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.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
Injured by an alcohol-fueled tabletop fire pit? You may have a legal claim.
November 20, 2025 | Legal News
22 thoughts onKia class action claims 2021-2023 Soul, Seltos vehicles sold with an engine defect
On October 13, 2025, I contacted KIA of Savannah to let them know that my 2021 KIA Soul was cutting off at idle and that I needed to have it checked. They informed me that, since I did not purchase my KIA from them, they could not even look at it until January 5, 2026. Later that day, the vehicle cut off at idle and would not restart. KIA roadside assistance has it towed to KIA Country of Savannah since that is the only KIA dealership in the area. I called the next morning to make sure they had received my vehicle and keys. They assured me that they had and informed me that a representative would be calling me. Meanwhile, I searched online to see what the problem could be with my vehicle and discovered that it was under recall. I was never told that the engine could catch on fire if I tried to restart the car when I first called the dealership and told them that was what was happening. I received a call from their representative, who informed me that she had my keys and said that they would not be able to even look at the vehicle until October 29th. I informed her that the vehicle was under recall and asked if I could get a loaner car. She said that even though it was under recall, they could not give me a loaner car until the vehicle was looked at. She said she would check to see if it was under recall and call me back if she could get it serviced sooner. I received several reminder calls and emails regarding the scheduled service of my car on the 29th. Each time, I informed them that the car was already there and that they had the keys.
I called the dealership on the 30th to check the status of my vehicle since I had not heard anything back from them regarding the service. I was informed that they had lost my keys. I then received a call back from a supervisor stating that he had found my keys and tried to start the car. I explained to him that the car was under recall and that I needed a loaner car. He told me that the car was not under recall. He said it was an extended warranty. “It’s just a play on words,” he said. He told me that he didn’t think the issue was the engine. He thought it was a battery issue from the way it sounded when he tried to start it. He said that I had to verbally agree to an (approximate) $200. charge before they would look at the vehicle.
On October 31, 2025, I received a call from the dealership stating that it was an engine issue and was covered under warranty. I asked for a loaner car and was told that they would reserve one for me at the Enterprise car rental near my residence. Then, I received a call back saying that I had to drive into Savannah to pick a loaner up from them. While driving the car home, I smelled gasoline to the point where I became nauseated. I tried driving it again after it sat for a while and experienced the same issue. I called the dealership and explained the problem to them. The representative said she would check with her manager and get back to me. I never received a call back on October 31st. I called the following day to see what her supervisor’s response was. She told me that he said he did not smell it when he test-drove the vehicle before I picked it up, but that I could bring it back in and trade it for another loaner. I told her that I did not think it was safe to drive. I then received a text from her which read:
We are going to have roadside assistance come pick up the car and switch it out.
Roadside assistance came and towed the loaner off my property. I called the dealership back after 2 hours, because I had not received a loaner yet. I was informed that the supervisor test-drove the car when it was returned and that he did not smell any gas. Therefore, if I wanted another loaner, I would have to drive there myself and get it. I explained to her that I did not think this was a good way to do business. She said she would talk with her supervisor. I then received another text reading:
Okay Mrs. Ray the tow truck drivers aren’t allowed to deliver loaner cars. Sorry for saying it was because there was no smell – my manager just let me know this information. We can either put in an enterprise reservation for you to pick up near you which wouldn’t be until Monday since they are closed or you would have to pick up today before three. He is willing to switch the cars but I tow truck driver wouldn’t be able to deliver it.
I then texted her the following: I have no way of getting there by 3:00 at this point. Please arrange for Statesboro Enterprise to have a loaner for me first thing Monday morning. Thank you.
She texted back: Yes ma’am. Putting that in now. She then texted a reservation number and said that Enterprise would be calling me on Monday.
I was told by Enterprise on Monday that KIA had put it an authorization for me to get a rental, but they did not put in a specified date, and they did not have a car to loan me that day. I informed the KIA representative and received the following text from her: I will have my appointment coordinator call them and check when she gets in. Later text: Hey she says it was set for today at the Garden City location. You will have to call and transfer it to a location closer to you. We only do business with the Garden City store.
On November 12th, I received a text from the representative stating that my vehicle was just brought to her and ready for pick-up. I informed her that I would be there at 1:30 to pick it up. I arrived, and she had me sign papers stating that I declined the kit that they recommended when they replace an engine, and that KIA would not be responsible if any of those parts were damaged. (Note, this kit was not covered under the warranty.) The papers also stated that there was only a 1-year warranty on the new engine. There were quite a few papers stapled to the one I signed. I started to take the papers, and she said that she would give me a copy. I only received 2 pages.
I was told that someone would bring my car over to the pick-up lot. I then waited for 20 minutes. A representative came over and told me that my car would not start and that the battery would take two hours to charge. She said they would call me when the battery is charged, and if the battery wouldn’t charge, they would let me know the price to replace it.
It is now 1:45 on November 13th, and I still have not heard back from them. My car still sits at KIA Country of Savannah.
I own a Kia Soul it’s a 2021 GDI Turbo. The transmission went at 65,000 miles (KIA replaced it) the engine went at 105,000 miles I had to replace it which cost about $9100 dollars. My VIN number was not eligible for the recall but the engine failure was a faulty valve just like the recalled engines. I feel I got taken on the engine replacement.
I own a 2022 Kia Soul, purchased new, it’s at 80,000 miles now and already went to the dealership twice for engine issues. We’ve purchased Wyler Care and ensured regular maintenance. They won’t admit there’s a real issue. They fixed it in July 2024 and here we are with the same issue in June 2025. The only solution they want to give is for ME to have the oil changed more frequently than their normal recommendations. It has over $4k in negative equity thanks to buying a NEW car and I’m literally stuck with the car unless I want to trade it in and have a $900 a month car payment now.
Where do I need to file my lawsuit..2015 kia soul same issue 🤔
I bought a 2020 Kia Sportage in Dec. 2024 from Dutch Miller Kia for $15,000. It was “Consuming” 1- 1/2 quarts of oil every 600 miles when I bought it, evidently. I took it to the dealership and had an oil consumption test performed and they deemed that it was excessive. The dealership and Kia refuse to acknowledge that this is a problem with cars they do not have listed under recall. This is a manufacturing defect and should be repaired/replaced by the manufacturer regardless of the car’s mileage. The 2020 Sportage is not under a recall but obviously it should be. Just because Kia says it’s not under recall doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be. And the value of the vehicle is greatly diminished, but the resale price Kia dealerships are charging for used cars does not reflect this. This is dangerous to the public as there is a risk of fire and having an accident due to potential stalling. The consumer has no way of knowing the car has a defect until they’ve already purchased it.
I have a 2022 Kia Soul … I have nothing but issues with this car since I bought it first off there is fluid leaking into my passenger side floor soaking my passenger floor. This is the 10th time since I bought this there every single time they tell me that it’s my AC hose gets clogged which is bull and never dried it so now I have a chemical smell smells like gas or oil or something to that effect. Now with this recall, they did the sub engine and that was on my receipt and on Carfax it says that they did the long blocks they never did the engine because the long blocks and the sub engine are two different things when they did that they mess with my catalytic converter and now it’s in the shop getting a new catalytic converter, but it’s doing my warranty wow isn’t that weird And this morning? My passenger side is soaking wet again wow wasn’t that funny and he’s blaming that on the catalytic converter. Also, I got a different text message from another Kia place stating that my recall with the engine still has not been done and they are telling me that it was done so is it done or is it not done? I’m sick and tired of this place and it’s raceway Kia freehold New Jersey
I went in there this morning to drop off my car. I went to go speak to somebody to possibly get a different vehicle because they sent me a flyer stating that they were giving me back a certain amount of money and I wouldn’t have to put any money down and they would make it my regular payment or lower find out that it was employed to get people in there so there is false advertisement and I really wanna go after the manufacturer. I wanna go after raceway Kia and freehold not only for the service department but also doing false advertisement.
Can somebody contact me at my email address …
I have a 2021 kia seltos that was supposed to be fixed several times. But it keeps stalling from lack of oil pressure because it burns up. I want rid of it.
I have a kia soul and it has a tick to the engine can’t get it in to the dealer intill a renter is available in the mean time at any point it could stop running that interfere with my daily things I have to do everyday
Hello, I recently purchased a 2021 Kia Soul at the end of last year. A couple months ago the engine caught fire while I was driving and after looking into it I found out that there was a recall on the vehicle. I reached out to Kia but they were not willing to accept the fault. Please contact me if you can help.