Kia is a Japanese manufacturer out of South Korea, which takes the second spot as the largest automobile manufacturer in South Korea, after Hyundai. Kia is actually a minority-owned by Hyundai and Kia is, in turn, a minority owner of Hyundai subsidiaries. The current lineup of Kia models includes a wide array of sedans, crossovers, station wagons, hatchbacks, and SUVs. Kia is also in the plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle market.

Recalls & Issues

Though Kia has built up quite a reputation in the U.S. and other countries, it has repeatedly dealt with safety problems with several of its models. Ultimately, some of these issues have led to recalls, specifically issues with Kia engines. Kia had to recall around 100,000 vehicles internationally due to the risk of engine stalls.

There was another issue Kia faced when there were defects causing overheating and engine fires. There were over 500,000 Kia and Hyundai cars that were recalled due to the engines overheating. Since 2015, there were over 300 fires that were reported from Kia owners, and most frequently, Kia Soul owners.

Kia was criticized for not taking the ongoing investigations into the engine problems and fires seriously and taking the dangerous situation too lightly. It is safe to say that Kia customers have been led to question the dependability of Kia vehicles.

Your Rights

Under California Lemon Law, a manufacturer must attempt to repair serious defects of a lemon vehicle within a reasonable number of time, which depends on the particular situation. If the manufacturer does not take care of the defect of safety issue on the car under warranty, the owner may be entitled to relief such as reimbursement or repurchase of the vehicle. If you are dealing with a defective lemon vehicle, you may have rights against the manufacturer. Call our office today to find out what your options are.