Kia class action alleges defective windshields result in cracks, chips, fractures

Kia windshields class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Margaret Ritzler, Hank Herber, Linda Wilbur, Thomas Rocco, Jerry Dubose, April Fisher and Tewana Nelson filed a class action lawsuit against Kia America Inc.
• Why: The group argues Kia manufactured and sold model year 2020-2023 Kia Telluride vehicles equipped with allegedly defective windshields that are prone to cracking, chipping or fracturing. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court. 
• What are my options: CarShield provides vehicle protection plans for Kia and other vehicles. 

Kia America manufactured and sold model year 2020-2023 Kia Telluride vehicles equipped with defective windshields prone to cracking, chipping, and/or fracturing, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

A group of Kia vehicle owners claims the windshields are prone to breaking even under “normal driving conditions” and that they pose an “extreme safety hazard to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.” 

“The spontaneously cracking Class Vehicle windshields impair the driver’s view, distract the driver, and can result in dislodged glass that can injure drivers, passengers and pedestrians,” the Kia class action states. 

Kia owners argue the automaker became aware “immediately” that the windshields on the Telluride vehicles were defective after it began selling them in 2019, but “failed to disclose and conceals the Windshield Defect from purchasers and lessees.” 

The Kia owners want to represent separate classes of consumers who purchased a leased a 2020-2023 Kia Telluride vehicle in Georgia, Indiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. 

Kia’s replacement windshields also defective, class action says

Kia owners argue they would have not purchased the Telluride vehicles or “paid substantially less for them” had they known about the allegedly defective windshields, which they claim Kia refuses to replace for free under its warranty.

“Further, Kia’s replacement windshields are also defective, resulting in Class Vehicle owners repeatedly replacing their windshields at their own expense,” the Kia class action states. 

Kia owners claim the automaker is violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act along with laws from multiple states, including the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977 and the New Mexico Unfair Trade Practices Act. 

Plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting injunctive and declaratory relief along with an award of actual, incidental, consequential and punitive damages for themselves and all class members. 

A separate class action lawsuit was filed against Kia and Hyundai last year by a consumer arguing the automakers failed to equip certain of their vehicles with engine immobilizers that would help protect them from theft. 

Have you purchased or leased a model year 2020-2023 Kia Telluride vehicle? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Trinette G. Kent of Lemberg Law LLC. 

The Kia windshields class action lawsuit is Ritzler, et al. v. Kia America Inc., Case No. 8:23-cv-00639, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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