Kia sued by Fiesta owners over dangerous sliding doors

One person reportedly suffered a broken arm after the door closed.

Automatic sliding doors are one of those modern conveniences designed to make home life smoother, especially when you have your hands full or kids crawling in and out. But what happens when this feature goes from convenience to potential security hazard? That’s the question at the center of a new class-action lawsuit in the U.S. that claims sliding doors in 2022 and 2023 Kia Carnivals pose a “serious risk of personal injury” to passengers.

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The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, alleges that these Fiesta models have defective squeeze sensors installed in the rubber seals on the door edges. In theory, these sensors should be able to detect any obstructions in the door’s path and prevent the door from closing if something (or someone) is in the way.

The lawsuit alleges that the Carnival’s squeeze sensors frequently failed to recognize obstacles, causing the door to stop midway and the only way to do so was by pressing hard on the squeeze sensor itself.

Kia issued a recall in April 2023 for reportedly defective doors. However, the class action lawsuit claims the recall is “invalid” because it is a simple software update that causes the doors to close more slowly while also adding a warning chime. The plaintiffs argue that it does not affect the force required to trigger the squeeze sensor.

The recall involves 51,568 2022 and 2023 model year Fiesta delivered in the United States. At the time, Kia said it had received nine reports of injuries caused by faulty pinch sensors, including one with a broken thumb and another with a broken arm after a door was closed.

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The lawsuit alleges that many customers would not have purchased a Fiesta or would have paid less for the minivan if they had known about the glitch. The plaintiffs accuse Kia of breach of express and implied warranties, and allege fraud, unjust enrichment and violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.

Now they are pushing for a jury trial, seeking damages, interest and full legal fees. For Kia, what starts as a small software recall could escalate into a costly court showdown if a class-action lawsuit gains momentum.