Abraham Jewett  |  August 8, 2022

Category: Auto News

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KIA Motors new angular logo on black hood of Kia with water drops - auto theft
(Photo Credit: Yarrrrrbright/Shutterstock)

Kia class action lawsuit overview: 

  • Who: Ann Brady and Leah Price filed a class action lawsuit against Kia America Inc., Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Kia America. 
  • Why: Brady and Price claim Kia failed to disclose its Hyundai and Kia model year 2011 through 2021 vehicles contain defects which make them easier for thieves to steal. 
  • Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Iowa federal court. 

Kia failed to disclose to consumers that its Kia and Hyundai model year 2011 through 2021 vehicles contain defects which makes them easier to steal, and therefore more prone to auto theft, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiffs Ann Brady and Leah Price claim Kia refuses to fix the alleged defect or to compensate consumers, despite allegedly admitting that the vehicles have a problem with “theft and safety.” 

Brady and Price further claim Kia failed to “disclose, reveal, or provide notice to customers” in their advertising and labeling that the Kia and Hyundai vehicles are “defective” and “not fit for the ordinary purposes for which the vehicles are used.” 

“Defendants knew their vehicles were defective … but failed and refused to disclose these defects to customers, despite having the capability and means to do so,” the Kia class action states. 

Brady and Price want to represent a nationwide class and Iowa subclass of consumers who purchased or own a model year 2011 through 2021 Hyundai or Kia vehicle, with varying statute of limitations stipulations. 

Kia, Brady and Price argue, did not follow regulations set by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) when manufacturing the affected vehicles. 

Brady and Price claim the affected Hyundai and Kia vehicles can continue to be steered and moved forward even without a key in the ignition, which them more prone to auto theft; it is also an alleged violation of the FMVSS. 

Kia accused of manufacturing vehicles without engine immobilizers to prevent auto theft

Further, Kia allegedly did not follow FMVSS regulations by manufacturing the vehicles without engine immobilizers, which exist to make it harder to start a vehicle without having a key, the Kia class action alleges. 

“Defendants had the capability and means to add an engine immobilizer or similar device, yet they failed to do so,” the Kia class action states. 

Brady and Price claim Kia is guilty of unjust enrichment and negligence, among other things, and in violation of Iowa’s Private Right of Action for Consumer Frauds Act and the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.  

Plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting injunctive relief along with damages for themselves and all class members. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a recall for more than 9,000 of Kia’s model year 2022 EV6 vehicles in May over concerns their parking brakes could disengage on their own and roll away. 

Do you own a model year 2011-2021 Hyundai or Kia vehicle? Let us know in the comments. 

The plaintiffs are represented by Jay M. Smith of Smith & McElwain; and Kenneth B. McClain, Jonathan M. Soper, Kevin D. Stanley and Chelsea M. Pierce of Humphrey, Farrington & McClain PC. 

The Kia Theft Class Action Lawsuit is Brady, et al. v. Kia America Inc., et al., Case No. 4:22-cv-00252, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.


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1,511 thoughts onKia class action alleges defect makes vehicles easy to steal

  1. Ann Lewis says:

    I have a 2012 kia sportage

  2. Sarah Dickens-Jennings says:

    I own a 2015 Kia soul and my had to have 2 engines put in it because of fire

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