WASHINGTON — WUSA9 heard from a Kia owner recently who said they are having a tough time getting their car repaired. They asked us if there is a parts shortage that makes it harder to fix Kia vehicles.
THE QUESTION
Has a recent increase in vehicle thefts led to a widespread shortage of replacement parts for Kias?
THE BACKGROUND
Kias and Hyundais have been frequent targets for criminals after videos on social media show how easily some older models can be stolen with just a USB charger.
One car owner told us their car was damaged in an attempted burglary and said they got turned away by a couple of local repair centers because it would take too long to fix.
THE SOURCES
- Kia
- 15 dealerships and repair shops in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia
THE ANSWER
WHAT WE FOUND
Only two businesses told us they struggled specifically to get new windows and steering columns for Kias. (Those are the two parts criminals break to steal those cars.)
Nine businesses said parts for most makes of cars are backordered because of continued supply chain problems linked to the pandemic and that any delays with Kia parts are similar to those for other vehicles.
The other four businesses said they are not having any problem getting the parts they need.
A spokesperson for Kia told us via email, “In regards to the TikTok issue and the resulting repairs, it is worth mentioning that in a majority of cases, the parts on hold have been 'out of production' for, in some cases, for several years. And given the supply chain issues that you mentioned below, restarting production of those pieces, i.e. the plastic shroud around the base of the steering wheel, is very difficult. But we are doing all we can to assist.”
It is misleading to say Kia parts are especially hard to find right now. Many car parts are in limited supply, and if you make enough calls, you may find a repair shop that is able to fix your car quickly. Additionally, both Kia and Hyundai offer a free software update to prevent this kind of theft.