Vehicle Thefts Affect More Than 850,000 Drivers Each Year: NHTSA

Officials urge drivers to secure vehicles and valuables during summer’s peak theft season.

Federal highway safety officials are warning vehicle owners to stay vigilant this summer, as July marks National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month and historically sees the highest rates of auto theft.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a consumer alert on July 1, reminding drivers to lock their vehicles, remove valuables, and take other basic precautions to help prevent theft.

Each year, more than 850,000 vehicles are stolen across the United States, averaging roughly one every 37 seconds, and resulting in billions of dollars in losses tied to insurance claims, investigations and out-of-pocket expenses.

In many cases, the vehicle is not the only target. Thieves also steal valuables left inside, including cell phones, laptops, purses and electronics, as well as high-demand components like airbags, radios, engines and even entire doors or transmissions.

According to NHTSA’s theft prevention tips, drivers should park in well-lit, high-traffic areas and always make sure that they close and lock all doors and windows. Valuables should be hidden from view, even if bags are empty.

Keys should never be left inside the vehicle nor should the vehicle be left running unattended. If a car is equipped with an immobilizer, drivers should be sure to use their key fob to lock it. 

For additional security, NHTSA recommends installing anti-theft tools like alarms, steering wheel locks, ignition or fuel cut-off devices, and GPS tracking systems.

To support recovery efforts, federal regulations require manufacturers to label major components and replacement parts. NHTSA also encourages automakers to equip vehicles with passive anti-theft systems as standard.

When a vehicle is stolen, drivers should report it to police immediately and notify their insurance provider within 24 hours. If the vehicle is recovered, both the police and insurer should be updated.

Kia, Hyundai Vehicle Thefts

The reminders by federal regulators come amid increasing thefts involving Kia and Hyundai vehicles, which surged between 2020 and 2023, driven by a viral social media trend that encouraged users to exploit known security flaws in certain models. The so-called “Kia Challenge,” which gained traction on TikTok and other platforms, showed how to steal these vehicles using simple tools and minimal effort.

According to a CNN report published in January 2024, the spike in thefts was linked to the absence of basic anti-theft features, most notably, engine immobilizers, on many Kia and Hyundai models manufactured during that period. By mid-2020, theft rates for these vehicles jumped to 11.2 per 1,000 insured vehicles, compared to just 1 in 1,000 for other makes.