Another Rear-View Camera Recall: Kia Calls Back 145,000 Sorentos
» Posted November 10, 2023 • Resources | Share This Post
Hyundai is calling back some 145,000 Kia Sorento sport utility vehicles in the latest major recall over malfunctioning rear-view cameras.
A broken clip can cause the camera image not to appear on the car's video display, the Korean automaker recently told federal regulators. The defect poses car crash risks, Hyundai also acknowledged.
“The rearview camera housing may break due to excessive stiffness of the mounting clip material,” Hyundai said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “A rearview camera that does not display what is behind the vehicle increases the risk of crash.”
The recall covers certain 2022-2023 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, and Sorento Plug-in Hybrids, which were manufactured between September 2021 and July 2023.
Hyundai plans to notify owners of recalled vehicles via mail by October 27, the company told NHTSA. Owners can check the agency’s website in the meantime to determine whether their SUVs are being recalled.
Owners will be asked to bring their cars to local dealers for inspection and repair, according to Hyundai.
“Kia dealers will inspect the rearview camera assembly and, if necessary, replace the camera housing with an improved one,” the automaker said. “Kia will reimburse owners for repair expenses already incurred pursuant to Kia’s General Reimbursement Plan filed May 10, 2022.”
Rear-View Camera Defects Wreak Havoc
While rear-view cameras continue to become increasingly common in new vehicles, carmakers still struggle to ensure that the devices actually work and are up to federal safety standards.
The Kia recall is just one of several recently announced as a result of malfunctioning rear-view cameras.
Nissan, for example, recently called back about 50,000 Sentra and Altima vehicles whose rear-view camera harnesses may become damaged. The company acknowledged at the time that the defect could increase the risk of a crash.
Around the same time, Ford said it was recalling nearly 19,000 Super Duty trucks over faulty cameras. The company blamed a software glitch for the recall.
How the California Lemon Law Works
Whether it is a faulty rear-view camera or a wide range of other defects, car owners in California do not need to wait around for recalls to get malfunctioning vehicles fixed. They have some valuable rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.
The lemon law generally forces automakers to perform a full range of repairs on cars while they are under warranty. It also requires the companies to buy back (or replace, in some cases) vehicles that they are unable to or simply decline to fix.
Speak with a Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney
If you are locked in a dispute with a car manufacturer over a malfunctioning or defective vehicle, a Los Angeles lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help.
We have successfully assisted car owners across the state. Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a Los Angeles lemon law attorney at our firm today.
