Kia class action lawsuit says Soul, Seltos recall is inadequate

Kia class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Eric Jasinski is suing Kia America Inc.
• Why: Jasinski claims Kia sold vehicles with defective piston oil rings that can cause engine damage and fires.
• Where: The Kia class action was filed in a Pennsylvania federal court.

A new nationwide class action lawsuit claims Kia sold vehicles with piston oil rings that were prone to causing engine damage and fires.

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

According to the lawsuit, Kia sold more than 130,000 vehicles with defective piston oil rings, which can cause engine damage and fires. The vehicles, which include the 2021-2023 Kia Soul and 2021-2023 Kia Seltos, were recalled in February 2025, but the fix offered by Kia is inadequate, the lawsuit claims.

Jasinski says he purchased a 2021 Kia Soul in June 2021, believing it to be a high-quality vehicle. However, he was never informed of any recalls or defects related to the oil ring system, despite consistent visits to the dealership for routine maintenance, he says.

Jasinski claims he would not have purchased the vehicle or would have paid less for it had he known about the defect. He also says he has been driving an unsafe vehicle due to the oil ring defect, resulting in diminished value.

Kia recall leaves more questions than answers, class action says

The lawsuit claims Kia’s recall, which involves replacing the engine and installing piston-ring sensing noise software, does not guarantee that the defect will be permanently resolved.

“Defendant’s Recall is no more than a repeatedly ineffective waste of time,” the lawsuit says. “In all, Defendant’s Recall leaves more questions than answers regarding the Class Vehicles’ safety and as such results in a diminution in value for the vehicles in question.”

Jasinski is looking to represent anyone in the country who purchased or leased a 2021-2023 Kia Soul or 2021-2023 Kia Seltos. 

He is suing for breach of implied warranty of merchantability, fraud by omission or fraudulent concealment, unjust enrichment, strict liability for design and manufacturing defects, and violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

He is seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Another recent case alleges that Hyundai and Kia sold vehicles with defective fuel systems that can cause engine problems.

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

The plaintiff is represented by Stuart A. Carpey of Carpey Law, P.C.

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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