What 193 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Soul

FOG LIGHTS QUIT WORKING JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL KNOB. THEY WILL COME ON AND OFF AT TIMES WHEN TURNING THE TURN SIGNAL ON TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I HAVE COME TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE JUST TURNED THE FOG LIGHTS OFF.

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REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINTS. HEAT SHIELD IS VIBRATING WHILE ACCELERATING. ALSO HAVE OIL PAN LEAK, CAUSING A PUDDLE IN THE DRIVEWAY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ECM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A STOP LAMP SWITCH AND THE UNDER BODY CORROSION RECALL. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

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AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING COLLISION. SEAT BELT TENSIONER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT ENGAGE.

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HELP! THE HORN IN MY KIA SOUL DOESN'T WORK, BUT IT IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOME TIMES IT DOESN'T. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM JUST RECENTLY, BUT I THINK ITS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR LONGER. WHEN I USE THE KEYLESS ENTRY FOB TO LOCK THE VEHICLE, THE FIRST CLICK LOCKS IT, AND THE 2ND CLICK SOUNDS THE HORN. SOMETIMES THE 2ND CLICK DOESN'T CAUSE THE HORN TO BEEP AND THIS IS WHEN I'VE NOTICED THE HORN NOT WORKING WHEN I USE IT MANUALLY IN THE VEHICLE. BUT OVER TIME, IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN. ITS MAKING ME NERVOUS THAT THE HORN COULD NOT WORK WHEN I NEED IT THE MOST. I'VE TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY'VE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT IF ONE GOOGLES THE INTERNET THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF FORUMS AND VIDEOS OF KIA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

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STEERING WHEEL MAKING CLUNKING NOISE ("CLACK"), AS IF GETTING LOOSE, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON AND THE STEERING IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT, WHILE STANDING STILL OR DRIVING REGARDLESS OF ROAD OR PAVEMENT. THIS NOISE ALSO APPEARS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, RUTS AND RAISED REFLECTIVE PAVEMENT MARKERS, ALTHOUGH IN THIS INSTANCE IS MORE OF A COMBINATION OF MULTIPLE 'CLACK' SOUNDS AS THE WHEELS GO OVER MORE THAN ONE ROAD DISTURBANCE (I.E. CONSECUTIVE REFLECTIVE MARKERS). MANUFACTURER KIA ALREADY HAS A RECALL FOR CERTAIN YEARS OF THEIR KIA OPTIMA MODEL.

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BRAKE LIGHTS QUITS WORKING , CRUSE DOESN'T WORK , RADIO IS AFFECTED

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THE 18 INCH HANKOOK LOW PROFILE TIRES ARE A DEATH TRAP IN WINTER. I WENT DOWN AN OFF RAMP SIDEWAYS. ON ICE AND SNOW THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER TIRES, HANKOOK 18 INCH TIRES, ARE ABSOLUTELY AWFUL AND A THREAT TO ANYONE'S LIFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. BREAKING IN WINTER IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS WITH THESE TIRES. *TR

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THE DIM HEADLIGHTS ON MY KIA SOUL WERE BLOWING EVERY 3 MONTHS. I BOUGHT BULBS FROM THE AUTO PARTS STORE FROM THE CHEAP TO SUPER EXPENSIVE BULBS. NOTHING HELPED. I CALLED KIA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED THERE BULBS. SO, I BOUGHT THOSE BULBS TOO. MY HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL BLOWING. I CHECKED THE SOCKET AND IT WAS BROWN LIKE IT HAD BEEN OVERHEATED. I REPLACED THOSE SOCKETS AND PUT ANOTHER SET OF KIA BULBS IN THE CAR. THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND THEY ARE BACK TO GOING OUT ON ME. THEY BOTH WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHICH IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS!!!!

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA SOUL ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN, AT ABOUT 8:30 AM, THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED. I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT AND FELT AND SAW GLASS COMING DOWN ON AND AROUND ME. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. I FELT VERY STARTLED AND SHAKY, BUT WAS PHYSICALLY UNHARMED. I GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND FOUND THAT SUNROOF BOWED UPWARD AT THE CRACK. NOTHING STRUCK MY VEHICLE, ON THE SUNROOF, OR ANYWHERE ELSE. DRIVING AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. IT WAS A CLEAR AND MILD MORNING WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 56 DEGREES. UPON RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS DOCUMENTED FROM OTHER DRIVERS OF KIA SOULS, OTHER KIA MODELS, AND OTHER CARMAKERS WITH SPONTANEOUSLY "EXPLODING SUNROOFS."

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FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, MY SHOULDER HARNESS COMES FROM LEFT SHOULDER TO RIGHT HIP, WHERE IT IS LATCHED. THE SHOULDER HARNESS DOES NOT STAY IN A CROSS-BODY POSITION AND RIDES UP TO UNDER MY RIGHT ARMPIT. I DO NOT HAVE A BARREL BELLY THAT WOULD FORCE THIS UP. THE STRAP THEN IS HIGH ENOUGH TO CROSS OVER MY NECK. I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY "FIX" FOR THIS, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE BEHEADED BY AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED STRAP. I HAVE MOVED THE ADJUSTER ON THE DOOR POST AND CHANGED MY SEAT POSTION. NEITHER ACTION MADE A DIFFERENCE. WITH THE SEAT MORE FORWARD, THE STEERING WHEEL IS PRETTY CLOSE. HOW FAR AWAY SHOULD I BE? ANYWAY, I'M JUST WONDERING IF OTHERS HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SHOULDER HARNESS RIDING UP AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.L

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MY DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT 50 MILES PER HOUR. ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED INTO HER LANE, HIT HER HEAD-ON AND SHE DIED ON THE SCENE. WHEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO INVESTIGATE, THEY NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL OF HER KIA SOUL DETACHED FROM THE COLUMN AND THEY LOCATED THE STEERING WHEEL (AIRBAG DEPLOYED) IN THE FLOORBOARD BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

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WHEN IT RAINS THE FLOORBOARDS FILL WITH WATER (LITERAL PUDDLE) FRONT AND BACK, MAINLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER, I DID NOT NOTICE THE ISSUE UNTIL AFTER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY HAD SLIGHTLY EXPIRED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER ONCE I NOTICED THE ISSUE AND THEY OF COURSE WANTED $$$ TO EVEN LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. IN RESEARCHING FOR A RESOLUTION ON THE INTERNET THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE MAIN CONCERN IS HEALTH SAFETY AND POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT CAN RESULT FROM SO MUCH INTERIOR WETTING. I HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN (BILL BYRD KIA PANAMA CITY FL) TO ASK IF THERE WAS ANY NEW INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND SPOKE WITH AND ALLAN AND A CHRIS AT THE SITE AND WAS HUNG UP ON BY BOTH INDIVIDUALS.

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FILE A VEHUILCE SAFETY COMPLAINT 07/09/2014; CONFIRMATION #: 10609442 AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK, RESPONSE OR STATUS TO MY ISSUE, WHICH I FOUND OUT MANY KIA SOUL DRIVERS ARE HAVING, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO RESOLVE TEH PROBLEM. THE ECS ON VARIOUS OCCASION COMES ON WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT. PUSHING THE ECS ON/OFF SWITCH DOES NOTHING, LIGHT STAYS ON. TURHN ENGINE OFF THEN ON, LIGHT STILL STAYS ON. CONTACTED DEALER THEY SAID BEING IT IT WHEN IT HAPPENS, TO BE CHECKED OUT, BUT THE LIGHT DOES NOT COOPERATE. THE ECS LIGHT PROBLEM STARTED WHEN A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN 2014 AND OCCURS A FEW TIMES EACH YEAR TO THE CURRENT DATE OF FEB 18 2016.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 03/30/16.*JB UPDATED 04/14/16.*JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED AND STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE FACE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR CUT THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,285.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DURING ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

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VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. TEMPERATURE HAD BEEN AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING OVERNIGHT. WHEN DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE AND SHUT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARD FROM THE CENTER OF THE WINDOW DOWN TO THE POINT OF THE REAR WIPER. OUTSIDE EDGES OF WINDOW ALSO SHATTERED/DISINTEGRATED ALONG THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE SEAL.

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WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH THE HOOD RELEASED HITTING THE ROOF ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD. CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ROOF, THE HOOD AND THE FENDERS. NOTE THAT THE HOD HAD NOT BEEN OPENED FOR OVER A MONTH. ALSO NOTE THAT THE HOOD WAS IN THE FULLY CLOSED POSITION BEFORE STARTING OUT ON THE ROAD ON 11/20/2015.

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AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN SERIOUS FRONTAL IMPACT - A TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT IT AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH, 5 LANE BUSINESS HWY *CN

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES AND CRASHED IN AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR CUT THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

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3 PROBLEMS :#1 THE WHEEL PRESSURE LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN IDLE AND WHEN I'M DRIVING IT BUT, MY TIRES ARE AT THE SAME PSI. MAKES ME KEEP THINKING SOMETHING IS WRONG. #2 IN THE WINTER TIME THE RUBBER MOLDING AROUND DOORS STICKS BAD AND STARTS TO PULL ITSELF AWAY FROM THE GLUE KEEPING IT ON. #3 DURING THE WINTER MY WINDSHIELD KEEPS ICING UP REALLY BAD (ON THE INSIDE !). I CAN ACTUALLY USE MY ICE SCRAPER ON IT. I EXPECT THIS ON THE OUTSIDE OF A CAR BUT, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS ON THE INSIDE, DID THEY FORGET TO SEAL IT CORRECTLY?

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE, THE BRAKES SEIZED, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHEELS SMOKED, THE BRAKE SHIFTER INTERLOCK FEATURE WOULD NOT TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

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A BAD BEARING, CAUSED AIR PRESSURE IN LEFT TIRE TO INFLATE TO A DANGEROUS PSI, THAT COULD BLOW TIRE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEED AND DEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING USED TO DRIVE 525 MILES, FROM DALLAS TO KANSAS CITY, MO. DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE DRY, WITH 85 DEG OUTSIDE TEMP. AFTER DRIVING 200 MILES, THE LEFT TIRE HEATED UP TO A DANGEROUS 45PSI, CAUSING THE TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. WE STOPPED TO CHECK TIRE AND AIR PRESSURE, FOUND DANGEROUS PSI AND RELEASED AIR TO SAFE 32PSI. AFTER 150 MILES, THE LEFT TIRE AGAIN RE-INFLATED TO DANGEROUS 44PSI AGAIN. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO WALMART, REPLACED TWO FRONT TIRES, THINKING IT WAS A WORN LEFT TIRE, BUT TIRE WAS GRADED AT A #4, HALF WEAR. BOTH NEW TIRES WERE AT PROPER INFLATION. AFTER 175 MILES, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, DRIVING ON TURNPIKE, AT 65MPH. AIR PSI WAS 46PSI ON THE LEFT TIRE, AGAIN. WE REMOVED 14 PDS OF AIR AND DROVE 50 MILES HOME. AFTER TAKING IT TO A CERTIFIED KIA SERVICE GARAGE, THEY SAID IT WAS THE BEARING AND REPLACED THE LEFT BEARING, AT NO CHARGE, SAYING IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT NOR WAS THE BEARING DAMAGED IN ANY SERVICE REPAIR PROCESS, INDICATING ONLY REASON FOR FAILURE OF BEARING AS POOR MANUFACTURING AND/OR INSTALLATION. BEARING IS EITHER MADE WITH INFERIOR MATERIAL OR NOT PROPERLY LUBED/PACKED.

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2011 KIA SOUL BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN ENGAGED BY PEDAL. TESTING LIGHTS SHOWS THAT ALL OTHER LIGHTS ARE IN WORKING ORDER. VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE STOP LAMP SWITCH RECALL ISSUED BY KIA IN 2013; HOWEVER, THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IN NEED OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT.

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