SEATTLE — A Seattle City Councilmember is proposing a resolution to recall specific Kia and Hyundai vehicle models and force manufacturers to install “industry standard” anti-theft technology.

Lisa Herbold, representing District 1, is making the proposal Monday, calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall the specific vehicles. The City Council is slated to vote on the resolution during Tuesday’s meeting.

“The lack of immobilizer technology in some models made between 2011 and 2021 has made the vehicles vulnerable to theft,” Herbold’s office wrote in a press release. “That has negatively impacted public safety in cities across the country – including Seattle.”

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According to the Seattle Police Department, from 2021 to 2022 there was a 363% increase in reports of stolen Kias and a 503% increase in reports of stolen Hyundais, Herbold’s office wrote.

In January, Seattle became the first city in the United States to file a lawsuit against the automakers, seeking to recover damages for the city. That lawsuit, filed by City Attorney Ann Davison, is still pending.

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If Herbold’s resolution passes, Seattle will join cities such as Baltimore and Philadelphia to pass a resolution urging a recall, the councilmember’s office said.

The frequent thefts of Kias and Hyundais have been highlighted as trends on TikTok and other social media platforms, where people describe how to steal a vehicle in minutes with a screwdriver and USB charger. A group known online as the “Kia Boyz” steals Kia and Hyundai vehicles and then posts about the thefts on social media, challenging others to do the same.