What 193 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Soul

This vehicle had just passed a inspection for me to get it licensed and Kentucky. There was no light showing that the airbags would not work. Unfortunately, this vehicle is not available.I had reached out to kia multiple times. My fears I have another Kia the same year.

NHTSA ODI 11670276

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked overnight on his driveway, caught on fire, and exploded in the early morning. The fire started from the engine bay. The vehicle was unoccupied during the fire. The fire originated from the front engine bay, and soon after engulfed the entire vehicle. The vehicle was totaled, the side of the house was damaged, a motorcycle was destroyed and parts of the contacts shop were damaged. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. A police department report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. No warning lights were illuminated prior. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000. The contact stated that they believed NHTSA campaign number 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) was responsible for the failure of the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11627799

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 63 MPH, an object hit the vehicle's front, driver-side tire which caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact crashed into a highway sand barrel as the vehicle flipped forward and rolled over onto the driver's side. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact exited the vehicle through the front passenger door with the assistance of a fellow motorist. The contact was taken by ambulance to the emergency room and was treated for head trauma, pain to both shoulders, neck, and back; as well as, scratches to the left elbow and right hand. A police report was filed. A couple of sand barrels were damaged which left sand scattered across the highway. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11610837

Driving 36 mph and got hit in drive side and the airbags didn't deploy

NHTSA ODI 11561737

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON AZ SR 95 AT 45 MPH. OTHER VEHICLE WAS NORTH BOUND AND MADE A "U" TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I COULD NOT AVOID HITTING HIM BROADSIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE.

NHTSA ODI 11309755

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A CAR FAILED TO YIELD CAME ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND I IMPACTED THE PASSAGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11203152

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 75 MPH. THE CONTACT WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT THE WAY WAS STRUCK A SECOND TIME, WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NECK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI 11175204

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE EXACT ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 11102349

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, BACK, AND NECK, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, AND WAS LATER TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11081031

I PURCHASED KIA SOUL PLUS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2 MONTHS AGO FROM ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 53,000 MILES. VEHICLE "LAGGED" MOMENTARILY WHILE TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTED. I ASSUMED CHARACTERISTIC OF CAR. APPROX. 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING CAR WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY WITH MY FIANC' @ APPROX. 65MPH THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY & DRASTICALLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO (I BELIEVE) 2ND OR 3RD GEAR, WITH NO PROVOCATION ON MY PART. IF MY FIANC AND I WERE NOT WEARING SEAT BELTS, THE SUDDEN CHANGE OF SPEED, OUR HEADS WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY HIT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. MY FIANC' IS SCHEDULED FOR SPINAL CORD SURGERY SOMETIME THIS MONTH (AUGUST). HER NEURO-SURGEON INFORMED US THAT ANOTHER SIMILAR SITUATION COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE HER TO BE QUADRIPLEGIC, OR EVEN DEATH. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED FREEWAY, HOWEVER, CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST 2ND (OR 3RD) GEAR, LIMITING CAR TO 30 TO 35MPH DRIVING HOME ON SIDE STREETS. CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, AND NEXT DAY DROVE NORMAL AGAIN, FOR ONE WEEK. ON JULY 31, 2017 WHILE TAKING CAR TO CITRUS KIA IN ONTARIO, CA, FOR EVALUATION OF TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE DID SAME THING AGAIN. SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT DRASTICALLY SLOWING DOWN CAR TO 35MPH. AGAIN, WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST 2ND (OR 3RD) GEAR. I WAS ONLY OCCUPANT. AWARE OF KIA'S TSB #033 OUTLINING TCM'S UPGRADE ON TRANSMISSIONS BUILT PRIOR TO AUG. 2010, (MINE BUILT JUNE 2010) THE SERVICE WRITER AT CITRUS KIA STATED UPGRADE WAS DONE IN OCT. 2010. I AM ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THEIR FINDINGS. HOPEFULLY TODAY. (8/1/2017) KIA'S POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IS 100,000 MILES OR 120 MONTHS TO ORIGINAL BUYER, SUBSEQUENT BUYERS IS 60,000 MILES OR 60 MONTHS. SOUL IS PAST 60 MONTHS WARRANTY LIMIT HAVING 72 MONTHS OF SERVICE. HOWEVER, UNDER MILEAGE LIMITS AT 56,000 MILES. THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION!

NHTSA ODI 11011925

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

NHTSA ODI 10965881

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

NHTSA ODI 10934767

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.

NHTSA ODI 10865513

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.

NHTSA ODI 10825683

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.

NHTSA ODI 10823399

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

NHTSA ODI 10790082

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.

NHTSA ODI 10786436

MY SOUL WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMOACT ROLL OVER CRASH IM WHICH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNLATCHED AND THEEE WAS NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT O WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND THE TRUCK THAT STRUCK THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH...UPDATED 08-06-15 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10745568

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SIDESWIPED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRAIN INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS RESET AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 10659085

MY SON AND I WERE IN A SEVERE CRASH. WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND AT ABOUT 50 MPH BY TWO CARS. WE WERE KNOCKED OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN A DROP OFF. WE LANDED AND WENT OVER LARGE BOULDERS. CAR WAS TOTALED. FRONT END AND REAR END GONE. TWO WHEELS CAME OFF. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS IS A GREAT CONCERN FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY WANT TO PURCHASE THE SOUL. ALL OTHER VEHICLES IN THE CRASH HAD AIR BAGS THAT DID DEPLOY. I THINK IF OUR AIR BAGS WERE WORKING PROPERLY THEN MY SON AND I MAY OF NOT HAD SUCH SEVERE INJURIES TO OUR HEADS, BACKS AND NECKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10637405

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND GOING OVER A POT HOLE, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 10617863

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10607818

I WAS THROWN AGAINST THE DRIVERS DOOR (YES SEAT BELT WAS PROPERLY ON) AND SUFFERED A TBI AS WELL AS EXTREME BRUISING ALONG THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY WHY DIDN'T THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOY?. I WAS REAR-ENDED AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS WHERE THE PASSENGER SEAT USED TO BE.. ALSO THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE IN THE PRONE POSITION ON IMPACT AS I WAS SPINNING ACROSS TWO OPPOSING LANES OF TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10536480

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AS THE FRONT BUMPER OF A TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE QUARTER PANEL, DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AND DRIVER FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SUSTAINED HEAD AND SPINAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10535310

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

NHTSA ODI 10520395