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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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35 thoughts onKia class action alleges defective windshields result in cracks, chips, fractures
I have a 2021 kia telluride that fors the same if soenthing small hits the wind shield it cracks it. I have had three repairs so far and about to probably have to replace it. Plus other things..
I have issues with the windshield and the hard seats. My back is killing me!!!
2021 Kia was defective I was financing this Vechilee the car was giving me a lot of problem
bought brand new 2023 kia telluride cracked windshield with only 10K miles on it
Yes can I eligible for law suit settlement
I had a 2021 ilia telluride
I own a 2022 Kia sportage. It currently has a three foot crack in the windshield that developed for no reason. I contacted the dealer and they were no help. Is this something that is included in the lawsuit?
Random crack 2023
Somebody 2022 telluride. In 2023 when his wife went to the office garage to drive home, there was a long crack across the windshield. Contacted the dealership and also Kia and they plan to do nothing. Would like to join into any class action lawsuit. Please contact me. Residence is in Texas.
Bought a Kia telluride 2023 in December 2022 and in July 2023 a small rock/pebble hit the windshield and immediately left a crack and then split across. Didn’t even have a chance to get the cracked filled that day because it spread across the car almost immediately in my line of sight! Never had a car that I didn’t even have a chance to get a crack filled.
I have a 2023 telluride and the windshield just cracked as I was out of the garage. The crack is getting longer by the hour.
I have a 2023 KIA Telluride that is approximately 7-8 months old. There was a small stone chip in the lower passenger side of the front windshield with a crack running almost through to the drivers side. I don’tbelieve that the windshield should have cracked through. The window replacement for this vehicle is quoted at nearly $2,000.00 USD, partially due to its HeadsUp Display. The owner of the body shop stated that they the KIA windshields are now being stocked due to so many of them having to be replace.
I would like to be part of this class action law suit.