Kia Soul Complaints (2013)

668 consumer complaints on file.

#10733190July 10, 2015
POWER TRAIN
BOUGHT THE KIA SOUL NEW IN AUGUST 2012. SINCE NOVEMBER 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 30K MILES THE CAR HAS DEVELOPED A SUDDEN PRONOUNCED HARD DOWNSHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. IT'S AS THOUGH THE BRAKE WERE ABRUPTLY APPLIED. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE THEN BEING WORSE IN COLD WEATHER AND MADE DRIVING THE CAR A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE KIA WESTSIDE DEALER IN KATY TEXAS THREE TIMES THUS FAR. FIRST TIME THEY DEALERSHIP CHECKED BRAKES ONLY DESPITE BEING TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS SUDDEN HARD DOWNSHIFTING; THEY DID NOT TEST DRIVE THE CAR. WE WERE TOLD ONLY THE BRAKES WERE CHECKED AND ARE GOOD. SECOND TIME THE SAME SERVICE DEPARTMENT TEST DROVE THE CAR EARLY IN MORNING AND EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN HARD DOWNSHIFT AND AGREED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED; CANNOT CONFIRM, WILL ASSUME THEY DID. THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINED ABSOLUTELY NO CHANGE. THE CAR WENT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A THIRD TRY A MONTH LATER. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEN CONTACTED THE KIA TECHNICAL SUPPORT DEPARTMENT; THE DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AS IT IS DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED. THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME HAD ANOTHER 2023 KIA SOUL IN WITH SAME PROBLEM AND CHECKING INTERNET FOUND OTHER OWNERS OF KIA'S WITH SAME COMPLAINT. THE SAFETY IN DRIVING THE CAR IS A CONCERN NOW WITH A MIND THAT IT WILL GET WORSE AND PERHAPS LATER CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731116June 29, 2015
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE SKITTERS AND FISHTAILS WHEN GOING OVER 40 MPH ON BUMPY ROADS, ESPECIALLY CURVES. THE ESC SEEMS TO CORRECT THE SKITTERING IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT IS QUITE SCARY. SO FAR, THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY ON DRY PAVEMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ON WET OR ICY PAVEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10724553June 10, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
THE CAR WENT IN FOR IT'S FIRST YEARLY INSPECTION AND THE KIA DEALER SAID THE BACK ROTORS WERE RUSTY AND WANTED TO CHARGE 110 DOLLARS TO CLEAN THEM. THEY EVENTUALLY CLEANED THEM UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE BACK ROTORS WERE RUSTY BECAUSE THE BACK BRAKES NEVER WORKED SINCE IT WAS NEW. NOW SINCE THE BACK BRAKES NEVER WORKED THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKES NEED REPLACED AT 26,000 MILES AND KIA WON'T ASSUME ANY OF THE COST AS THEY ARE SAYING THAT IS NORMAL. THE CAR HAS BEEN VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE SINCE IT WAS NEW WITHOUT BACK BRAKES AND THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT DURING THE FIRST INSPECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717884May 21, 2015
SEAT BELTS
AFTER BUCKLING THE SEAT BELT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND GOING DOWN THE ROAD IF YOU TRY TO LEAN FORWARD ONE FINDS THAT THE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT PERMIT ANY MOVEMENT YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT AND THEN RETURN IT TO ITS PARKED POSITION AND THEN PULL IT BACK OUT AGAIN. ONCE THAT HAS BEEN DONE YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD OR PULL ON THE BELT ONLY ONCE BEFORE IT LOCKS UP AGAIN. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHEN THE SEAT BELT DOES THIS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ONE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT IF THERE WAS A LOT OF TENSION ON THE BELT FROM ITS OWN TIGHTENING. ONE SHOULD BE FREE TO LEAN FORWARD TO OPEN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT OR TURN TO ATTEND TO MATTERS IN THE BACK SEATS. I HAVE ACTUALLY SIMULATED A SCENARIO WHERE THERE WAS EXTREME TENSION ON THE BELT FROM PUSHING BACK IN MY SEAT AND TIGHTENING THE BELT BY PUSHING THE BELT BACK UP OVER MY SHOULDER AND WHEN I TRIED TO RELEASE THE BELT IT WAS SO HARD TO PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON THAT I HAD TO ASK MY WIFE TO GET A RUBBER MALLET AND A LONG SCREWDRIVER SO THAT I COULD HIT THE RELEASE BUTTON WITH THE SCREW DRIVER AGAINST THE RELEASE BUTTON. IT FINALLY DI DISENGAGE. I TOLD MY WIFE TO GO TO THE DEALER AND TELL THEM TO FIX IT AND SHE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE NOW HAVE A2015 KIA SOUL AND THE SEAT BELTS DO THE SAME THING. THE ONLY ADVANTAGE WITH THE 2015 IS THAT THE SEATS ARE WIDER AND AS SUCH ITS NOT TO HARD TO GET THE SCREWDRIVER AGAINST THE RELEASE BUTTON TO DISENGAGE THE SEAT BELT. I FIND THIS SITUATION TO BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THIS PROBLEM COULD BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF FATALITIES.I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER IN REGARD TO THE 2015 AND THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT AND IT WORKS FINE.IT DOES NOT WORK FINE BY ANY STANDARD. I THINK THE DEALER/KIA KNOW THER'S A PROBLEM BUT NEED TO BE TOLD TO FIX IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10713708April 30, 2015
ENGINE
AS I STARTED THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING I HEARD WHAT SEEM TO BE BELT NOISES. AS I DROVE TO WORK, THE NOISES INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND DECELERATED. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY WORKPLACE 5 MILES LATER, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE PAST 2-5 MPH. I CALLED THE KIA SERVICE AND CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED ENGINE IS NO LONGER USABLE, BUT SO FAR REFUSED TO FIX BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE PROOF OF OIL CHANGES BY A DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10706368April 17, 2015
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY/WIPER
IN THE FRONT RANGE OF COLORADO WE FREQUENTLY GET SEVERAL INCHES OF WET, HEAVY SNOW IN THE FALL, WINTER AND SPRING. WE HAVE TO PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE A GARAGE AT HOME AND AT WORK. WE ALWAYS COMPLETELY CLEAR SNOW FROM ALL GLASS SURFACES AND CHECK THE OPERATION OF THE WIPERS BEFORE DRIVING THE CAR. WE BOUGHT AN EXPENSIVE TELESCOPING COMBINATION SCRAPER, BRUSH AND SQUEEGEE DESIGNED FOR CMVS TO CLEAR AS MUCH SNOW AS WE CAN REACH AND SEE FROM THE WHITE PAINTED ROOF OF THE CAR BEFORE DRIVING IT. AFTER THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WARMS UP IT APPEARS TO LOOSEN THE BOND BETWEEN THE ROOF OF THE CAR AND ANY RESIDUAL OR NEWLY ACCUMULATED SNOW. NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN UNDER NORMAL BRAKING SNOW HAS SLID FORWARD OFF THE ROOF ON TO THE WINDSHIELD OBSCURING ALL FORWARD VISIBILITY AND INSTANTLY CREATING A SEVERE COLLISION SAFETY HAZARD. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED TO CLEAR THE SNOW THE WIPER MOTORS ARE TOO WEAK TO MOVE THE SNOW REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO BLINDLY BRAKE TO A STOP UNABLE TO SEE WELL ENOUGH EVEN TO STEER THE CAR OUT OF THE LANE OF TRAFFIC TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. THIS HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN SLICK SNOWY ROAD CONDITIONS DURING EVENING RUSH HOUR. AFTER COMING TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER MY FIVE FOOT, TWO INCH TALL 68 YEAR OLD WIFE HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AND MANUALLY REMOVE(FOR THE SECOND TIME) SNOW FROM THE WINDSHIELD WHILE BEING SUBJECTED TO HONKING HORNS AND ONE-FINGERED SALUTES FROM ILL-MANNERED MOTORISTS. UNTIL KIA CHOOSES OR IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AN OTHERWISE GREAT LITTLE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10702480March 30, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I TOOK MY VEHICLE FOR STATE EMISSION & INSPECTION. UPON TESTING, THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS, THEY WERE MISSING PCS. I WAS TOLD THAT I "FAILED TESTING" BECAUSE OF THIS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE POSSESSION OF MY VEHICLE OR DRIVE AWAY FROM THE SHOP, IN THE CURRENT CONDITION, AS IT WAS UNSAFE AND AGAINST THE STATE LAW. I HAD TO COMPLETE ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS AT THAT TIME. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY (BUMPER TO BUMPER WITH KIA) AS I HAD NO CHOICE TO DRIVE IT TO THE KIA DEALER FOR REPAIRS. I ASKED THE MECHANIC IF HE HAD SEEN THIS TYPE OF DEFECTS ON OTHER SOUL VEHICLES AND HIS REPLY WAS YES, ALL THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10700822March 21, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN I STOP SUDDENLY THERE IS A TERRIBLE SOUND IN MY FRONT RIGHT BRAKE, AND THE PEDAL GOT STUCK AND HARD, CANNOT STOP THE CAR COMPLETELY. I FEEL MINE AND OTHERS LIFE ARE ON RISK DRIVING THIS SPECIFIC CAR, SOMETHING IT'S TERRIBLE WRONG FOR THE FIST TIME THAT I START DRIVING THIS KIA SOUL 2013, BRAND NEW. PLEASE, I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP, I DO NOT FEEL SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10694088March 13, 2015
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 5/4/15*CN UPDATED 11/10/2015*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689859February 22, 2015
AIR BAGS
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR KIA SOUL ON JAN.29. TO DATE (2/22/15) I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH THEM BY PHONE OR E-MAIL EVEN THOUGH I HAVE CALLED EVERY DAY. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE WHATSOEVER TO ANY OF MY CALLS OR E-MAILS. WHAT DO I DO TO GET SERVICE FOR THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IN MY CAR?. I HAVE SEVERAL LONG TRIPS PLANNED IN THE NEAR FUTURE & WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS FIXED BEFORE I LEAVE. PLEASE RESPOND WITH SOME HELPFUL INFO AS I AM AT MY WITS END. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689579February 20, 2015
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V822000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679290January 27, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR YOU TURN THE KEY AND IT DOES NOT TURN OVER. YOU HEAR A CLICK, ALL LIGHTS ON DASH LIGHT AND RADIO PLAYS BUT THE CAR DOESN'T START. SOMETIMES YOU CAN TURN THE KEY UP TO 10 TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS. HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES A WEEK SPORADICALLY. THE CAR DOES EVENTUALLY START. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR ALSO LOCKS BY ITSELF AT TIMES WHEN YOU SHUT THE DOOR. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND FOR 17 DAYS, THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND VIDEOED IT ON JAN 5 AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO THEN KEPT CAR FOR 14 DAYS AND SAID THEY HAD OVER 150 STARTS AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR AGAIN AND AN TECH WILL BRING PORTABLE EQUIPMENT TO THE CAR AND TEST IT THEN. DEALER HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD IN TRYING TO FIND CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10664441December 15, 2014
AIR BAGS
I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE WHICH TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME AS I TRAVELED IN THE STRAIGHT LANE. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE IS CAVED IN, BUT NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. BOTH OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE DEPLOYED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10659308November 19, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE WAS HIT IN RIGHT REAR CORNER BY ANOTHER CAR. SENT VEHICLE INTO A SPIN WHERE IT WAS HIT IN THE FRONT RIGHT BY MILITARY TRUCK, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPIN UNTIL IT CAME TO A REST ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY...UPDATED 12/03/14 *BF UPDATED 5/11/2015 *JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10654680November 13, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,336.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654390November 12, 2014
WHEELS, TIRES
SUBMISSION FROM RE NHTSA SAFETY COMPLAINT ON KIA SOUL 2013 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WENT FLAT. THE WHEEL AND RIM WERE BENT. THE DEALER STATED, THE CONSUMER MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER DISPUTED THAT NOTION, STATING THERE WAS A RECALL ON CADENZA WHEELS, AS THEY WERE PRONE TO CRACKING, IF A POTHOLE WAS HIT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650883October 28, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WITH MY SON IN THE CAR. WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP FOR A HANDFUL OF SECONDS UNTIL IF FINALLY STOPPED JUST IN BACK OF BUT NOT TOUCHING A BMW IN FRONT OF US. WE BOTH HEARD A SCRAPING/PULSING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES AS THE PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED BUT THE CAR WAS STILL GOING FORWARD. HAD THE CAR NOT STOPPED JUST SHORT OF THE CAR AHEAD I FEAR ME AND MY SON WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I SAW A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM WHICH INDICATED THIS WAS ALSO A NHTSA COMPLAINT. THIS CAR HAS SIMILAR MILEAGE (12800) AND WAS A 2013 KIA SOUL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630786September 4, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STOP, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST, HEAD, BACK AND LEGS. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST, BACK AND LEGS. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10630264September 2, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
SUDDEN DECELERATION QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER INCLUDING STEERING, BRAKES, COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT-OFF AND DASH INSTRUMENTATION. DEALER FOUND "NO PROBLEM" AND DID NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH OR ANYTHING ELSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608256July 4, 2014
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AS I WENT INTO MY TURN I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING FUNCTION WAS HARD. THE STEERING WHEEL AND STABILITY/ TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON MY PLANNED ROUTE TO WORK. DUE TO THE HOLIDAY THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT OPEN TODAY AND THE VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED TO BE DEPENDABLE IS PROVING TO BE NO LONGER THAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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