What 898 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Soul EV

On [XXX] around [XXX], we were headed westbound on [XXX] toward Boise when the car began making a clanking sound. In less than a minute, the car was pouring smoke, clanking stopped and car completely failed. I coasted to side of freeway, car would not turn over, i did not try more than once for fear of further damage or starting a fire. When tow driver came and car was moved, it exposed a giant puddle of oil and pieces of what looked like MELTED metal. The tow driver stated it was a connection rod piece and engine is likely shot. I immediately scheduled a service ticket to have it looked at my local Kia Dealership. They confirmed that i experienced a catastrophic engine failure and that it matched the exact recall SC176 issue. They attempted to contact and file a claim under both the recall and the powertrain warranty and were denied both by KIA, due to negligence of the owner. I had a passenger with me who has severe medical conditions. It was in 90's in desert like heat. It took 4-5 hours to have it towed and get out of the heat. We almost got into an accident when the car malfunctioned. There were ZERO warning notifications or lights on the dashboard until the car completely went disabled while coasting to the side of the freeway. No warning chugs. No previous issues with smoke/warning lights/ nothing prior. This literally happened out of no where and now I am being told by KIA they will not repair because its MY JOB to look into recalls. I have lived at the same address for the whole time i owned the car. I have printed records and digital records from my local DMV to prove it. I have written and digital proof that i properly maintenance my vehicle on time AND that i paid for synthetic oil rather than just the lowest possible choice they offered. I have proof that I was notified for the recall regarding the steering issue in 2017 and that i immediately made a service appt with my local dealership to have it address. I received NO notice for any other recall INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11678913

1- ENGINE It’s been about 3 months that when I depress the gas pedal the car skips or hiccups and I get a check engine light on I have to accelerate slowly this also happening while I am driving it’s worse if I try to pass a car

NHTSA ODI 11676406

Subject: Possible Design Flaw in Accelerator Pedal – Kia Soul 2015 Dear Kia/NHTSA Representative, I am the owner of a 2015 Kia Soul and would like to report a concern regarding the design of the accelerator pedal. I have observed that when the vehicle is turned on and in “Park” mode, the accelerator pedal can be easily pressed unintentionally simply by moving the foot slightly while seeking a more comfortable position. This appears to be related to the low and forward positioning of the pedal, combined with the soft sensitivity of the electronic throttle system. As a driver, I believe this design may lead to unintended acceleration in certain situations, especially if one is not fully aware of their foot placement. There also seems to be no sufficient space to the right of the brake pedal to rest the foot without nearing the accelerator. While I have not experienced an incident as a result, I believe this characteristic may pose a safety risk to some drivers and could become a distraction either while driving or while the engine is idling. I respectfully request that this matter be reviewed by Kia’s technical team and, if appropriate, considered for design revision or future updates. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11673545

On April 24, 2022, while driving my 2015 Kia Soul, the vehicle suddenly caught fire. The fire originated in the engine compartment and destroyed the vehicle. This occurred despite the existence of a known safety recall related to the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS), which has been linked to engine fires in Kia vehicles. Following the incident, Kia America declined responsibility, and a joint investigation attempt by my insurer, USAA, was ignored. Kia proceeded with an independent investigation and later concluded that the cause was “undetermined” and that the fire originated in the engine compartment but could not determine the cause, which was likely due to the severe fire damage, per their own report. I have since been informed that USAA pursued subrogation against Kia, contrary to Kia’s recent claims. A letter of preservation was also sent to USAA following the incident to ensure the vehicle would remain in its post-fire condition. This was done to safeguard the integrity of the vehicle for investigative purposes. Following Kia’s refusal to assist, I was advised to explore reimbursement through other means, including the ongoing class action settlement related to this engine defect. I submitted a claim through that process but was ultimately denied due to a lack of “proof” that the fire was caused by the recall. However, my vehicle was so severely damaged in the fire that no conclusive cause could be determined , a point even Kia acknowledged in their own post-fire report, which stated the cause was “undetermined” but that the fire originated in the engine compartment. Over a year later, after the original dismissal of Kia, in September 2023, Kia America sent a letter via mail to the wrong address and email requesting documentation for reimbursement, which I provided only for them to again deny any responsibility. This delayed communication, along with the lack of transparency and accountability in handling a known safety issue, raises serious public safe

NHTSA ODI 11670410

Excessive oil consumption noted at around 40,000 miles. No visible smoke coming from tail pipe but burnt oil smell coming from underneath car in region of catalytic converter. Had engine visually inspected and had pressure test done by repair shop; no engine seal compromise present. Took vehicle to dealer to report and was told that warranty did not apply to this issue. Car eventually burning 2-3 quarts of oil every 800 miles. Traded car in at just over 99,000 miles due to oil consumption and concern about failure. Private party mechanic and oil change facilities very familiar with this issue on Kia souls. Noted that class action lawsuit against Kia for this very issue was initiated in California but was abruptly dropped. First vehicle I've ever owned that had to have oil added between changes. Noted that Kia owners manual stated that up to 3 quarts of oil consumption between 7500 mile oil changes is normal. I had oil change service done predominantly every 3000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11668441

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, and the vehicle decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for a second opinion, and the vehicle was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained with the local dealer but was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

NHTSA ODI 11666048

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that when his wife started the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while performing an oil change, there were metal shavings found inside the engine oil that was drained from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer. However, due to the cost of the diagnostic test, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, and when the oil change was performed, there were metal shavings found at the bottom of the oil pan. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance in covering the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11663434

Vehicle Information: 2015 Kia Soul Issue Summary: My 2015 Kia Soul experienced a sudden engine failure while I was driving. The check engine light began flashing, and the vehicle went into limp mode, drastically reducing power and creating an immediate safety risk on the road. The dealership diagnosed the issue and found a knock sensor code (P1326), which confirmed the need for an engine replacement. This was especially alarming because the knock sensor had already been replaced during a previous service, as part of Kia’s known effort to address this widespread engine defect. Despite this, my extended warranty claim was denied by Kia due to a lack of full maintenance receipts. These records, along with my original sales contract, were stored in the glove compartment and stolen when the vehicle itself was stolen and later recovered — a theft tied to the well-documented vulnerability of this vehicle model, which is now the subject of a class action lawsuit. This complaint is now part of an open file with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office (File #[XXX]). From my research and the many comments I’ve received online, this is not an isolated issue — it appears Kia is denying a growing number of valid warranty claims in similar ways, despite clear evidence of engine failure tied to a known defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6

NHTSA ODI 11662642

My 2015 Kia Soul is experiencing ongoing, severe oil consumption. Despite having an extended warranty for rod bearing failure (15 years/150,000 miles), my Kia dealership refuses to perform an oil consumption test because my vehicle has slightly exceeded 100,000 miles (currently at ~106,500). I brought the vehicle in multiple times for oil loss before reaching 100,000 miles, but no one informed me that a test existed or was needed. The car burns through oil every 3,000 miles or less, sometimes with no oil showing on the dipstick before the next change. It often chugs or knocks, but no warning lights currently appear. I previously received engine codes P1326, P0011, and P0014, and I did receive the KSDS update. The dealership told me I must wait for the engine to fail to qualify for replacement. This is unsafe for me and other drivers. Kia Consumer Affairs has confirmed I’m under warranty, but no solution has been offered to prevent a dangerous breakdown. I am concerned that this is a widespread issue that is being ignored unless the vehicle fails completely. I’ve been instructed by Kia service staff to continue topping off oil to avoid engine damage. However, by doing so, I am also preventing the P1326 code from triggering—effectively disqualifying me from warranty help. I’m forced to choose between protecting my car or triggering a code to qualify for repair. This puts consumers at risk and creates an unfair barrier to accessing the warranty coverage Kia advertises.

NHTSA ODI 11662441

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The engine misfired and the transmission shuttered. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed catalytic converter. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ODI 11659455

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat belt failed to latch and lock securely. The rear middle seat belt was difficult to close. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the oxygen sensor and catalytic converter were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted, and informed the contact that a diagnostic test was needed. The failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA ODI 11657147

Hello, I own currently a car, Kia Soul 2015 , I bought it from car auction, it was recovered after theft! The car is clean title! When I got it home a mechanic looked at it and told me the piston rod came out through the engine block and engine is seized up and this is a common problem for this model of Kia, piston rod is damaging the block , oil spilling and catching fire and he told me I need to go to the dealership because some people get their cars fixed if they meet the criteria for recall! Also I saw there is one more open recall this car has related to power steering that can lead to accidents if not fixed! I towed my car to Kia dealership and they told me they can't fix my recalls because I bought the car from auction! And I paid 180$ for the inspection they did! They didn't even saw the piston rod came out of block and damaged the piston and the block! They told me I have a broken piston! So is it true if you bought a car from auction they don't fix the recals anymore ? This doesn't make any sense to me! The recall is not a warranty I guess, it shouldn't expire because it can create dangerous situations on the road! So I want to know what can I do in this case to have the recalls fixed! I also asked them for a note about inspection they did and they didn't gave me anything! Thank you!

NHTSA ODI 11655733

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking and ticking sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that while slowing down to come to a stop, the engine sounded very weak, as if the vehicle was going to shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, and that the catalytic convertor, knock sensor, and the exhaust gasket were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 101,725.

NHTSA ODI 11653528

No early warning lights displayed, but traveling on the interstate in this Kia Soul, having only 74,000 original miles on it when sudden knocking began. Had to quickly get to a stopping point and eventually have the vehicle towed. Mechanic reported is the very common Theta II motor issue where a spun bearing has occurring and could have easily locked up the engine, causing safety risks. Only after the start of the knocking did the oil lamp indicator begin to flicker; was not even a stead light. Indications are that though some recalls were made for this model, this vehicle was not included, and many others have reported similar issues on the same model.

NHTSA ODI 11652658

High temperatures catalytic converter code went on the car was stalling on the highway as soon as I hit 60 MPH as I was getting on the car will not accelerate like if the engine was going to come out which also caused my car to overheat which was smelling like burnt oil called the dealer regarding this issue and compared to the recalls on the other KIA which is exactly what's happening to my car.

NHTSA ODI 11651676

Multiple cylinder misfires detected. Knocking/clacking present when symptoms occur. Inspected engine oil and found metal precent, engine has an internal failure and would need to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11651204

The concern, is that Kia recently (2023) recalled the BMS (and potentially the HV Battery) for vehicles as old as 2015 on the Koa Soul EV, and their warranty on said parts is 10 yrs or 100k miles. The concern is that there is no extended warranty period FOR the cars. So if the cars fail again within a yr, you end up paying out of pocket for the repairs. There are plenty of forum posts that talk about their batteries being replaced with re-manufacturered, only to need to be teplaced AGAIN within less than a yr. I think Kia needs to be forced to extend the warranty on these batteries to cover any potential future issues.

NHTSA ODI 11649896

car keeps dying as going down the road.almost completely dies then kicks back in.have had it in several times always says something differant.has around 78000 miles.bought it new in 2015 have had it several times for same issue.have almost gotten in wrecks due to it dying out of the blue!!!

NHTSA ODI 11649671

The component that malfunctioned is the catalytic converter, which became clogged due to excessive oil consumption from the engine. The oil consumption likely resulted in oil entering the exhaust system and contaminating the catalyst, causing it to lose its efficiency. The dealer replaced the engine but failed to inspect and replace the catalytic converter, which was clogged due to oil consumption from the engine. Yes, the catalytic converter is available for inspection and can be physically examined by a mechanic or technician to confirm the issue. The clogging of the catalytic converter resulted in poor engine performance, to include reduced acceleration, high rough idling and risk of fire. This lead to dangerous driving conditions, the vehicle stalled and had trouble accelerating. The issue of a clogged catalytic converter due to oil consumption has been confirmed by dealer. They performed diagnostic tests and read the vehicle's diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that indicated problems with the catalytic converter. No, the dealer relayed that they did not inspect the catalytic converter. Yes, I noticed symptoms prior to the catalytic converter clogging. Check engine light coming on. Reduced engine performance, sluggish acceleration. These symptoms occurred the day the vehicle became incapacitated. Rough idling was happening over time, during winter months.

NHTSA ODI 11649783

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11649496

My headlights turn off when I use my blinkers. They also flicker sometimes.

NHTSA ODI 11648970

I was making a left turn onto a street and the check engine light started flashing and the car immediately went into limp mode. Code is showing p1326

NHTSA ODI 11648806

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); and the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic was updated to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. After the recall repair was completed, the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was not repaired. The check engine warning light remained constantly illuminated. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11646160

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11645317

My daughter was driving my car on [XXX] when suddenly there was a pop and the car stopped working. Honestly she could have been killed but by the grace of God nobody was behind or aside her and she was able to coast over to the breakdown lane. This could have been a very different story. An independent mechanic notated engine failure codes, a worn crank shaft which triggered a sensor to seize the engine or go into “limp mode” then heavy metal in the engine oil. Maintenance was performed and AAA unaccompanied towed the vehicle to Wagner Kia in Shrewsbury MA the next day after a storm passed. Wagner Kia then refused to service the vehicle or acknowledge any responsibility. I contacted Kia America and opened a claim and again they denied any responsibility closing out the claim within 48 hours although the company has had class action lawsuits against this make/model and year of car. This is truly a nightmare where the little man wallet takes a hit while being bullied by a large corrupt corporation. I then accepted an offer on the car for what it is worth in its current condition and took a loss of over $4,000.00 on an auto loan that I had to pay off the balance of and hundreds of dollars of repairs over the past few months. This vehicle also suddenly had an evaporation leak prior to the event which cost myself even more money. I do believe when you engine suddenly shuts off with no warning on a highway and could have killed everyone in the car that it should be reported and taken seriously by the manufacturer and dealership. Thank you for hearing our family’s story- INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11644879