Honestly we are not content to write an article about the TikTok car challenge. Such trends endanger human life and our aim is certainly not to encourage. We want you to be aware of this situation and acting responsibly is paramount. Now let’s dig into the latest TikTok car challenge.
What is TikTok car challenge?
Authorities in Philadelphia suspect a current TikTok challenge that targets two of the most well-known car brands is responsible for a rash of recent car thefts and break-ins.
According to investigators, even a simple USB connection is being used by criminals to learn how to hot wire cars. There are detailed instructions in a since-deleted TikTok video.
The police think the thieves are especially aiming Kia and Hyundai vehicles for the TikTok car challenge. For cars with ignition-only versions, the automakers advise anti-theft bars, and for newer models, immobilizers.
The ignition system of John McIntyre’s Hyundai was broken, and he informed FOX 29 that police were looking into two car thefts and three other similar break-ins.
As part of the challenge, Philadelphia police are attempting to compile information on the number of Hyundai and Kia vehicles that have been stolen or defaced. Residents are growing irritated in the meantime.
Dan Foker stated, “Sooner or later they’re going to get caught, it’s not too funny.”
Since then, a Philadelphia legal firm has joined an Ohio business in a class action complaint against Hyundai and Kia, claiming the defendants’ cars lack anti-theft technology.
TikTok Kia challenge struggle continues
We’ve covered the TikTok Kia challenge before and now drivers who claim Kia hasn’t done enough are suing in a class-action lawsuit. Lawyers in Orange County, California, claimed that they are initiating legal action on the West coast to bring the issues directly to Kia and Hyundai. In the meantime, sufferers in Buffalo are expecting that some answers will return to the Easy coast, WKBW reports.
“I’m just upset overall. Like I said its traumatizing. I will never be the same,” stated Kareemah Perry, victim of the TikTok Kia challenge.
It was supposed to be a happy day at first. In January 2020, Perry, a student at Buffalo State College and a teacher in the Buffalo Public School System, bought a brand-new Kia. But only two years later, her ideal vehicle became a nightmare.
“Typical day. I was getting up for work. I had my dog, I had my lunch, purse everything else and I’m headed out to the door. I realize as soon as I got down the stairs that my car was gone,” explained Perry.
A puddle of water, some broken glass, and an empty place were all that Perry said she observed when she arrived to the spot where she always parked her car that rainy morning.
“I’m looking around and I’m like, I know I’m not crazy. Before I overreact, let me just take a deep breath,” said Perry.
Perry claimed that she immediately informed her parents that her automobile was vanished. They phoned the cops shortly after that.
The trending challenge first appeared on Tik Tok. Participants in the TikTok car challenge break into Kia-inspired vehicles, sever cables underneath the steering wheel, and then start the vehicles using USB chords.
“I’m like, wait a minute. That’s not making any sense to me. You’re telling me they’re going to use my charger chords that I have in my car to start my car? They’re like yeah,” said Perry.
Similar cases have been piling up, according to Jonathan Michaels, principal attorney at MLG, and the only word that can adequately describe them all is crazy.
“This is just one of the craziest situations I’ve ever seen quite frankly. You know it started with this, it really got going with this Tik Tok video, this challenge. One of the things that is just really interesting and unique about this is that we’ve seen zero slow down. I mean this has just been going and going and going,” said Michaels.
According to Michaels, Perry’s automobile was originally stolen in July, the same month the TikTok car challenge was released.
“My car wasn’t back with me for more than 24 hours and my car was stolen again. So, my car was stolen twice,” said Perry.
While continuing to pay the car note and the monthly insurance payment for the automobile she doesn’t have access to, Perry said that she has had to come up with $3,000 in cash between car rentals and other costs.
“Any way I can get help, I’m looking for it. Again, first way I can is Google it and that’s how I found the Lawyer in California,” said Perry.
That attorney is Michaels, who told 7 News that a class-action lawsuit was filed in September 2022 and that since then, more than 500 victims around the country have contacted his office.
“We’re asking for a nationwide recall to fix all of these cars. We’re asking for compensation to be brought to everyone that’s had their car stolen and everyone who has not had their car stolen but owns one of these vehicles, to provide compensation to them as well because the market is falling out for these cars,” stated Michaels.
Michaels said he wanted to inspire hope in the victims. He claimed that this problem affects 10 million vehicles nationally. He calculates that the cost of a recall would be $5 billion. According to Michaels, this would rank as the third-largest recall in the entire nation.
This is the current state of TikTok car challenge. Be very careful.
