Lemon Law Basics: Kia Lemon Laws

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Brakes Give Kia Lemon Law Problems

Two class action lawsuits have been brought against automobile manufacturer Kia for lemon law problems stemming from the brakes in their 1998, 1999, and 2000 Sephia model vehicles. The suits, which were brought in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, claim that defects in the Sephia's brake system cause premature wear of the brake parts and overall vibration in the vehicles. One plaintiff had to have her brakes replaced four times in the first 17,000 miles, when normally the first replacement of the brakes should not have to occur until 50,000 miles. These brake problems have been the foundation of many Kia lemon law complaints, and the company has known about them for years.

This is not the first time that a Kia lemon law case has been brought before the court system. In 2000, one of the largest penalties involving lemon laws at that time was assessed against Kia, who was fined $99,000 for failing to make lemon law settlement payments in a timely manner. This was the second time the manufacturer was fined for being late on their Kia lemon law payments. Customers were receiving their settlements as much as 116 days past the due date, although normally the law states that these repurchase sums must be paid within 15 days of settlement. As well as the monetary penalty, Kia also agreed to submit tracking information regarding their lemon law payments for a year after receiving the fine to demonstrate their commitment to prompt payments.

Although the Kia lemon law case could take years to settle, it may pressure the automobile manufacturer into taking positive steps toward being more responsive to their consumer complaints. Braking system defects like the ones found in the affected Sephia models are not only costly and frustrating for the owner of a new vehicle but could also place the lives of Sephia passengers and the drivers of vehicles near them at risk.

Each state also has different lemon laws so be sure to check out the lemon laws for your particular state.