A Kia owner from Washington State was so fed up with his Sportage that he returned it to the dealership and walked back home. His frustration with the SUV stemmed from experiencing four different theft incidents over the past two years, all inspired by the infamous “Kia Boyz” social media trend.
Behrouz Alimoradi claims he spent thousands of dollars on repairing his previous-gen Sportage, which has repeatedly fallen victim to theft and vandalism, mirroring issues faced by many other Kia and Hyundai vehicle owners. The most recent incident occurred last Monday when his Sportage was stolen once more. Although the SUV was recovered by the police, another individual subsequently smashed its windows while it was parked in Alimoradi’s driveway.
Instead of investing more money in repairs, Alimoradi opted to drive the damaged vehicle to the dealership in Federal Way, Washington State, and left it there. His determination was so resolute that he chose to embark on a four-hour walk back to his home rather than drive his Kia.
More: Used Kia Sportage Owner Discovers It Was Stolen Twice
Fox 13 spoke with the frustrated who expressed his exhaustion, stating, “I’m tired, you know. I swear I’m tired about this car. This situation is too bad. I don’t want it”. It remains unclear what will happen to the unwanted vehicle. The dealership declined to comment to the media, citing legal constraints on discussing the situation.
Since 2022, there has been a surge in theft cases involving specific Hyundai and Kia models. Viral videos on social media demonstrated how easily these vehicles can be stolen, leading to increased incidents. Both automakers and local authorities in numerous US states have tried solving the problem by issuing software updates and handing over anti-theft equipment like steering locks. However, these measures have proven insufficient in preventing further car thefts.
According to Tacoma Police, there have been 82 reported car thefts in the area during the past week, with some of the stolen vehicles being involved in violent crimes. Last Sunday, a group of young suspects who wore face masks and drove a stolen Kia held someone up at gunpoint and stole their car. Following a police pursuit, the thieves abandoned the vehicle and ran into the woods. A week prior, another stolen Kia was driven at a Tacoma middle school parking lot with the driver pointing a gun at the security guard.
