Kia Soul Complaints (2015)

908 consumer complaints on file.

#11588286May 11, 2024
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Unknown . Engine or fuel mishap Car caught on fire as I was driving down the hwy with my 3 kids
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#11587547May 7, 2024
AIR BAGS
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. At 4-way intersection w/ traffic light other driver going northbound blew through their red light (maybe on phone or other distraction) at what seemed like a high speed. I was driving westbound at about 30/35mph with a clear green light. Was able to avoid getting t-boned in my door, but couldn't avoid t-boning other car's passenger door (older 2 door F150). My insurance company going to total my car (see pics). My airbags didn't deploy. Friends/relatives have told me their air bags went off in crashes at lower speeds. I hit my head on the left side frame and my head is still sore. The seat belt pretensioner system did work as designed as passenger in my car and I are both sore w / bruises on collar bone, chest, and hip where seat belt clips in so we know it worked. But lots of other bruises/soreness. Air Bags seem defective.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11586601May 2, 2024
ENGINE
I recieved a recall notice for my 2015 kia soul via mail earlier this year and made an appointment to have the recall maintenance addressed at the local dealership as directed. After a month and a half the maintenance was completed including a successful pass engine test. Shortly after departing the car had issues accelerating and the check engine light began flashing. I immediately took it back to them. After approx two hours of them working on it more sent me on my way. Again the acceleration issues (limp home mode) and flashing check engine light. To complicate things I had an IID from an OWI two years ago so at this point they require me to be there with the car as they cannot work on it without me. After having to repeatedly take time off work to be there for 6 or 7 "videos" i have the thing removed as I've already lost my 2nd job at this point and cant afford to lose the main one while this is slowly playing out. It has now been over three weeks since KIA has messed up this vehicle and there is no resolution in site. They have yet to really define what is now wrong with the many tests and videos they have sent into coporate or own the issue and have yet to provide any timeframe for resolution. Meanwhile I cant take it to anyone else until they decide if they are fixing it as they SHOULD be as i did not stretegically plan for my engine to fail the day they did the recall maintenance after waiting 1.5 months to even get in. The vehicle should have been towed to their lot and not driven repeatedly on a check engine light blinking as they were having me do however i would be up to thousands of dollars in tows with no guarantee of reimbursement up to 90 days of the "resolution" which we have yet to have any timeframe for. I have called corporate and now it seems the line puts you on silent hold for 12-15 min and disconnects you without ever talking to a human. I have brought this up with the BBB and local attorney general office as well.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11584651April 23, 2024
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My catalytic converter failed just under 4 years after getting the SC176 recall done in July 2020. I believe it's possible there was a step missed in the replacement of my catalytic converter related to the recall, specifically the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic that may have caused the converter to fail. I do not detect that on the attached receipt from the repair that was done for the recall. Although there were no safety issues that happened, after reading the recall and what can happen as a result of the catalytic converter failing, I am concerned for my safety if I drive it any longer in that condition. The problem has been diagnosed by my local Kia dealership on Friday 4/19/24 and that is where the car is presently. I have attached the inspection report and the cost to fix it. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other the Kia dealership. There was a ticking sound when I accelerated that wasn't there before on 4/3. The service engine light came on Thursday 4/4 when I was getting my routine oil changed. I changed the PCV valve and the light went off until approximately 4/17 and then I called the dealership to schedule bringing it in for the diagnosis which was 4/19. This is the only information I have at this time. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11583515April 17, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a catalytic converter failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,965.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11583097April 15, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On April 11,2024, I attempted to drive my Soul EV out of the parking lot of my place of employment going less than one block only to have the power severely limited (from a speed of 40mph to 15mph on a busy road at rush hour). I was able to safely get myself to a parking lot and placed the car in park. I noticed both the triangle with the exclamation mark and EV in the center plus the turtle lights illuminated on the dashboard. I searched those lights and discovered there was an immediate warning about the EV battery and a failure within the battery plus a problem with the temperature of the battery cooling system. I turned the car off, placed it in park and attempted to drive again within the parking lot only to have the same scenario repeated. I was informed by the Kia Service Center that "Kia engineers are aware of this problem but there's no solutions. This is the THIRD time I have received a notice that the EV battery may malfunction or ignite and cause a fire. This car just had a battery recalled due to a malfunction as I had the car stop suddenly on a 3 lane highway. I waited months to get a replaced battery, then I got a recall notice but my battery had been replaced but I had to have some "wiring harness" repaired with the computer upgrade. Now suddenly the car stopped and showed a warning light about the temperature of the motor is too high. The service advisor acknowledged the car is unsafe to drive and has been unsafe.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11583136April 15, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and after parking the vehicle, the contact detected an abnormally strong burning odor. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who inspected the engine compartment for fuel and engine oil leaks and performed an engine test according to the recall remedy. The contact was informed that the vehicle had passed inspection and no repairs, including the engine replacement, were necessary. Additionally, the contact was informed that the strong burning odor would subside on its own. The failure recurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11582652April 12, 2024
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine, and Engine Cooling) however, the vehicle experienced a failure related to the recall. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with catalytic converter failure and recommended that the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,822.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11582693April 12, 2024
ENGINE
On April 11, 2024, customer's check engine light came on on his 2015 Kia Soul. It was clear, dry, and fair temperature day. Owner was returning home from a routine trip from work on an outer road to a highway. The next day the vehicle was taken to Firestone Auto Service which ran a diagnostic report and found that the catalytic convertor was the issue (SEE FIRESTONE UPLOAD). Firestone recommended vehicle be taken back to original dealer to address the issue since there was a recall. Records show that the dealership addressed the February 2019 catalytic recall on 5/2/2019 (SEE KIA DOC UPLOAD). KIA Customer Service told owner that KIA is not liable to address the catalytic converter problem under warranty (free) because they had already closed out the recall on this particular vehicle on 5/2/2019. CUSTOMER COMPLAINT: Kia should be liable to fix the catalytic converter problem at no charge to the owner because the recall service done has failed to prevent the overheating of the catalytic converter. The KIA Soul had only 75,822 miles on it when this issue was discovered.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11581771April 8, 2024
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal rumbling sound was coming from the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where it was confirmed that there was a defect with the engine. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) which was linked to the failure. The contact then stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle experienced engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the engine failure was confirmed. The contact was also referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that since a prior unknown recall repair was not performed; the engine recall would not be honored. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11581457April 6, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The exact issue with the catalytic converter you have in the 1.6 engines my neighbor has it too. You should be replacing these not charging 2500 for repairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11580836April 3, 2024
ENGINE
Was driving on the highway I hard a pop sound and I look in my mirror and saw a big white smoke fog and then hard tapping from the hood and pulled over and my car would not start had it towed and had 2 mechanic look at it told me my engine is blown and there is a hole in it that my engine is defective
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11580384April 1, 2024
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine would rev up loudly emitting a vibrating noise. About 3 months after having the vehicle repaired, while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, the battery warning light and the oil warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled shortly afterward. After waiting for a while, the contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the contact was only able to drive for a short while before the failure recurred. The contact stated after having the vehicle inspected, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood and the tailpipe intermittently that dissipated while driving. A loud vibrating noise was emitted from the vehicle while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to a muffler shop after noticing the loud vibrating sounds and it was determined that the muffler was loosened and needed to be reattached. The contact had also taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic due to the vehicle continuing to run roughly and it was determined that cylinder #1 was misfiring. Additionally, the oil level was extremely low. The mechanic was unable to determine where the leak was coming from. The ignition coils were replaced. The contact stated that a friend diagnosed the vehicle and retrieved a code that cylinder #4 was misfiring after the coils were replaced. The friend also informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 19V120000 (Engine, Engine, and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that VIN was not included in a recall nor covered under warranty. The failure mileage was 178,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577910March 17, 2024
ENGINE
The Kia Soul 2015 model has been under scrutiny due to safety concerns, particularly regarding engine failures that could potentially lead to accidents. This report aims to address a recent incident involving a Kia Soul 2015 experiencing engine failure, putting a family at risk. Incident Description: On [03/15/24], a Kia Soul 2015 experienced a sudden engine failure while being driven with my family onboard, including the my wife and two children. The incident occurred shortly after maintenance was performed by Lokey Kia Clearwater. The sudden engine failure resulted in the vehicle coming to a stop in the middle of the road, posing a significant safety risk to the occupants and other road users. Engine shutdowns while in motion can lead to loss of control over the vehicle, potentially causing accidents, injuries, or even fatalities. In this case, the driver, my wife, and two children were exposed to the danger of being stranded on a busy road, increasing the risk of a deadly accident. The investigation into the engine failure revealed several potential causes, including Mechanical Failure: The engine may have experienced a critical mechanical failure, possibly due to poor maintenance or manufacturing defects. Electrical Malfunction: Electrical issues within the engine control system could have triggered an automatic shutdown, leading to the engine failure. Previous Maintenance: The maintenance performed by Lokey Kia Clearwater could have been inadequate or incorrectly executed, leading to unforeseen complications with the engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577688March 15, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Catalytic converter failure despite recall repair (#19v120). Catalytic converters may become damaged due to overheating. This issue can increase the risk of engine stall or fire. Yes. On March 13, 2024 the vehicle was inspected by a certified Kia mechanic and it was determined that the primary catalytic converter and exhaust manifold have failed. Yes. I don't recall whether or not there was a warning light in 2019 before recall repair however there was a warning light in November 2023 continuing to the present.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577706March 15, 2024
ENGINE
I have had 5 oem and dealership installed catalytic converters fail within 3 years now. The car has had engine failure resulting in the engine being replaced for connecting rod failure (2021).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11576999March 12, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car stalling on highway and blowing smoke out of the exhaust. No warning lamps or messages. Mechanic thinks it’s the catalytic converter.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11576753March 11, 2024
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Car just started jerking and turning off while driving showing the engine light and oil light
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11576143March 8, 2024
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The catalytic converter got pluged up from the oil consumption. The car would no longer accelerate. Yes I still have the catalytic converter.yes the safety was I went to excelrate and I almost got rear ended. It just happened out of nowhere.I took it to the Meineke's shop and they said the cat was pluged but wasn't 100% sure so I had it towed to a kia dealer and they said it was 100% the catalytic converter and it wasn't covered so it would be around $3000.Yes it was inspected by the kia dealer.It had a check engine light on but it said it was the 02 sensor. It had a little less power then normal.It seemed ok when I left the house. I drove about 40 miles. I stoped for about 5 minutes to smoke and it seemed ok in the parking lot. It's when I went to excelrate out to the street it had no power.the original cat starts getting pluged over time and causes the heat to back up on the inside of the engine and puts wear on the piston rings. There for causeing it to burn the engine oil. Inturn almost fully pluging the original cat cause the engine to have no power. I have been a professional machnic for over 24 years. so I understand how engines work. Now because of the internal damage of the engine I am putting 2 quarts of oil every 1500 miles. Which is only one week for me. Thank you for reviewing this. I hope that kia will make this right.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574931March 1, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul EV. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V218000 (Electrical System) and the vehicle was repaired under the recall. The contact stated that after the repair was completed, the vehicle went into "Reduced Power" and "Power Limp Mode" while driving at various speeds and initially after starting the vehicle. The vehicle was returned to the dealer where the recall repair was completed the recall repair; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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