In 2023, Matthew Moshi was driving his Honda when the driver of a stolen Kia ran a stop sign and slammed into him. The tragic accident killed Moshi at just 36 years old. So who is to blame? According to a recent circuit court ruling, Moshi’s family is allowed to sue Kia for making a car that was easy to steal.

Kia lawsuit could set new precedent

The logic goes like this: Some cars have engine immobilizers that make them harder to steal. But many entry-level Kia and Hyundai vehicles didn’t include them—to save costs and reduce the MSRP. When Moshi’s family tried to sue Kia, one court said the theft of the car “broke the chain of liability.” The family appealed, and now the Sixth Circuit Court has agreed that the automaker could have “foreseen” the risk of selling a vehicle without this anti-theft technology. The plaintiffs are a long way from winning, or even settling, but now they can begin building a case and even subpoena Kia’s internal documents.

This is an intriguing case that could change the auto industry, as well as other industries. Kia and Hyundai are not the only brands that recently sold vehicles without engine immobilizers. So will we see other automakers sued?

Here’s another possibility: Some luxury vehicles have air suspension that changes the vehicle’s ride height to protect passengers during a side-impact collision. This wasn’t even an option on Moshi’s budget-friendly Honda. So could the family sue Honda next?

The NHTSA requires every automaker to include backup cameras, to save lives. But it doesn’t require engine immobilizers. So is the government agency at fault? Could it get sued?

What about the TikTok social media platform? It failed to censor videos showing popular techniques to steal Kia cars, or viral challenges to steal Kia cars to perform stunts with. Is it responsible for Moshi’s death? Suffice it to say, this court case could open up many future lawsuit possibilities.