Kia class action claims 2021-2023 Soul, Seltos vehicles sold with an engine defect

Kia class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Eric Jasinski has filed a class action lawsuit against Kia America Inc.
• Why: Jasinski alleges Kia knowingly sold 2021-2023 Soul and Seltos vehicles with a defect that can result in engine failure and potential fire.
• Where: The Kia class action lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania federal court.

A new nationwide class action lawsuit alleges Kia’s 2021-2023 Soul and Seltos vehicles have a defect that can cause engine failure and fires.

Plaintiff Eric Jasinski filed the class action complaint against Kia America Inc. on March 6 in Pennsylvania federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

He claims in the lawsuit that 2021-2023 Kia Soul and Seltos vehicles have faulty piston oil rings that can lead to engine damage, failure and even fires.

Jasinski alleges that, despite being aware of the defect, Kia America failed to disclose it to consumers at the time of purchase, leaving them with vehicles that are unsafe and have diminished value.

Jasinski says he purchased a 2021 Kia Soul from a dealership in Florida in June 2021, and was never informed of any recalls or defects related to the vehicle’s oil ring system.

He says he chose the vehicle based on Kia’s reputation for quality and reliability, as well as the salesperson’s assurances that it was a high-quality car with great technological features.

Kia recalled 137,000 vehicles in February, lawsuit says

In February, Kia issued a recall for more than 137,000 Soul and Seltos vehicles, offering to replace the engine and install piston-ring sensing noise software free of charge. However, Jasinski argues that the recall does not fully address the defect, as it only replaces the engine without guaranteeing a permanent fix for the underlying issue.

Jasinski alleges that the recall will cost him significant time and money, as replacing a car engine can take between 10 and 12 hours of chargeable work. He also points out that the recall does not compensate him for the loss of resale value, as vehicles with a known history of engine issues are worth much less than those without.

The lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide class and a Pennsylvania class of individuals who purchased or leased a 2021-2023 Kia Soul or Seltos. It alleges violations of state and federal consumer laws, including breach of implied warranty of merchantability, fraud by omission and unjust enrichment.

Jasinski is seeking damages, including benefit of the bargain damages, loss of resale value and incidental damages, as well as injunctive relief to ensure that Kia addresses the underlying manufacturing issue.

In September 2023, Kia and Hyundai agreed to a class action settlement to resolve claims that some of its Kia and Hyundai vehicles suffer from engine defects that can lead to failure and even fire.

What do you think of the allegations made in this Kia class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Stuart A. Carpey of Carpey Law PC.

The Kia class action lawsuit is Jasinski v. Kia America Inc., Case No. 2:25-cv-01234, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Pennsylvania.

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