Kia Class-Action Lawsuits

Another owner has sued Hyundai and Kia for knowingly equipping vehicles with defective Theta II engines.

Proving once again that when it comes to engines that catch on fire, people generally aren't fans. The automakers have settled similar lawsuits and issued recalls for these clunkers, but the plaintiff suggests not all affected vehicles were included.…

The last Kia Sephia rolled off a dealer’s lot sometime around the turn of the century, but it’s back in the news for a brake lawsuit that just won’t stop.

17 years ago 1997-2000 Sephia owners sued the automaker for brakes that wore out way too fast. A jury awarded them $6 million dollars ($750/piece), but the judge overruled the decision, decertified the class-action, and asked a “special master” to determine how many of those class members had legitimate damage claims.

That “special” investigation lasted until 2015 where it was determined the settlement should be reduced to $46,000 for just 150 eligible owners ($300/owner).…

A reduced settlement has been approved for a Kia Sephia brake lawsuit that was filed 17 years ago.

Regina Little, et al., v. Kia Motors America, Inc. was originally filed in 2001. After years of leagl wrangling, a jury sided in favor of the plaintiffs in June 2008. The ruling awarded $6 million dollars to owners of the 1997-2000 Sephia as compensation for brake problems (about $750/person).

The legal wrangling, however, wasn't over. While the judge accepted the ruling, he decertified the case and forced owners to submit claims in order to be eligible for an award. A "special master" was assigned to handle those claims and determine the award amount.…

One Kia owner has had enough of gnawed wires leading to dashboard warning lights and multiple calls to the insurance company.

Tsvetelin Tsonev filed a class-action lawsuit because his 2015 Soul is being used like a chew toy. The plaintiff says he leased a 2015 Kia Soul in April 2015 that has allegedly been damaged three times because the automaker keeps replacing soy-based wiring with more soy wiring, inviting more critters to snacktime.

OK, so it turns out rodents don’t really snack on the coating, but they do love chewing on it and making nests out of it.

And if you’re wondering just how much damage a rodent could do, brace yourself.…

Kia is facing another lawsuit for metal shavings causing catastrophic failure in its Theta II engine.

The engines can allegedly fail at any time while driving any speed, leaving owners in dangerous driving conditions once the engines stall. According to the plaintiffs, damage to the connecting rod bearings causes metal shavings to appear in the oil.

A few months ago, Kia recalled 618,000 vehicles with Theta II engines that shipped with metal shavings due to a faulty manufacturing process. The recall only covered certain vehicles up to the 2014 model year.…

Another day, another manufacturer getting sued for using soy-based wire coating.

Plaintiff Campbell claims her 2014 Kia Optima was damaged in December 2016 when rodents chewed the wire harness and wiring. Campbell asked Kia to cover the repairs under warranty but after allegedly making her wait almost a month with the Kia Optima sitting at the dealership, Kia denied her claim for coverage.

This is not a Kia-only problem. Other automakers have made the switch to a soy-based wire coatings and are facing similar lawsuits including Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and Subaru.

The lawsuit covers owners or lessees in California, Texas, and NJ with most of the 2012-2017 Kia lineup.

The Theta II recall that so many Kia owners have been waiting for is finally here.

Kia is recalling more than 618,000 model year 2011-2014 Kia Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles because the engine bearings can wear out too early and cause the engines to seize. The automaker says machining problems occurred during manufacturing, something dealers will need to fix by replacing the engine assemblies.

We’ve been tracking Theta II engine problems for a while and let’s just say … they’re not good.…

The Theta II Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine is earning a reputation for stalling and eventually seizing, leading to a class-action lawsuit.

The [lawsuit] targets the Theta 2-liter and 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection engines, also known as GDI engines. According to the plaintiffs, the engines contain defects that cause a restriction of oil flow through the connecting rod bearings and other parts of the engines.

Hyundai is facing a similar lawsuit that is currently awaiting final class-action approval.

Kia's Theta 2-liter and 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection engines, also known as GDI engines, are giving owners a ton of headaches by stalling or failing at just about any time.

According to a new lawsuit, these engines contain defects that cause a restriction of oil flow through the connecting rod bearings and other parts of the engines. In turn, the engines can stall without warning.

The plaintiffs say Kia knows about the Theta engine problems, but refuses to freely repair the engines or order a recall. Another Theta II engine case with Sonata owners is awaiting final settlement approval.