I hope they catch the people who did this!!!

I hope you don't have to buy a new steering column!

Local Dealer or on-line Kia dealer - like:

Steering Column for 2017 Kia Forte | Kia Parts Online

 

Or:

2017 Kia Forte Steering Column OEM 39K Miles (LKQ~301757961) | eBay

 

If you don't already know....Google and read everything you can about the class action lawsuits against Kia. Their older model cars without pushbutton starts lack immobilizers and have a design defect that makes the makes them easy to hotwire.

 

Do you not have comprehensive coverage on your insurance?

 

Sorry this happened.

Keep complete records on the theft and what you have to do to be whole again. Keep a log of all of the inconvenience you have to go through, too. The two major class action lawsuits, one in California and one in Kansas City, seem to be looking to have Kia compensate owners with stolen cars for both monetary losses and punitive damages. Can't say how all of the suits will come out, too early in the process. Will probably take more than four years to resolve, if the class action against Hyundai for the Theta II engine debacle is any indication.

I'm assuming you don't have comprehensive insurance. If you must do the repair yourself you can find a salvage yard with a Kia like yours and start pulling the parts to match your missing or broken ones. Take detailed photos of the disassembly so you'll have some guide in putting things back together. This will be tough. Having an expert do this is much preferred.

Keep us informed.

 

There are at least 15 class actions lawsuits against Kia and Hyundai now. They may be consolidated into one case, or each suit may proceed individually.

Most of these filings seek to compensate Kia owners whose cars have been stolen, while other cases are asking for a fleet-wide recall to install anti-theft devices. Still others want Kia and Hyundai to compensate all owners for increased car insurance rates and decreased trade-in values.

I found two firms via media reports who have filed class action suits.

MLG Attorneys at Law in Los Angeles (mlgaplc.com) seems to generally be handling cases on the west coast. They have an online sign up form for Kia owners who believe they have been damaged.

HFM Legal (hfmlegal.com) is based near Kansas City and is seeking to represent cases in the Midwest. They have a hotline set up: 816-836-5050.

 

Would 1st gen koups be approved for alarm system/immobilizer installed by Kia/Hyundai at the nearest dealership?

Mine isn't a push start. There's no chip on the oem/factory key.

 

Would 1st gen koups be approved for alarm system/immobilizer installed by Kia/Hyundai at the nearest dealership?

Mine isn't a push start. There's no chip on the oem/factory key.

Last time I looked Hyundai was offering a $170 (plus installation fee) security kit to its owners through it's dealers.

Kia, on the other hand, is giving away steering wheel Clubs to police departments in areas most affected by the thefts. When I contacted my local Kia dealer two weeks ago, they weren't offering any such devices (but they are a small town operator).

Don't know if you have a Best Buy store in your area, but they have the same unit that Hyundai is offering, albeit at a higher price. Other electronics stores may have something equivalent or better.

Next week I'm going to contact the local Hyundai dealership to see if they can work with my Kia.

For what it is worth, my local police department recommends the Club as it is visible to thieves who may pass your car by when they see it. Thieves won't know about Hyundai's anti-theft system until after the glass is broken.

 

What's the alarm system that's found at both places?

Yes, there's a best in my area.

 

What's the alarm system that's found at both places?

Yes, there's a best in my area.

The Hyundai device is made by Compustar, which makes a variety of anti-theft devices. According to news reports it consists of a kill switch and an alarm that responds to glass breakage.

Go to the Compustar web page to find the closest dealer near you.

 

Try removing your old KIA logo badges too. The newer logo might be a deterrent for thieves but de-badging altogether is probably better.

 

Did you end up keeping it?
Do You live in a hard hit area?