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Kia Motors America Inc. has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the engines in some of its vehicles have a defect that restricts oil flow to vital parts of the engine, causing vehicles to stall while in operation and experience catastrophic engine failure.
Plaintiffs Christopher Stanczak and Rose Creps filed the Kia class action lawsuit Tuesday in California federal court.
They claim certain 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter Kia Optima, Sportage and Sorento vehicles contain a defect that results in the restriction of oil flow through the connecting rod bearings and other vital engine parts, posing a safety risk to the vehicle occupants if the vehicle experiences catastrophic engine failure and stalls while in operation.
According to the Kia class action lawsuit, Kia has been aware of the restricted oil flow defect but has refused to disclose the defect or repair the issues associated with it.
“Despite notice and knowledge of the defect from the numerous complaints it has received, information from dealers, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (‘NHTSA’) complaints, including durability testing, KMA has not recalled the Class Vehicles to repair the engine defect, offered its customers suitable repairs or replacements free of charge, or offered to reimburse its customers who have incurred out-of-pocket expenses to repair the defect,” the Kia class action lawsuit states.
Stanczak leased a new 2015 Kia Optima LX in October 2014, according to the Kia class action lawsuit. In August 2016, he claims he heard unusual engine noise while driving the vehicle on the highway. When he brought his vehicle to a Kia dealership to find the cause of the noise, a service technician allegedly discovered metal shavings in the engine and notified Stanczak that the engine would need to be replaced.
The dealership reportedly refused Stanczak’s request to have the engine replacement costs covered by the warranty, and Stanczak decided to get a second opinion. The next day, the vehicle engine catastrophically failed while he was merging onto a highway, the Kia class action lawsuit alleges.
Creps purchased a new Kia Optima EX in April 2015 and also experienced engine problems that Kia refused to cover under warranty, the Kia class action lawsuit alleges. She says she ended up paying more than $5,000 to replace her vehicle’s engine in August 2016.
Stanczak and Creps claim that they have suffered a loss of value for their Kia vehicles because of the Kia engine defect. According to the Kia class action lawsuit, they would not have purchased or leased the Kia vehicles, or they would have paid substantially less for them, if they had known about the Kia engine defect.
The Kia class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of Stanczak, Creps and a proposed Class of current and former owners of the affected Kia vehicles. The plaintiffs also seek to certify Classes of Kia vehicles owners in Maine and California.
The plaintiffs are represented by Richard D. McCune, David C. Wright, Joseph G. Sauder, Matthew D. Schelkopf and Joseph B. Kenney of McCune Wright Arevalo LLP.
The Kia Restricted Oil Flow Class Action Lawsuit is Christopher Stanczak and Rose Creps v. Kia Motors America Inc., et al., Case No. 8:17-cv-01365, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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133 thoughts onKia Class Action Alleges Defect Can Cause Catastrophic Engine Failure
I had a 2012 Kia Optima I heard a loud knocking noise as I was going to work… I called Kia roadside assistance they had it towed to the nearest killer Kia dealership ….and upon inspection they said I needed a new engine which would cost me about $5,000… I research the issue and found that dozens and dozens of people were having the same issue with the same engine… I called Kia customer service and let them know what I found… they acted like they didn’t know what was going on and could not help me… I had to let the car go back and buy a new Toyota Corolla! Please add me!!
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Currently sitting at Kia with a blown engine, please add me. They offered me $1k on a $10k repair for a $8k vehicle. Insulted!
I have a 2016 please add me to the suit.
I have a 2005 kia sorento please add me
I have a 2005 kia please add me
I have a 2008 kia add me
I own a 2015 Kia optima lx please add me or notify of recalls.
I purchased a used 2013 Kia Sportage in October 2014 right off the showroom floor from Kia of East Syracuse (NY) with only 5000 miles on it.
Spring of 2017? I received a recall notice. Call the dealership and they reply “does not apply to your avIN”
Early-Mid December 2017 it stalls as I approach highway. I pull over and start the vehicle and continue to my destination.
December 28th, 2017….I am almost at my destination, 200 miles from home. What let traveling at 50 mph on a semi rural route the car loses all motor power while I am driving it!!! I pull into a parking lot and car is dead. Towed to a Kia Dealership in NJ where it still sits and I make a car payment for a vehicle I cannot drive.
Two weeks of back and forth with Kia Motors of America, proof of more than adequate oil changes and the denied any help.
This Kia Sportage was 7 weeks out of warranty with only 56,000 miles on it when the motor seized.
I still owe $9000 on it and have heard a new motor will cost almost that much.
This is unacceptable. A motor is not supposed to seize up after only 56000 miles
We take very good care of our vehicles. Two or our vehicles have/had 240,000+ miles and our 2010 Subaru, that we handed down to our daughter,just traveled across the country and back this past summer and has 157,000 miles.
Please help us.
I have a 2005 Sorento that is breaking down and costing thousand. PLEASE ADD ME
I own a 2011 kia optima. Please contact me about recalls