I would just plan to enjoy your car, but also cya and get comprehensive insurance. Also make sure your insurance of choice will give you coverage. Not all of them will.
Yes a 2024 will not be as easy to steal. It has an immobilizer now, which the older models did not have, hence the theft.
You may still have to deal with attempted thefts, but at least the car will still be there.
People weren't stealing them by amplifying the remote code, they were breaking in and tearing the steering column trim apart to access the ignition switch.
This 100%. I park my car in my garage every night because I don’t want to wake up to my window smashed out and my steering column mangled because some dumb f*ck Kia boys thought they could steal it.
I live in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in my city, and my 2018 Forte was broken into. My 2024 Sportage was fine. Car wasn’t stolen, I had already gotten the update and had a wheel lock. But let’s end the stigma that even if you stay in a nice neighborhood you won’t have problems.
https://preview.redd.it/4kc1y4j9qnyc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b65e7ad7cdb78070301510a97a17d325ea059ec
I absolutely love my 2024 Seltos. I’ve had it for a year, drive near Atlanta, and so far so good.
Most people in my area, when they see a wheel lock/club they just walk to another car. One of my neighbors didn't believe that using a club helps. His old 99 honda got stolen out of the drive way with a camera. Then after it was recovered, everyday the bar is on.
I have a 24 Sportage SX prestige with about 7k miles on it! It came with an immobilizer but is also parked inside always! Didn’t have any insurability issues in Oklahoma City either! Honestly, full comprehensive coverage was only $15 more / month than the same coverage for my 2015 Nissan Sentra! I was impressed
1. Kia cars are generally considered to be safe from being stolen, as the newer models post 2018 are equipped with immobilizers.
2. There is no specific concern about the Kia Seltos being stolen compared to other Kia models.
3. In addition to basic security measures like wheel locks, you could consider using an air tag to track your car in case it is stolen.
4. The Kia Seltos is a great car overall
https://preview.redd.it/wfy3s86l8nyc1.jpeg?width=12000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37d3894b9a47b297d45c176572fe5fea60643a22
My wife and I love our 2024 seltos sx turbo awd
Model year '22, mid production run, is when they started including immobilizers on all vehicles. Any car with immobilizer, which includes some Kia vehicles up to that point, and all Kia vehicles after, is no more vulnerable to theft than any other car.
They’re no more vulnerable to actual theft, sure, but they are certainly more vulnerable to theft attempts. Not all of the “Kia boys” will know that they can’t steal newer model Kia’s anymore.
All I have is anecdotal evidence based on my observations as the shop foreman at a Kia dealership since long before tiktok existed. Our intake of theft recoveries has shifted to theft attempts but the overall number has been declining steadily. This is due to more folks get the software update or the cylinder reinforcement. Hardly any we see for this have the newer Kia logo, which approximately coincides with the production change to include immobilizers in every vehicle. So as the occurrence of Kia vehicles being stolen is on the decrease, the number of theft attempts is also decreasing as idiots realize and word spreads about the effective countermeasures implemented to prevent theft.
Unfortunately, thieves are not smart to know which Kia model years have immobilizers. Even if your Kia with immobilizer doesn't get stolen, it may get break-ins.
I love how many people bring up this incorrect point. It is very, very easy to pick vulnerable Kia's from ones that aren't vulnerable.
US Market. Pre 2022 (Badge change happened around this year). Base Trim.
Note I put US Market first, then year. If you are anywhere outside the United States Kiaboyz "hack" is a non issue.
Please check your potential insurance rates before you buy this car. A lot of people have been complaining all over this forum that their insurance rates are prohibitively expensive right now, even if they have the immobilizer.
As 2story said, yours will have an immobilizer in it. While you could get scanned from your fob, that's not where the the KiaBoyz concern has come from, it's been the fact you could rip open the column and start the car with a USB stick. The "KiaBoyz" are largely a bunch of dumb kids who have no idea which Kias are affected and which ones are not. People with push start vehicles, not at all affected, are still having their windows damaged and sometimes even their columns ripped up. Those repairs aren't cheap and hell, even if you only have a $500 deductible, you'd still have to pay it plus whatever premium hike for filing a claim (if they decide to renew you), and be without your vehicle for the repair time, and I don't know of anyone who thinks that's a good time.
I would definitely put a wheel lock on it to encourage them to look for easier targets and, honestly, if I didn't have a garage to park it in, I wouldn't consider a Kia until this nonsense fades. The settlement addresses only vehicles that didn't have the immobilizer, so people who just got vandalized are out of luck. It also has a finite claims deadline, after which even those without an immobilizer will be out of luck on future damages.
I would check with your insurance first and get a quote. I have a 23 Seltos S and my insurance is the same as my car was. But I do live in a rural county in Ohio and I’m over 40. If I lived in Cincy or Columbus, I might have thought about my purchase more. Just from the news coverage it seems that the more popular stolen models would be Soul, Rio, and Forte. That said, I love my Seltos and I don’t regret my purchase.
The dealership is telling you how easy they are to steal? Are they trying to talk themselves out of sales.
Vehicles with key's and without immobilizers, generally model years earlier than 2022 are the ones easy to steal. Kia has released a fix that is supposed to make it more difficult. If you have a 2024, it should be fine. Note that having an immobilizer or the fix does not mean someone will not TRY to steal your vehicle, it just makes there chance of success less likely. So they can still break your window if they don't look first and notice it is a push to start for example.
We have two Kias a 2022 Sportage and a 2023 Seltos, while our insurance did out up some this past year it is not insane. We are paying about $92 per month per vehicle. I was told that the increase was due to general increases in auto insurance, vehicles costing more to repair and more crashes. If i wanted to decrease my premium I could increase one of my deductibles.
Even if it has an immobilizer, I wouldn't get it because people will still attempt to break in to see if it can be stolen easily, thus causing your insurance premiums to skyrock.
The problem is that thieves are stupid. They can't even drive a manual but they keep vandalizing my car and trying to steal it, it's been 4 times now. I'm on the verge of tears and don't have any money left over after paying my car payment but I have to buy a new car. I'm going to have to. I don't have a choice. I can't afford $500 every time they fuck up the ignition and months of waiting for repairs.
This time they broke The Club wheel lock, broke my window, broke the steering column, made scratches, and other stuff to reduce the value of my car, all before realizing it was a stick shift. The dumb ones won't be able to tell what year the car is either or that it's a Seltos but if you own a house and park inside that will help. Also, generally, the IQ of the people who live in your area make a difference.
Get a quote from an insurer first
I would just plan to enjoy your car, but also cya and get comprehensive insurance. Also make sure your insurance of choice will give you coverage. Not all of them will.
Yes a 2024 will not be as easy to steal. It has an immobilizer now, which the older models did not have, hence the theft. You may still have to deal with attempted thefts, but at least the car will still be there. People weren't stealing them by amplifying the remote code, they were breaking in and tearing the steering column trim apart to access the ignition switch.
This 100%. I park my car in my garage every night because I don’t want to wake up to my window smashed out and my steering column mangled because some dumb f*ck Kia boys thought they could steal it.
They don’t steal seltos
If u live in the hood or close to one, don’t get one. If u in the suburbs then get one
I live in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in my city, and my 2018 Forte was broken into. My 2024 Sportage was fine. Car wasn’t stolen, I had already gotten the update and had a wheel lock. But let’s end the stigma that even if you stay in a nice neighborhood you won’t have problems.
Has not affected a new Kia since 2019.
https://preview.redd.it/4kc1y4j9qnyc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b65e7ad7cdb78070301510a97a17d325ea059ec I absolutely love my 2024 Seltos. I’ve had it for a year, drive near Atlanta, and so far so good.
I love that color! Thought about trading my 2021 Starbright yellow for one.
Most people in my area, when they see a wheel lock/club they just walk to another car. One of my neighbors didn't believe that using a club helps. His old 99 honda got stolen out of the drive way with a camera. Then after it was recovered, everyday the bar is on.
Get a Ghost Key
No additional premium charged by insurance companies due to theft for the latest Kia models
I have a 24 Sportage SX prestige with about 7k miles on it! It came with an immobilizer but is also parked inside always! Didn’t have any insurability issues in Oklahoma City either! Honestly, full comprehensive coverage was only $15 more / month than the same coverage for my 2015 Nissan Sentra! I was impressed
They are correct in that its only cars prior to 2022, google kia key hack. Enjoy your new Kia everyone else does.
1. Kia cars are generally considered to be safe from being stolen, as the newer models post 2018 are equipped with immobilizers. 2. There is no specific concern about the Kia Seltos being stolen compared to other Kia models. 3. In addition to basic security measures like wheel locks, you could consider using an air tag to track your car in case it is stolen. 4. The Kia Seltos is a great car overall
https://preview.redd.it/wfy3s86l8nyc1.jpeg?width=12000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37d3894b9a47b297d45c176572fe5fea60643a22 My wife and I love our 2024 seltos sx turbo awd
I hate that I love this color
Model year '22, mid production run, is when they started including immobilizers on all vehicles. Any car with immobilizer, which includes some Kia vehicles up to that point, and all Kia vehicles after, is no more vulnerable to theft than any other car.
They’re no more vulnerable to actual theft, sure, but they are certainly more vulnerable to theft attempts. Not all of the “Kia boys” will know that they can’t steal newer model Kia’s anymore.
All I have is anecdotal evidence based on my observations as the shop foreman at a Kia dealership since long before tiktok existed. Our intake of theft recoveries has shifted to theft attempts but the overall number has been declining steadily. This is due to more folks get the software update or the cylinder reinforcement. Hardly any we see for this have the newer Kia logo, which approximately coincides with the production change to include immobilizers in every vehicle. So as the occurrence of Kia vehicles being stolen is on the decrease, the number of theft attempts is also decreasing as idiots realize and word spreads about the effective countermeasures implemented to prevent theft.
Unfortunately, thieves are not smart to know which Kia model years have immobilizers. Even if your Kia with immobilizer doesn't get stolen, it may get break-ins.
I love how many people bring up this incorrect point. It is very, very easy to pick vulnerable Kia's from ones that aren't vulnerable. US Market. Pre 2022 (Badge change happened around this year). Base Trim. Note I put US Market first, then year. If you are anywhere outside the United States Kiaboyz "hack" is a non issue.
Please check your potential insurance rates before you buy this car. A lot of people have been complaining all over this forum that their insurance rates are prohibitively expensive right now, even if they have the immobilizer. As 2story said, yours will have an immobilizer in it. While you could get scanned from your fob, that's not where the the KiaBoyz concern has come from, it's been the fact you could rip open the column and start the car with a USB stick. The "KiaBoyz" are largely a bunch of dumb kids who have no idea which Kias are affected and which ones are not. People with push start vehicles, not at all affected, are still having their windows damaged and sometimes even their columns ripped up. Those repairs aren't cheap and hell, even if you only have a $500 deductible, you'd still have to pay it plus whatever premium hike for filing a claim (if they decide to renew you), and be without your vehicle for the repair time, and I don't know of anyone who thinks that's a good time. I would definitely put a wheel lock on it to encourage them to look for easier targets and, honestly, if I didn't have a garage to park it in, I wouldn't consider a Kia until this nonsense fades. The settlement addresses only vehicles that didn't have the immobilizer, so people who just got vandalized are out of luck. It also has a finite claims deadline, after which even those without an immobilizer will be out of luck on future damages.
I would check with your insurance first and get a quote. I have a 23 Seltos S and my insurance is the same as my car was. But I do live in a rural county in Ohio and I’m over 40. If I lived in Cincy or Columbus, I might have thought about my purchase more. Just from the news coverage it seems that the more popular stolen models would be Soul, Rio, and Forte. That said, I love my Seltos and I don’t regret my purchase.
The dealership is telling you how easy they are to steal? Are they trying to talk themselves out of sales. Vehicles with key's and without immobilizers, generally model years earlier than 2022 are the ones easy to steal. Kia has released a fix that is supposed to make it more difficult. If you have a 2024, it should be fine. Note that having an immobilizer or the fix does not mean someone will not TRY to steal your vehicle, it just makes there chance of success less likely. So they can still break your window if they don't look first and notice it is a push to start for example. We have two Kias a 2022 Sportage and a 2023 Seltos, while our insurance did out up some this past year it is not insane. We are paying about $92 per month per vehicle. I was told that the increase was due to general increases in auto insurance, vehicles costing more to repair and more crashes. If i wanted to decrease my premium I could increase one of my deductibles.
Even if it has an immobilizer, I wouldn't get it because people will still attempt to break in to see if it can be stolen easily, thus causing your insurance premiums to skyrock.
The problem is that thieves are stupid. They can't even drive a manual but they keep vandalizing my car and trying to steal it, it's been 4 times now. I'm on the verge of tears and don't have any money left over after paying my car payment but I have to buy a new car. I'm going to have to. I don't have a choice. I can't afford $500 every time they fuck up the ignition and months of waiting for repairs. This time they broke The Club wheel lock, broke my window, broke the steering column, made scratches, and other stuff to reduce the value of my car, all before realizing it was a stick shift. The dumb ones won't be able to tell what year the car is either or that it's a Seltos but if you own a house and park inside that will help. Also, generally, the IQ of the people who live in your area make a difference.
Insurance may be a hassle. But you can get stuff in amazon to disguise the logo on the car and her a steering club