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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
I purchased a 2020 Kia Forte 20 days ago and I too had the wiring chewed by rodents. None of the previous vehicles that I have owned ever had this problem. Kia told me the damage was not covered under the warranty and the cost will be $850. I would like to reopen the class action law suit
My Kia Niro 2018 was left with a dealer to address the issue causing my degenerative brake light warning. It was left for diagnosis with the understanding that they would look at it within 48 hours. There was no sign of rodent damage. Nine days later I discovered they had stored it in one of their outlying lots while waiting for a technician to check it out. Not only was the wiring harness chewed through but my seats and other places as well. Two nests were discovered under the seat. Although it was under warranty, they claimed rodent damage caused the problem so I would have to pay for the problem and was not intitled to a loaner car. I paid almost $400 for diagnosis. Now I learn that they don’t have the part and don’t know when the company will begin building them again. Sounds like it could be more than 6 months. I would not have left my car had I been told about the rodent issue. I had no visible damage to the car at that point and expected to have it back 48 hours later. Any ideas how to address this? No legal recourse?
This class action should of never been dismissed, I have had so many problems with my vehicle it’s ridiculous !!
2nd time now in 5 years for my wiring harness. First time was in Jan 2016 about $1100. and now just happened again, estimate about $2500. Car in shop almost 2 weeks now.
My Kia Sorento is a 2011, that I have had since new. Now 120,000 miles. When issue happened was driving on a Thursday, sat the weekend and on Monday was dead as a doornail. I jumped it and ran fine. However no windows worked, Rear drivers door would not power unlock, low beam light on passenger side and high beam light on drivers side would not work. This all happened at once. Dealership just called said car was done as I am writing this. Will see what the damages are this afternoon once paperwork is done.
That explains why my AC lines are always going. Change 3x st coat to me 375.00 ×3.
I live in Canada and have had rodent damage twice now to my 2019 sorento, are there any other known Canadian owners with this?
Tried to find out from kia canada if any of my 2018 forte5 components contained soy but received a polite non-answer. We have had it happen once for about $1100 and we now use nylon stockings filled with mothballs to repel, in our case, red squirrels.
My wires were chewed out two different times by rodents Kia Charge me to fix the problem but never told me that there was an Issue with a soy base material that they used. I have a 2015 Kia Optima and would like to be part of this class action. I have receipts of the charges.
I have a a Kia Soul purchased in GEORGIA and have the same EXACT peonlem!!!!! Wiring to washer fluid was first them 3 weeks later the wiring harness!!! Kia tefetes me to my insurance company!!!!
WHY DON’T LAW AUIT COVER GEORGIA????? HELP ME PLZ??? They are others!!!!! 706 616 5263
here in canada as well. kia sorento 2012. also drivers seat warmer has been an issue but never a recall issued. shameful. never buying from them again or recommending kia to anyone. I hope the class action lawsuit wins and someone starts one here in Canada.
My 2017 kia soul has been in the shop a few times. The last time it cost me 2,900 and they didn’t even fix the problem but they did make it worse. The air never shuts off now and debri and some sort of mite or some vermit is coming through my vents and bitting me. Not only that but there is like little particles of itchy fibers and black sook that gets all over me and my clothes. I have last 40% of my hair, I have sores all over my body and scalp. I have been going to a dermatologist pretty much sense I bought my 2017 kia soul. I have to use three different kinds of shampoos, two different kinds of creams I have to put on my sores that I will continue to get until I get into a different car. Please Help!!!
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 , I had no idea bout the soy based products.tell would really like to be added to this suit.