The City of Columbus sued Kia and Hyundai in federal court on Feb. 15, 2023, alleging that security weaknesses in some of the companies’ vehicles helped fuel a wave of thefts and imposed added costs on city services. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, says nearly 7,800 vehicle thefts and attempted thefts were reported in Columbus from Jan. 1 through Oct. 18, 2022. Kia and Hyundai vehicles accounted for nearly two-thirds of attempted thefts and about 43% of completed thefts, the city alleges. Columbus claims the affected vehicles lacked engine immobilizers, electronic devices that prevent a car from starting without the correct key. According to the complaint, some models with traditional key ignitions could be started by bypassing the ignition system with simple tools. The city alleges Kia omitted immobilizers from certain vehicles for more than a decade and Hyundai did so on some vehicles from 2015 through 2021. The city says the thefts increased demands on police, emergency responders and other municipal services, diverting public resources from other needs. It also points to crashes and other crimes involving stolen vehicles, including a 2022 crash in central Ohio that killed two 14-year-olds and seriously injured another teenager. The lawsuit alleges negligence and public nuisance, among other claims. Columbus is seeking damages, an order requiring corrective action and other relief. The complaint requests damages exceeding $75,000, but does not specify a final amount. The filing notes that Hyundai made immobilizers standard on vehicles produced after Nov. 1, 2021, and Kia did so for its 2022 models. It also says the companies had offered security kits and steering-wheel locks and planned software updates, while arguing those measures did not provide a comprehensive remedy for affected vehicles. The city’s claims are allegations in a civil case; the complaint does not establish that the automakers are legally responsible for the thefts or the city’s costs.