Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Kia Appeal on Brake Verdict

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Kia Motors Corp.'s appeal of a $5.6 million class-action verdict in Pennsylvania in 2007 that involved premature brake wear in the company's Sephia small sedans.

In December, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling in 2005 that awarded $600 to each of 9,400 owners of 1997-2000 model Sephias. Kia, which sold roughly 200,000 Sephias in the U.S. between 1995 and 2001, altered the brake system in the 2001 model year.

Some owners in Pennsylvania reportedly had their brake pads and rotors replaced as many as four times in less than 20,000 miles to cure noise, vibration and deteriorating braking ability.

The Detroit News says owners in other states are pursing similar claims. The newspaper says a jury in New Jersey agreed that owners in that state could be reimbursed as much as $750 each for repairs to their Sephias' brakes.