Kia sued by Carnival owners over dangerous sliding doors left unfixed by recall

One person reportedly suffered a broken arm after the door closed on him

Automatic sliding doors are one of those modern conveniences designed to make family life easier, especially when you have your hands full or kids climbing in and out. But what happens when this feature turns from convenience to a potential security risk? That’s the issue at the heart of a new class action lawsuit in the US, which claims that the sliding doors for the years 2022 and 2023 Kia Carnival poses “a serious risk of bodily harm,” putting passengers at risk.

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The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, alleges that these Carnival models are equipped with a defective squeeze sensor installed along the rubber seal on the edge of the doors. In theory, these sensors should detect any obstacle in the door’s path and prevent it from closing if something (or someone) is in the way.

The lawsuit alleges that the Carnival The pinch sensor often does not recognize obstacles, so the only way to stop the door halfway through closing is to forcefully press the pinch sensor itself.

Kia has initiated a recall for the reportedly defective doors in April 2023. However, the class action claims that this recall was “ineffective” because it was a simple software update that made the door close more slowly while adding warning sounds. The plaintiffs claim it did not affect the force required to activate the pinch sensor.

The recall affected 51,568 Carnivals from the 2022 and 2023 model years delivered in the United States. At the time, Kia said it had received reports of nine injuries related to the faulty pinch sensor, including one where a person’s thumb was broken and another where a person’s arm was broken after the door was closed on it.

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The lawsuit states that many customers would not have purchased the Carnival had they known about the error, or would have paid significantly less for the minivan. The plaintiffs accuse Kia of breaching both its express and implied warranties, along with claims of fraud, unjust enrichment and violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.

Now they are pushing for a jury trial, seeking damages, interest and full coverage of legal costs. For Kia, what started as a minor software recall could turn into a costly courtroom showdown if this class action gains momentum.