Kia Window Regulator Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Le Beau v. Kia America, Inc., No. 8:22-cv-01545-FWS-JDE

[UPDATED October 1, 2026 — Added the reimbursement tiers, $40 Dealer Service Card, fee cap, exclusions and filing details from the court-authorized notice. Key Facts, Who Qualifies, payout, filing steps, opt-out, dates and FAQs updated.]

There’s up to $400 waiting for you, if you paid to fix a failed power window on a 2016-2017 Kia Optima or a 2017 Kia Sportage. Kia America agreed to reimburse repair costs, or give a $40 dealer service card, to settle Le Beau, et al. v. Kia America, Inc., et al., No. 8:22-cv-01545-FWS-JDE. You have until November 23, 2026 to file.

Kia Window Regulator Settlement — Key Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	UNVERIFIED — no total fund stated in the notice; benefits are claims-made
Claim Deadline	November 23, 2026
Who Qualifies	Current and former owners or lessees of certain 2016-2017 Kia Optima and all 2017 Kia Sportage vehicles on the settlement’s VIN list
Estimated Payout	Up to $400 reimbursement (tiered by mileage), or a $40 Dealer Service Card
Proof Required	Yes
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved June 8, 2026; Final Approval Hearing January 7, 2027
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 8:22-cv-01545-FWS-JDE
Law Alleged	Nine counts, including North Carolina and Rhode Island consumer-protection statutes
Administrator	Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
Official Claim Site	kiawindowregulatorsettlement.com
Last Updated	October 1, 2026

Who Is Kia and Why Are They Being Sued for Defective Window Regulators?

Kia America, Inc. sells the Optima sedan and the Sportage SUV, so one shared part can reach owners in every state. Owners can’t inspect it. Plaintiffs say the regulator can break and Kia denies that, so this settlement is about repair costs, not blame.

What Did Kia Allegedly Do to 2016-2017 Optima and 2017 Sportage Owners?

Plaintiffs first sued Kia America in August 2022. They say the window regulator’s drums and gears can separate or break during normal use, leaving the window unable to move. Kia denies it.

The operative complaint pleads nine counts, including North Carolina and Rhode Island deceptive-practices laws. Short version: unfair business conduct. The court’s preliminary approval order summarizes the allegation as a “dangerous defect that results in power window regulator failure.”

Comparing Kia cases? Read our Hyundai and Kia $62.1 million airbag settlement coverage. Start with your VIN. If you paid a shop for this repair, this settlement offers some of that money back.

Who Qualifies for the Kia Window Regulator Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if the Kia settlement includes you.

• Current owners or lessees of a covered 2016-2017 Kia Optima or any 2017 Kia Sportage
• Former owners or lessees of those same vehicles
• People who live in the United States or D.C., not U.S. territories

Not included: fleet, rental or company vehicles, salvage vehicles, dealerships, insurers, extended-warranty providers, and anyone who already released these claims. Your VIN decides, since not every Optima qualifies.

Did you pay a shop to fix a power window on one of these cars? Then check your VIN today.

Kia Optima and Sportage Owners Outside California — Are You Still Covered?

Yes. The case is in a California federal court, but the class covers residents of every state and D.C. If your VIN is on the list, where you bought the car doesn’t matter.

Not sure if you qualify for the Kia window regulator settlement? A free consultation with a product liability attorney can help before the November 23, 2026 deadline.

How Much Can Kia Window Regulator Settlement Class Members Get? Up to $400

This is a claims-made deal with no stated total fund, only caps that fall as your mileage rises.

Mileage at Repair	Share of Amount Paid	Dollar Cap
Under 35,000	100%	$400
35,001–55,000	80%	$320
55,001–75,000	60%	$240
75,001–125,000	45%	$180
125,001 and up	40%	$160

Kia Reimbursement With Proof — Up to $400

Reimbursement covers parts and labor you actually paid at a Kia dealer or a reputable third-party shop, for up to four regulator replacements per VIN. Here’s the math. Pay $450 at 60,000 miles and 60% is $270, but the cap is $240, so you’d get $240; pay $350 at 130,000 miles and 40% is $140, under the $160 cap, so you’d get $140.

Kia Dealer Service Card Without a Repair — $40

Current owners only can claim a $40 Dealer Service Card instead. It’s one or the other, not both.

Whether more filers shrink anyone’s check is UNVERIFIED, since the full Settlement Agreement wouldn’t load. Valid claims are paid after the Effective Date, which can slip if anyone appeals. Payments over $600 may appear on a 1099, so check with a tax professional.

Class counsel can ask the court for up to $1,244,000.00 in fees, costs and expenses. That’s normal. But it’s worth knowing before you decide the cap is worth your afternoon.

How to File Your Kia Window Regulator Settlement Claim — Step by Step

1. Go to kiawindowregulatorsettlement.com and run your VIN through the VIN Lookup.
2. Open the online claim form from that site.
3. Enter your name, contact details, VIN and proof of class membership.
4. Pick reimbursement or the $40 card, never both.
5. Upload repair paperwork. UNVERIFIED — the claim form’s Required Documentation controls, so keep your repair order and proof of payment handy.
6. Sign under penalty of perjury, submit, and save your confirmation number.

Takes a few minutes once your paperwork is in front of you. If Kroll finds a problem, you get 30 days to fix it.

That’s 53 days from today. Don’t let a five-minute form decide whether you get paid.

Should Kia Class Members Opt Out or Object Before October 23, 2026?

⚠️ 22 days left. Both deadlines are October 23, 2026.

What Opting Out of the Kia Settlement Actually Means

You get no payment and keep your right to sue Kia over the same claims. You must mail a signed letter, postmarked by October 23, 2026, with your name, address, VIN and model year. Most owners shouldn’t opt out without legal advice.

How to Object to the Kia Settlement

You stay in the class and tell the court why you disagree. File it electronically or mail it to the Clerk in Santa Ana, California, and send copies to both sides’ lawyers by October 23, 2026. Include the case number, your VIN and your reasons.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before October 23, 2026 if you’re considering either option.

Kia Window Regulator Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Settlement Proposed	May 11, 2026 (agreement filed, Doc. 93-2)
Claims Period Opens	UNVERIFIED — class notice date not stated
Claim Filing Deadline	November 23, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	October 23, 2026
Objection Deadline	October 23, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	January 7, 2027, 10:00 a.m. PST, Courtroom 10D
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — follows the Effective Date; none posted

Kia Window Regulator Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 8:22-cv-01545-FWS-JDE

Do I need a lawyer to file a Kia window regulator settlement claim? 

No. Class Counsel, Barnow and Associates, P.C. and Ahdoot & Wolfson, PC, represent the class at no charge to you. Hiring your own lawyer is optional and at your expense.

Is the Kia window regulator settlement legitimate?

 Yes. Judge Fred W. Slaughter preliminarily approved it on June 8, 2026, and Kroll runs the only authorized website. Final approval is still pending.

When will Kia settlement payments be sent? 

After the Effective Date, which follows final approval and any appeals. The hearing is January 7, 2027, and no payment date is posted yet.

What if I missed the Kia claim deadline?

 A late claim counts as doing nothing. If you also didn’t opt out by October 23, 2026, you’re still bound by the court’s judgment and can’t sue Kia over these claims.

Will my Kia settlement payment go on a 1099? 

Possibly, for payments over $600. The notice doesn’t address taxes, and the tier caps run from $160 to $400. Ask a tax professional.

Can I take both the Kia reimbursement and the $40 Dealer Service Card? 

No. The $40 Dealer Service Card is an alternative to reimbursement, and only current owners can choose it. Both need documentation.

Does the Kia settlement stop me from suing over an injury? 

No. The notice says you keep claims for death, personal injury, and damage to property other than the Class Vehicle. You do give up other claims over the window regulator defect unless you opt out.

Sources Used in This Kia Window Regulator Settlement Article

• Official settlement site — Home Page, accessed October 1, 2026: https://kiawindowregulatorsettlement.com/
• Official settlement site — FAQ page: https://kiawindowregulatorsettlement.com/faq
• Official settlement site — Documents page: https://kiawindowregulatorsettlement.com/documents
• Official settlement site — Long Form Notice (English): https://kiawindowregulatorsettlement.com/files/Le%20Beau%20v.%20Kia%20Long%20Form%20Notice%20ENGLISH.pdf
• Court filing — Preliminary Approval Order, Doc. 94, June 8, 2026: https://kiawindowregulatorsettlement.com/files/Le%20Beau%20v.%20Kia%20Preliminary%20Approval%20Order.pdf
• Court filing — Settlement Agreement and Exhibits, Doc. 93-2, May 11, 2026: https://kiawindowregulatorsettlement.com/files/Le%20Beau%20v.%20Kia%20Settlement%20Agreement%20and%20Exhibits.pdf
• Official claim form (Kroll): https://forms.ksacms.com/efiling/fr/eform/kiawindowregulatorsettlement_claimform/new?form-version=1

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against official court records and the court-authorized Long Form Notice on October 1, 2026. Last Updated: October 1, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.