2020–2023 Kia Telluride Windshield Cracking & Shattering Lawsuit

Sanchez et al. v. Kia Motors America Inc. Case Information

• Case Number: 8:20-cv-01604
• Case Status: Case is in Progress (Last Update: November 7th, 2024)
• Court: United States District Court, Central District of California
• Filed: August 27, 2020

Lemberg Law is representing Yandery Sanchez and other plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against Kia Motors America, Inc., alleging that 2020-2023 Kia Telluride vehicles were sold with defective windshields. The court has granted class certification for 10 state classes, comprised of purchasers and lessees of the affected vehicles. The lawsuit seeks damages and an injunction to address Kia’s practices.

The Complaint

Plaintiff Yandery Sanchez filed a Class Action Complaint against Kia Motors America, Inc. Sanchez alleges that Kia sold 2020 Kia Telluride vehicles with defective windshields. These windshields crack, chip, and fracture easily. Despite knowing about the defect since 2019, Kia did not recall or fix the issue. Kia has denied warranty claims and replaced defective windshields with equally defective ones. This fraudulent conduct has caused frustration and financial loss to customers.

Kia Motors America is a major vehicle manufacturer and distributor. They sold tens of thousands of 2020 and 2021 Kia Telluride vehicles. On November 4, 2019, Kia acknowledged the defect but only offered a limited “goodwill gesture” for windshield replacement. Many customers, including Sanchez, did not receive this offer. Kia’s goodwill letter misrepresented the issue and excluded coverage under the warranty. This led to out-of-pocket expenses for many customers.

Sanchez aims to represent a class of individuals who purchased or leased 2020 Kia Telluride vehicles. She highlights her own experience of discovering a crack in her windshield shortly after purchasing the vehicle. Despite contacting Kia, she was denied free repair and had to bear the cost herself. Other customers have reported similar issues and received inadequate responses from Kia.

Claims for Relief

Sanchez seeks several forms of relief: an injunction to prevent further violations, statutory damages for each compromised vehicle, punitive damages for willful violations, attorneys’ fees, costs, and any other appropriate relief. She also demands a jury trial for all counts in the complaint. The relief aims to compensate affected individuals and enforce stricter manufacturing and quality control measures. Sanchez hopes to set a precedent for better consumer protection practices.

Legal Assistance

If you’ve faced problems with your 2020 Kia Telluride windshield shattering, call us today at 855-301-2100 to see if you qualify to join the lawsuit.