to turn the ignition off so the car cannot be started and stolen.”
Nationally, stolen Kias and Hyundais have been involved in crashes and multiple crimes, including murder, robberies and assaults. The thefts have led to those who stole the car dying in crashes. Others, including Innocent motorists and children, have also died after being struck by the stolen vehicles.
The city of Syracuse joined a multi-city lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai. The city argues the thefts of the cars create a public nuisance.
In September, two teenagers in a stolen Hyundai were fatally shot by an Onondaga County deputy when they tried to flee in a stolen.
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Anyone with a Hyundai can call Matthew’s Hyundai at 315-445-7900 to confirm if their car may need a software upgrade.
Kia owners can contact Matthews Kia of Clay for free security upgrades.
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Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article said the dealership in Syracuse was handling updates for both Kia and Hyundai cars.
Syracuse.com’s Timia Cobb can be reached at tdcobb@syr.edu.
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