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Car maker Kia Motors America Inc. has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the soy-based materials used in certain vehicle models is attractive to vermin and leads to damage.
Lead plaintiffs Darla Campbell, Tristin Hibler, and Michael Leppert claim in their class action lawsuit that the soy-based materials Kia uses in some vehicles is defective because it attracts vermin who chew through the components and damage the autos.
Affected vehicles include model year 2012-2017 Kia Soul, Sorrento, Sedona, Sportage, Forte, Cadenza, Optima and Rio.
The plaintiffs say they paid out of pocket to repair damage caused by vermin chewing soy-based materials in their Kias, including wiring. They claim Kia refused to cover the repairs under their warranty and it cost them and members of the proposed Class hundreds and even thousands of dollars for the repairs.
“[T]he Class Vehicles all contain the same Defect, as the wiring and certain engine-related components are composed of soy-based materials, which attract animals that chew through the wires and engine-related components. As a result, the Class Vehicles are repeatedly damaged, disabled, and rendered unsafe and in a condition such that they do not function properly,” alleges the Kia class action lawsuit.
According to the class action lawsuit, Kia has been aware of the defective soy-based material in the vehicles because of complaints filed by consumers with dealers and the auto company itself, along with complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“Despite their knowledge, Defendants have failed to disclose the existence of the Defect to consumers or to provide remedies that can reduce or eliminate this unsafe and economically burdensome problem,” allege the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs say that Kia has so far refused to pay for any vermin related repairs to the vehicles, effectively turning the defect into a “profit center.”
“[W]hen presented with an opportunity to repair a Vehicle, Kia denies the existence of the Defect, refuses to cover the necessary repairs under the Vehicle’s new vehicle warranty, and merely removes the chewed soy-based materials and installs identically defective soy-based materials – while charging members of the Classes thousands of dollars for these ‘repairs,’” allege the class action plaintiffs.
Further, the Kia class action claims the defect presents a safety concern because of potential damage by vermin to airbags and other safety features of the vehicles.
The plaintiffs seek to represent a California, Texas and New Jersey Class of affected Kia vehicle owners. They claim that Kia has breached its warranty to consumers, along with violating various consumer protection laws in each state.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages as well as a court order requiring Kia to stop using the allegedly defective soy-based materials and to warn customers about the potential vermin infestations in their cars.
The Kia car owners are represented by Kolin C. Tang, James C. Shah and Natalie Finkelman Bennett of Shepherd Finkelman Miller & Shah LLP; Jeffrey Goldenberg and Todd Naylor of Goldenberg Schneider LPA and Robert W. Murphy.
The Kia Vermin Infestation Class Action Lawsuit is Campbell, et al. v. Kia Motors America Inc., et al., Case No. 8:17-cv-01272, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
UPDATE: The Kia Vermin Infestation Class Action Lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed on November 9, 2017.
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30 thoughts onKia Class Action Claims Vermin Attracted to Soy-Based Components
2017 Kia forte as well. I had to have my engine pulled out for an oil leak which was caused by a mouse chewing on the wiring harness, causing small pieces to get down into a portion of the engine which caused the leak. Quite expensive to fill. I had no idea bout the soy based products.tell would really like to be added to this suit.
I have a kia 2017 I have noticed the engine is been forced but I was thinking was just me in top that the rat eat my hoses and cables how I can fix it =( I’m the first owner and only have 26230 miles
I live in southern NV and own a 2016 KIA Forte. Just over a month ago I noticed my key fob not working properly. My windshield fluid wouldn’t spray after filling it, even though I can hear the pump working. Someone said I could reset the electrical system by disabling the battery, then reconnecting the cable. As I opened the hood I saw several wires chewed through and no longer connected. I saw windshield fluid dripping out of a tube (I guess it is a tube but it just looks like another chewed wire). Then I saw the fur. I knew it came from rabbits. They are plentiful here and some hang out near my car. I have sprayed (coyote/predator urine), several times all around my car and even under the hood. That worked for almost a month (following the directions to a T). I haven’t been to the auto shop yet as I wanted to see if others have this issue and what they’re doing. Now I know. Glad I have comp. on my insurance but unless the wiring is replaced with non-soy-coated wiring this will be an ongoing problem I just can’t handle! You can believe I am so going to check out the site for the class-action lawsuit. I am livid!
I live in NJ. My car would not start this morning kia soul 2012 that I only brought 2 months ago. It was towed to the dealer were the said all my wires chewed through.
The case is still moving through the courts and has not yet reached a settlement. Claim forms are usually not made available to consumers until after a court approved settlement is reached. We recommend you sign up for a free account at TopClassActions.com and follow the case. We will update the article with any major case developments or settlement news! Setting up a free account with Top Class Actions will allow you to receive instant updates on ANY article that you ‘Follow’ on our website. A link to creating an account may be found here: https://topclassactions.com/signup/. You can then ‘Follow’ the article above, and get notified immediately when we post updates!
I have a 2016 optima. Same problems as this suit claims. Kia estimates $2700 in damages all of which isn’t coverered of course. I would like to be added to the suit & have contacted the attorneys involved.
Please help us. I am up to $850.00 is repairs to date on my 2017 Sportage. We were told by thr service center to put dryer sheets under the hood this morning another rabbit under my car. We are retired and bought this car so as to have dependable transportation and now have a costly unsafe financial burden
What part of the US do you live?
2013 Kia rio hatchback. For the last 4 years I have had a vendetta against squirrels and woodrats. As since I owned the vehicle (bought with only 349 miles on it), and lived in rural coastal California, I would always see them scampering away from my car. Then after about 6 months, I discovered they had been stashing acorns in my car. I have found acorns stuffed in my engine block, shells on top of my battery, and they almost filled my hood with them. Every time I open the hood of my car I can hear the acorns roll from one end to the other. Funny, not funny! Now I feel as though it was not those pesky critters just being a nuisence. You know if they had made the wiring out of taffy or butterscotch candy I wouldn’t be suprised if one day I saw little kids yanking out my wiring out of my car to get some. Its no wonder on and off I have had so many electrical issues with my car. However since I am fairly mechanically inclined, I have always been able to get things going again without having to drive 50+ miles to the nearest dealership, that tried to charge me over $1000 for my first regularly scheduled mileage maintence check up, saying after 4 hours of my wasted workday, they had to redo the brakes etc… I called B.S. asked them to take my car down and did the brakes myself, which strangely enough were perfectly fine, fluid good everything as it should be. I havent trusted the dealership for anything except confirming my mileage for the mpg lawsuit. It all is comming together, and so many headaches, could have been prevented, by proper wiring materials….so peeved!!
I am wondering if this includes 2011 Kia Sorrentos as well. I had to have my engine pulled out for an oil leak which was caused by a mouse chewing on the wiring harness, causing small pieces to get down into a portion of the engine which caused the leak. Quite expensive to fill. I had no idea bout the soy based products.
What part of the US are you in?
Yes I have a 2011 kia soul plus and rats just ate my wires!!! I am so upset i spent all my money trying to figure it out and found it myself… Anyone know how i can make kia pay for this!?
I have a 2014 Kia Soul and now I’m worried becaue I have my tire pressure light that is always coming on when my tire pressure is fine, I have a spider infestation in my car and other strange light issues. I’ve already taken my car into the dealership once and they didn’t tell me much about what the issue was. So I would really like to be added to this suit.
I have a 2011 Kia Sorento and have had tire pressure issue for years. Tire pressure light comes on all winter when the temps are around 30. Engine light continues to stay on….been to the dealer several times for this. Have always had electrical issues which the Service dept. claim are not there. When your radio goes on and off for no reason or go over a bump or shut a door etc. They told me it was a faulty radio (in a brand new vehicle yet) and they were not responsible for that. Told me I had to buy a new radio and they would install it for free. So I did that, and still have weird electrical issues.
I have a 2016 KIA soul and now I am really concerned. I live on a farm in the country. Windsor, Pa