Kia Soul Complaints (2011)
194 consumer complaints on file.
- #10500995March 1, 2013VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
1. MY KIA SOUL WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY A ROCK WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. MY WINDSHIELD NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH WILL COST ME $250.00 INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE .COULD THIS HAVE BEEN DUE TO CHEAP KIA GLASS OR POOR BOXY DESIGN AS I READ FROM OTHER KIA SOUL OWNERS ON THE KIA FORUM? IF SO, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS MY OFFICIAL COMPLAINT. 2. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO STATE MY COMPLAINT THAT THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AS IT HAS THE ABSOLUTE WORST BLIND SPOTS OF ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN AND I AM ALWAYS AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN CHANGING LANES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10496251February 3, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
SECOND INCIDENT OF BRAKE (DEALER SAYS EMERGENCY BRAKE) CAUSING VEHICLE VIBRATION. THIS EXITING PARKING LOT. ON HARD SURFACE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EXPERIENCE VIBRATION WHICH RAMPS UP IN FREQUENCY THEN RAMPS DOWN. HAVE REPLACED EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOE. DEALER SAYS BRAKE PAD WAS DELAMINATING AND PIECE OF SHOE WAS PROBABLY CAUSING VIBRATION BY INVOLVING OTHER PARTS DURING WHEEL REVOLUTION. NOTICE PARKING BRAKE LEVER SEEMS TO EXCEED TOP RANGE AND SLIP SLIGHTLY TO LEFT. AFTER FIRST REPAIR NOTICED LOUD KNOCKING/RATTLE FROM RIGHT REAR QUADRANT, VERIFIED BY PASSENGER. DISCOVERED APPLICATION OF NORMAL BRAKE WHILE MOVING AT SLOW SPEED STOPPED MOST OF RATTLE/KNOCKING; THIS 2 DAYS AGO, THEN TODAY'S INCIDENT BEGAN AGAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10491962January 9, 2013POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION WAS DISENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE DRAINED AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10483323November 4, 2012TIRES, SUSPENSION, STEERING, WHEELS
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW. THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND I WAS PULLED INTO A CURB. THIS CAUSED OVER $1600 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE IN THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE AND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY METAL OR ANYTHING IN THE TIRE. ALSO, THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON, SO I KNOW THEY WERE AT THE PROPER PSI. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED, AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TIRES. THEY ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND ALL THEY SAID WAS "THIS IS JUST BAD DRIVING." I THEN CALLED THE KIA COMPANY AND TALKED TO THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THEIR CONCLUSION WAS THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRES. ONE PERSON EVEN ASKED HOW MUCH I WEIGHED! THIS VEHICLE IS A 2011 AND ONLY HAS 8,200 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE TO GET IT FIXED. I BELIEVE THAT KIA SHOULD STAND BY THESE TIRES, BECAUSE NEXXEN COME STANDARD ON THEIR VEHICLES. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED, I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES ON KIA VEHICLES. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10473745September 4, 2012VISIBILITY
GOT IN CAR 7:30 AM, WHEN I CLOSED DRIVER DOOR, HEARD GLASS FALLING. REAR HATCH WINDOW WAS SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. CAR WAS PARKED UNDER A CARPORT, NO INDICATION FOUND OF ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAVE HIT THE WINDOW. CAR IS PARKED QUITE A DISTANCE FROM THE STREET. REAR DRIVER DOOR WINDOW WAS OPEN ABOUT 1", SO NO PRESSURE BUILDUP. NO GRASS CUTTING IN THE AREA, TEMPERATURE 70'S - 80'S. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10473217August 31, 2012AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER IMPACTING THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CONTUSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,500.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10473541August 29, 2012AIR BAGS
MYSELF AND 13 YOA DAUGHTER WERE ON CR0151 WHEN WE WERE STRUCK BY A 1996 CHEVY S-10 ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR 2011 SOUL HITTING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER DOORS AND PILLAR BETWEEN THE RIGHT SIDE DOORS. NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF WITH THIS IMPACT AND WITH ALL THE AIR BAGS WHY DIDN'T ANY GO OFF? ...UPDATED 09/12/12 *BF UPDATED 09/18/2012 *JS
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10470890August 16, 2012VISIBILITY/WIPER
SAFETY ISSUE - PASSENGER FRONT SIDE GLASS BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS A GLASS DEFECT THAT WOULD OF HAD GREATER CONSEQUENCES IF THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. KIA (CASE NUMBER [XXX]) REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM AND INSURANCE STEPPED IN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10470612August 14, 2012WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WHEELS WERE NOT THE STANDARD WHEEL SIZE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE TPMS VALVE STEM HAD BROKEN OFF INSIDE THE WHEELS, CAUSING THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10468745August 1, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AIR CONDITIONER I ACTUALLY FOUND THIS OUT BY ACCIDENT. I BOUGHT A PORTABLE EXPLOSIVE GAS DETECTOR FROM MENARDS (MODEL NUMBER: 240PGD) MAINLY FOR MY SISTER WHO LIVES IN A TRAILER PARK AND HAS BECOME SEVERELY ILL FROM A SEWER GAS SMELL IN THE COURT. JUST BEFORE I LEFT FOR MY SISTER'S PLACE, I THOUGHT I WOULD TRY OUT THIS GAS DETECTOR IN THE CABIN OF MY CAR NEAR THE A/C VENT. I LOOKED AT THE SPECS FOR THIS EXPLOSIVE GAS DETECTOR AND THE TEMPERATURES WERE WITHIN TESTING RANGE. THE EXPLOSIVE GAS DETECTOR SHOWED HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF EXPLOSIVE GAS BY BEEPING AND SHOWING A RED LED. I TESTED SEVERAL TIMES AT DIFFERENT TEMPS WITH THE A/C ON AND RECEIVED RED LED LIGHTS AND WARNING BEEPS. WHILE IT DID NOT SPECIFY WHICH EXPLOSIVE GAS,THIS DETECTOR DETECTS ACETYLENE, BUTANE, METHANE (NATURAL GAS) AND PROPANE. I DID LOOK UP AIR CONDITIONER REFRIGERANT AND FOUND THAT CARS IN THE US MAY USE A BUTANE/PROPANE MIXTURE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN GETTING HEADACHES WITH INCREASING INTENSITY AND WONDER IF THIS IS WHY. I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE NOT SMOKERS OR WE WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP OR BEEN BLOW TORCHED BY THE A/C. THE DETECTOR DID NOT DETECT EXPLOSIVE GAS WHEN I TOOK IT BACK INTO MY HOUSE AS A REFERENCE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10465904July 16, 2012SUSPENSION
ON JULY 2, 2012 WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED RESULTING IN THE FRONT WHEEL GOING UNDER THE CAR. THIS RESULTED IN THE ENTIRE COLLAPSE OF THE SUSPENSION, FAILURE OF STEERING CAPABILITIES AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE RESULTING DAMAGE AFFECTED THE BODY AND VEHICLE STRUCTURE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460669June 5, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED & NEED TO SUDDENLY STOP, THE VEHICLE BRAKES LOCK UP & DO NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME. BASICALLY, THE TIRES LOCK UP & THE CAR CONTINUES TO SKID & SCREECH. THIS IS ESPECIALLY AGGRAVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE DRIVES OVER A POTHOLE OR OTHER DEFECT IN THE ROADWAY WHILE BRAKING OR IN CONSTANT STOP-&-GO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NARROWLY MISSED CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLES OR STRUCTURES NUMEROUS TIMES. I NOTICED THE PROBLEMS WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE NEW 2011 CAR. IT FEELS VERY DANGEROUS & SCARY & I'M VERY UNEASY ABOUT DRIVING IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF THE CAR WILL RESPOND PROPERLY IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10459675May 25, 2012ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTER IN THE ENGINE CAUSED A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A DEFECT WITHIN THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE POORLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10458656May 16, 2012VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SPEED CONTROL - THE SPEED CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE ON NUMEROUS OCCAISIONS, WHEN THE BRAKE WAS GENTLY APPLIED OR TAPPED, SPEED CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE AND THE SPEED ACTUALLY INCREASED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH THE DEALER. WE WERE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HORN - DOES NOT ACTIVATE SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN VEHICLE WARMED UP. WAS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE TO DEALER STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ACTIVATES AND DOES NOT TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10458560May 15, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY LOT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE CRASH, BUT RATHER THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE WIRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10451903March 16, 2012VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 18 MONTHS, AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS WAY TOO EASILY. I'VE OWNED 23 CARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ONE BEFORE. THIS KIA IS GETTING ITS 2ND WINDSHIELD TODAY. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING ACTUALLY HIT IT, BUT HAVE HEARD A 'POP' SOUND EACH TIME, AND THE WINDSHIELD SPLITS ACROSS. BOTH TIMES IT HAS ORIGINATED ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RH SIDE. THERE ARE CHIPS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CRACK LIKE A ROCK *MAY* HAVE IMPACTED THERE, BUT IT SEEMS TO CRACK WAY TOO EASILY AND NEEDS TO BE THICKER OR STRONGER IN MY OPINION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10447319February 9, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE WIND SHIELD EXPLODED. EVERYTHING MELTED DOWN AND CAR IS TOTALED. THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY AN INTERIOR MALFUNCTION WITH THE CAR. WOULD LIKE KIA TO REPLACE THIS CAR WITH A NEW CAR BECAUSE THIS WAS A NEW CAR THAT I PURCHASED THROUGH KIA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439443December 12, 2011STRUCTURE, AIR BAGS
ON THE ABOVE DATE THE REFERENCED KIA SOUL WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN A FORD 350 PICK UP TRUCK RAN INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AREA. THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE COLLISION CAVED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR'S EXTERIOR SKIN AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR SKIN WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE SIDE AIRBAGS ON THE KIA SOUL. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10437823November 30, 2011TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK NEXEN P225/45/R13 TIRES, DOT 8EJ7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OWNER. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10437522November 28, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO WARM, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0