Kia and Hyundai Extend Theft-Prevention Campaign to Include Window Decals and Security Kits

Kia and Hyundai continued rolling out anti-theft countermeasures in 2023 following the social-media theft epidemic. In April, NHTSA technical service bulletin MC-10235555 documented Dealer Best Practices associated with Campaign 993, the anti-theft software and window decal program.

The April 13, 2023, bulletin confirmed that Kia was extending its theft-prevention program to include additional models and model years beyond those covered in the initial February campaign. The TSB also provided guidance on the dealer-level inspection procedure for confirming which vehicles could receive the software update and which required alternative remedies — including dealer-installed security kits.

For vehicles whose hardware did not support the software update, Kia's remedy included a window security sticker visible to potential thieves, along with physical security deterrents. These alternative remedies were less technically robust than the software fix but provided at least a deterrence layer for owners waiting in queue for dealer appointments.

The extended campaign reflected the scale of the original problem: 8.3 million vehicles across both brands could not all receive software updates simultaneously, creating a months-long backlog at dealerships. Owners in the queue were advised by NHTSA to use steering wheel locks and to park in visible, lit locations.

For auto-glass shops, the protracted campaign remained a factor in repair demand. Vehicles waiting for software updates continued to be theft targets, and break-in damage — typically a smashed side window — continued to generate door-glass replacement work throughout the spring and into the summer. Shops that had identified high-demand door-glass part numbers for Kia and Hyundai models early in the crisis maintained supply advantages as the backlog extended.

The multi-month campaign rollout also provided shops with a case study in how large-scale safety campaigns operate: they are not instantaneous, and the repair demand generated by the underlying defect persists well beyond the initial announcement of a remedy.