Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has joined a coalition of 18 states, calling for a federal recall of certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

A letter that was sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) is requesting them to “institute a recall of unsafe Hyundai and Kia vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2022 whose easily bypassed ignition switches and lack of engine immobilizers make them particularly vulnerable to theft.”

Brown said the letter is calling on the federal government to step in, due to the vehicles’ systems being out of compliance with federal standards and causing unreasonable risk to public safety.

“Car manufacturers failing to adequately address serious public safety concerns is completely unacceptable,” said Attorney General Brown. “There is a problem with these particular Hyundai and Kia vehicles that puts lives at risk and has even resulted in multiple deaths. These companies must be held responsible for fixing the safety problem without putting the burden to do so on the cars’ owners.”

The letter is asking for the recall for the following reasons:

• The vehicles violate federal requirements that vehicles have a starting system that prevents the activation of the engine or motor and steering system when the key is removed
• The vehicles’ vulnerability to hotwiring and theft has created an unreasonable and well-documented risk to safety on U.S. roads
• Surging thefts of unsafe vehicles have consumed law enforcement and emergency responder resources
• The companies’ response through a phased and voluntary service campaign is insufficient to protect drivers and the public

Attorneys General of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington are all joining Brown in the letter.