8 ON YOUR SIDE: AAA Alabama to give away free steering wheel locks to Hyundai, Kia owners

8 ON YOUR SIDE: AAA Alabama will give away free steering wheel locks to owners of some Hyundai and Kia models.

The locks will be given to owners of 2011-2022 Hyundai and Kia vehicles to deter theft.

As Action 8 News has reported, some Hyundai and Kia models have been prone to vehicle thefts. In 2023, Hyundai and Kia settled a class-action lawsuit involving about nine million vehicles sold in the U.S.

The cars are not equipped with push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices. That has allowed thieves to easily steal them using just a screwdriver and a USB cord, creating a recent rash of auto thefts across the country.

AAA says it will distribute the locks on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees will be asked to show their vehicle registration or insurance card to prove ownership of these particular models.

The Steering Wheel Lock Device Event will be held on Tuesday, August 26, from 10 AM-4PM inside the AAA offices in Montgomery, Birmingham and Huntsville.

The locks will only be given to people who own a Kia or Hyundai for the model years of 2011 through 2022.

Montgomery office: 6901 Vaughn Road
Birmingham office: 2400 Acton Road
Huntsville office: 2625 Memorial Parkway SW

Thousands of Hyundai and Kia vehicles are on the road in Alabama. Hyundai operates an assembly plant in Montgomery, while Kia has an assembly plant just across the state line in West Point, Georgia.