2023 Kia Telluride Lemon Law Case Study: Buyback in Florida
A Brand-New Kia Telluride With a Persistent Rear Noise That Kia Could Not Fix Across 4 Visits
Our clients purchased a new 2023 Kia Telluride in Florida and about seven months later began experiencing a troubling defect: an unexplained noise emanating from the rear of the vehicle that was first reported as a squeak when driving over rough roads. The noise kept coming back across the repair visits.
The dealership replaced leaking rear shocks and later traced a squeak while turning to a faulty sway bar, but the rear noise kept returning. In total, the vehicle accumulated 44 cumulative days out of service, exceeding Florida's 30-day statutory threshold under the Lemon Law Rights Period.
Easy Lemon filed a formal demand against Kia America under the Florida Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act. Kia, recognizing both the documented repair history and the significant days-out-of-service accumulation, agreed to a full manufacturer buyback of the vehicle. Our clients received their funds in early 2026. Part of the attorney fees came out of the settlement.
What Went Wrong
- Persistent rear noise: The defect started as a squeak from the rear of the vehicle when driving over rough roads, first reported in January 2024, and the same rear noise was reported again after the rear shocks were replaced
- Repairs did not stop the noise: The dealership replaced leaking rear shocks in March 2024 and traced a new squeak while turning to a faulty sway bar in April to May 2024, but the rear noise came back. In April 2025 the vehicle developed a creaking noise on inclines
- 44 cumulative days out of service: Across its repair visits, the vehicle accumulated 44 days out of service. This total exceeds Florida's 30-day statutory threshold, meeting the out-of-service qualification ground
- Final Repair Attempt scheduled: Florida lemon law gives the manufacturer a final opportunity to repair after written notice. Easy Lemon scheduled a formal Final Repair Attempt (FRA) for July 3, 2025
Four Visits, 40+ Cumulative Days Out of Service, and a Rear Noise That Kia Never Fixed
January 2 to 5, 2024: Squeak From the Rear
Our clients brought the Kia Telluride in for a squeak coming from the rear of the vehicle when driving over rough roads.
March 7 to 9, 2024: Leaking Rear Shocks Replaced
The dealership confirmed the rear shocks were leaking, even though the vehicle was only driven under normal conditions. The shocks were replaced, but the problem did not go away.
April 12, 2024: Same Rear Noise After New Shocks
Our clients brought the vehicle back, reporting the same rear noise despite the new shocks.
April 25 to May 24, 2024: Faulty Sway Bar
A new squeaking noise showed up while turning. It was eventually traced to a faulty sway bar.
April 7 to 17, 2025: Creaking on Inclines
The vehicle developed a creaking noise when going up or down inclines.
Final Repair Attempt Scheduled: July 3, 2025
Easy Lemon scheduled a formal Final Repair Attempt (FRA), a step under Florida lemon law, for July 3, 2025. The FRA gives the manufacturer one final opportunity to repair the defect.
Why Did This 2023 Kia Telluride Qualify as a Lemon in Florida?
This case met the Florida lemon law qualification thresholds on two independent grounds: the number of repair attempts for the same defect and the cumulative days out of service, with the out-of-service basis being particularly compelling given the 44-day total.
- 44 cumulative days out of service, past the 30-day threshold: Florida's Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act (§§ 681.10–681.118, Fla. Stat.) qualifies a vehicle as a lemon when it has been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days during the Lemon Law Rights Period (24 months from original delivery). This Kia Telluride accumulated 44 cumulative days out of service, meeting this independent qualification ground
- 3+ repair attempts for the same defect: Florida lemon law also qualifies a vehicle when the manufacturer has been unable to repair the same nonconformity after 3 or more attempts. The persistent rear noise defect was documented and addressed across 4 repair visits. The 3-attempt threshold was fully met and exceeded
- Noise returned after repairs: Kia's dealer replaced the leaking rear shocks and traced a turning squeak to a faulty sway bar, but the rear noise kept returning. A defect that continues after repeated repairs supports a claim that the vehicle has a nonconformity that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety, the standard under Florida's lemon law
- Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: Kia's failure to repair the persistent rear noise within a reasonable number of attempts also constitutes a breach of the vehicle's express written warranty under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. This federal claim lets a court award attorney fees to a consumer who prevails
- Florida final repair attempt: Florida lemon law requires that the consumer provide the manufacturer with written notice and a final opportunity to repair. Easy Lemon scheduled the Final Repair Attempt for July 3, 2025
How Easy Lemon Fought for Our Clients
Free Case Evaluation
We reviewed the clients' repair order history and assessed the case against Florida's lemon law thresholds. With 4 documented repair visits for rear noise and over 40 cumulative days out of service, qualification was strong on two independent grounds. We identified the out-of-service argument as the lead claim given its margin above Florida's 30-day threshold, while also preserving the 3-attempt argument as a parallel basis.
Final Repair Attempt Coordination: July 3, 2025
Florida law gives the manufacturer a final repair attempt after written notice. Easy Lemon scheduled the FRA and confirmed the appointment with our clients.
Formal Demand to Kia America
Easy Lemon filed a formal legal demand against Kia America under the Florida Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act (§§ 681.10–681.118, Fla. Stat.) and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. The demand cited the 40+ cumulative days out of service, the 4 documented repair attempts, and the rear noise that kept returning after repairs. Kia's settlement team acknowledged the demand and began the repurchase process.
Full Buyback Negotiated: Funds Confirmed March 2026
Easy Lemon negotiated directly with Kia America's resolution team. With the documented repair history and the out-of-service threshold exceeded, Kia agreed to a full manufacturer repurchase. Our clients accepted Kia's buyback offer and confirmed receipt of their buyback funds in March 2026.
$51,156.11 Full Buyback: Kia America Repurchased the Vehicle
Key Case Facts
- Vehicle: 2023 Kia Telluride (Florida)
- State: Florida
- Primary defect: Persistent noise from the rear of the vehicle that kept returning after the rear shocks were replaced
- Repair visits: 4
- Days out of service: 44 cumulative days
- Florida threshold: 30-day out-of-service threshold exceeded
- Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
- Settlement: Full Buyback (vehicle repurchased by Kia)
- Settlement amount: $51,156.11 (Buyback)
- Buyback funds confirmed: March 2026
What Our Clients Are Saying
Attorney on Record
Ron Kaniuk, Esq.
Florida Managing Partner, Easy Lemon by RockPoint Law P.C.
Ron runs the firm's Florida lemon law practice from the Miami office. He earned his J.D. at St. John's University School of Law in 1996 and has handled buyback, replacement and cash-and-keep claims against every major manufacturer.
Is Your Kia Telluride, or Any Vehicle, a Lemon in Florida?
If your vehicle has a recurring defect that keeps coming back after repairs, or has spent too many days in the shop, you may have a Florida lemon law claim. Get a free evaluation in 30 seconds.
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Your Kia May Have a Lemon Law Claim Too
If your Kia keeps going back to the shop for the same problem, you may qualify under your state's lemon law, the manufacturer pays our fees, not you. We handle Kia cases like this one regularly.
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