2015 Kia SOUL: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING DOWN FAIRMOUNT BLVD. I HIT A POT HOLE, CAUSING MY TIRE TO GO FLAT AND THE AIR BAGS CAME OUT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650225 at NHTSA ↗

2015 KIA SOUL SPUTTERED WHEN GOING FROM FIRST GEAR, TO SECOND GEAR AND THEN THIRD. CW ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. A DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FIRING ON ALL FOUR CYLINDERS AND THAT WAS THE REASON THE VEHICLE SEEMED SLUGGISH. THE ENGINE COVER WAS REMOVED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED ALL THE CYLINDERS WERE NOT CONNECTED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10661753 at NHTSA ↗

CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE AS IT PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT. ENDED UP STOPPING IN A STOREFRONT. NO SIGNIFICANT VISIBLE DAMAGE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALL THREE PASSENGERS (INCL ONE 3 YR OLD) WERE COMPLETELY UNSCATHED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10712114 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10712442 at NHTSA ↗

KIA COUNTRY OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA SOLD ME A NEW 2015 KIA SOUL WHILE UNDER AN ACTIVE RECALL, PRIOR TO THE RECALL WORK BEING COMPLETED, IN APPARENT VIOLATION OF 49 U.S.C., SECTION 30112(A)(3). KIA SERVICE CAMPAIGN 116, A SAFETY RECALL TO CORRECT A POTENTIAL UNSAFE CONDITION RESULTING FROM THE FRACTURING OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT WELL IN ADVANCE OF MY PURCHASE DATE OF 02 APRIL 2015. IT SEEMS THAT IN THE RUSH TO SELL ME THE VEHICLE, THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT COMPLETED, AND I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT A RECALL WAS IN…

Owner-reported narrative. 11 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715228 at NHTSA ↗

FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE UNTIL PRESENT THE VEHICLE HAS A LAG IN ACCELERATION WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE LAG CAUSES A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN PULLING OUT. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES, AND EACH TIME WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL A ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715532 at NHTSA ↗

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 T…

Owner-reported narrative. 512 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717885 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND HAD TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE LOUD NOISE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO START PROPERLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE OIL WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723359 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-03-02 (March 2, 2015)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Soul and Soul electric vehicles manufactured July 21, 2013, to January 8, 2015. A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.

Consequence: If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will add a supporting rubber underneath the pedal stopper, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC116.

Reported: 2017-09-29 (September 29, 2017)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.

Consequence: If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.

Reported: 2019-02-22 (February 22, 2019)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.

Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.

Reported: 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.