What 898 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Soul EV

WHILE GETTING READY FOR A 160 MILES TRIP, A FRIEND OF MINE CHECK THE ENGINE OIL AND FOR OUR SURPRISE IT WAS OFF STICK..NO OIL BUT THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD NEVER GOT ON AS A WARNING. I TOOK IT TO WALMART AND YES, THEY MADE THE OIL CHANGE WITH THE NOTE ON PAPERS THAT IT HAD LITTLE OIL ONLY...WHY THIS HAPPENED ON A KIA SOUL 2015 WITH ALMOST 50,000 MILES?..I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND WHAT MIGHT HAPPENED IF I WERE GOING INTO THE 160 MILES TRIP WITHOUT OIL?..VERY RISKY..I THINK

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CAR WON'T START WHEN COLD. IT HAPPENED WHEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME OVER 3 OR 4 HOURS. CAN BE JUMPED TO START ,AND IF I CHARGE IT OVER NIGHT IT WILL START 2 OR 3 TIMES BUT WILL THEN NOT START. WHEN TRYING TO START IT MAKES A SERIES OF CLICKS AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL FLICKER. IT BEGAN THE WINTER OF 2018 AND WAS FINE ALL SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL. NOW THAT IT'S GETTING COLDER AGAIN IT IS BACK TO NOT WANTING TO START

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THE CAR COMPUTER IS NOT REGISTERING THE CORRECT GEAR THE CAR IS PLACED INTO, THUS CAUSING THE CAR TO BYPASS CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURES. THE CAR'S POWER TRAIN, ELECTRIC SYSTEMS, AND FUEL SYSTEMS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF FAILING NEUTRAL SAFETY INHIBITOR. THE CAR READS THAT THE GEAR IS IN DRIVE INSTEAD OF PARK AND WILL NOT TURN OVER. THOUSANDS OF OTHER KIA CUSTOMERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUES SINCE 2010 WITH NO RESOLUTION. DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP THE CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS DO NOT PICK UP ON THIS SIGNAL FAILURE. THE SEND CAR OWNERS AWAY SAYING THE VEHICLE IS IN GREAT CONDITION ONLY FOR THE CAR TO STALL ON THE HIGHWAY UNEXPECTEDLY A FEW DAYS LATER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND THE CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN NO OPTION BUT TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. JUST CHECK OUT THE NUMEROUS YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF CUSTOMERS ALL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES ACROSS MULTIPLE KIA MODELS STARTING IN 2010.

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DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN USE. UPON INSPECTION THE CONNECTION TO THE BULB SOCKET WAS FOUND MELTED AND BLACK

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STALL HOWEVER, MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE CONTACT ALSO, STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN AS WELL AS A HUMMING AND A CLICKING SOUND WAS AUDIBLE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER SUN TRIP KIA (6263 SOUTH LUMBER BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO.) BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

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MY VEHICLE IS HAVING ISSUES STARTING. THE STARTER AND BATTERY HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED ALREADY. I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND SOON AS I DROVE AWAY IT STALLED AND I WAS STRANDED. I HAVE READ NUMERIOUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. I NEED HELP.

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TAKALA RECALL WHEN I PUSH ON GAS PEDAL IT TAKES 3-10 SECONDS TO KICK IN ACTS LIKE ITS NOT GETTING ANY GAS LET UP ON GAS PEDAL THEN IT KICKS INHAPPENS 3-4 TIMES A DAY THE WINDOW WORKS WHEN SLID DOWN DOESN'T TAKE A HOLD WHEN TRY TO RAISE IT BACK UP BUT NOT ALL TIME WE DON'T DO WINDOW A LOT DUE TO THAT PROBLEM ON RIGHT SIDE FRONT WHILE IN MOTION THEN STOPPING AND TRYING TO STOP AGAIN GAS PEDAL DOESN'T KICK IN CAR IS SLUGGISH TAKES A BIT TO GO

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KIA SOUL 2015 STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SERVICE CENTER BLAMES BAD BATTERY. ALSO CAR STRANDS ME BY FAILING TO START TWENTY MINUTES LATER IT STARTS FINE. I BLAME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN OUT MY BATTERY. BAD BATTERY OR NOT, A CAR SHOULD NOT FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO A BAD OR LOW BATTERY. THIS IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED.

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THE AIR AND HEAT STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. I TOOK IT TO ARAPAHOE KIA IN CENTENNIAL, CO. THEY TOLD ME THE BLOWER MOTOR HAD FAILED. I HAD ANOTHER SHOP LOOK AT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THE WIRING TO THE BLOWER MOTOR HAD COMPLETELY MELTED. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A SHORT THAT LIT THE WIRES ON FIRE. LUCKILY, IT DID NOT IGNITE THE WHOLE CAR LIKE SOME OTHER CASES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HATFIELD KIA (1455 AUTO MALL DR, COLUMBUS, OH 43228, (855) 226-5444) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STARTER FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. DURING THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,400.

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THE LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN I TURN MY TURN SINGLE ON OR WHEN I SWITCH FROM LOW BEAMS TO HIGH BEAMS.IT HAPPENS STANDING STILL OR MOVING.IT STARTED AWHILE AGO DON'T KNOW THE MONTH IT WAS SOMETIME LAST YEAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A NEIGHBOR ALERTED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS FILED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT CALLED DRIVE TIME AT (832) 325-4380 (LOCATED AT 11205 GULF FREEWAY, HOUSTON, TX 77034) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY PIGTAIL FAILED TO FUNCTION AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHTS WERE SHORTING AND BEGAN TO FLICKER. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO GET THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THEY CONTINUED TO FLICKER AND SHORT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC KIA (902 WALTON DR, TEXARKANA, TX 75503, (903) 793-4623) WHO REPLACED THE BULB. WITHIN A WEEK, THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN. CLASSIC KIA WAS CONTACTED AGAIN AND WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PART. THE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FLICKER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO CROWN KIA (2001 W LOOP 281, LONGVIEW, TX 75604, (903) 759-4667) WHO WAS ABLE TO SUPPLY THE PIGTAIL AND LIGHT, WHICH WAS REPLACED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE A SECOND TIME. MONTHS LATER, THE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FLICKER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFED MONTHS LATER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, BUT A DEFECT WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. IT WAS JUST DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. FIRE DEPT SAID IT WAS TOO BURNED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. ONLY THE MOTOR BURNED, NOT THE REST OF CAR. THE MOTOR UP TO 2 FRONT TIRES GLOVE COMPARTMENT MELTED. UPDATED 8/30/18*JB

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KIA USES SOY BASED COATING/INSULATION ON ALL THEIR WIRING & HOSES, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING DAMAGED BY RODENTS. THE WINDSHIELD WASHER HOSE ON MINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO RODENTS. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH ONLINE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT MORE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS BEING DAMAGED BY RODENTS AS WELL, AND KIA STATING IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY, AND/OR IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT. MY CAR WAS DAMAGED BY THESE RODENTS WHILE SITTING PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT BUILDING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND CAME BACK ON APPROXIMATELY A SECOND LATER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BROWNS KIA IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,543.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLUGS WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAILURE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 11/06/17*LJ *JS

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CONTINUOUSLY HAVING MY BATTERY GO DEAD, BUT LOCKS AND LIGHTS WORK AT THE TIME THE. ARTERY IS DEAD. WHEN YOU GO TO START THE CAR YOU HEAR A SERIES OF CLICKS,BUT WON'T TURN OVER. WHEN YOU GO TO JUMP START THE BATTERY IT TAKES ONLY 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE TO START. THEY HAVE CHECKED MY BATTERY AND CAR OUT AND CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.

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THE VEHICLE STIBILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT WANT , WHICH IS THE PART OF THE (ABS). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIMES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH NO LUCK. THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. I DO ALSO HEAR A CLICKING NOISE FROM TH DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE FOR COUPLE OF FEET BUT WENT AWAY. NO CODES PRESENT AT ALL A CORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THEY CHECKED. DOE TO THE PHOTOS WHICH MY WIFE AND I HAVE TAKEN DURING THE PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED TO CHECK THE AUTO. THE WIFE AND I HAVE WAITED SEVERAL HRS. AT THE DEALERSHIP, BUT STILL NO LUCK FOR THE LIGHT OR THE CLICKING SOUND TO COME ON. THE WIFE AND I ARE VERY UNSATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS AT THIS TIME. IT SEEMS LIKE (REPLACE THE ABS) CONTROL MODEL SHOULD ELIMINATE THE PROBLRM.

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CHRONIC DEAD CAR. BATTERY TESTS FINE, NO DRAWS AND WAS REPLACED TO ENSURE FAILURES WERE NOT THE BATTERY. 30 DAYS OUT OF SERVICE TO DATE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CANNOT DIAGNOSE ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN NOISES FROM FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD WHILE CAR IS DEAD. CLICKING NOISES INSIDE CAR, WHEN CAR IS DEAD.

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CAR BATTERY SEEMED DEAD THOUGH WHEN I TURNED THE KEY THE LIGHTS GO ON AND FLICKERING SOUND BUT DOESN'T CATCH. WHEN JUMP STARTED IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG MAYBE TWO MINUTES AND CAR STARTED.

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YOU CRANK THE CAR THE DOORS LOCK. YOU LOSE ELECTRIC POWER YOU CAN'T OPEN THE DOORS!! NO WAY TO GET OUT OF CAR!! WAS LUCKY ONE WINDOW WAS DOWN!!ALL DOORS NEED TO BE ABLE TO OPEN WITH OUT POWER< WHAT IF ON FIRE OR IN WATER?? THE CAR WAS SETTING IN PARKING LOT OF WALMART LISTING TO RADIO AND THE BAT RAN DOWN!!

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MY KIA SOUL ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS OPERATE IN A RANDOM AND DANGEROUS FASHION. I UNLOCKED THE CAR AND PUT MY PUPPY IN THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DOOR NOT KNOWING THAT MY KEYS WERE STILL IN THE CAR; ALL THE DOORS IMMEDIATELY LOCKED AND I HAD TO BREAK THE WINDOW TO SAVE THE DOG. OTHER TIMES ONE OR TWO DOORS WILL LOCK. THE DELAY IN LOCKING IS RANDOM AND UNRELIABLE. CAR WAS IN PARKING LOT. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE DISABLED UNTIL KIA REVIEWS OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. THERE SHOULD BE A CONSISTENT TIME DELAY BEFORE DOORS LOCK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,600. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER. UPDATED 03/30/16.*JB

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MY SON WAS IN A REAR-END COLLISON IN HIS 2015 KIA SOUL, THAT ALSO PUSHED HIM INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF HIM. MY SON WAS AT A STOP AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM, WHEN A MID SIZED SUV DOING APPROXIMATELY 30-40MPH SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES AND REAR ENDED MY SON. THE SOUL'S BUMPER WENT UNDERNEATH THE CHEVY TAHOE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHEN POLICE AND EMS SHOWED UP AND ASKED HIM IF HE COULD DRIVE IT OFF THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE STARTED, BUT ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT WORK. THEY PUSHED IT OFF THE ROAD. AFTER TOWING TO THE BODY SHOP, THE OWNER SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW WHY THE AIRBAGS HADN'T DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN SEVERED IN THE CRASH. THE TOWING COMPANY WAS HESITANT TO TOW BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID IT MAY GO OFF. THE SOUL HAD AN ESTIMATE OF $15,753.75 IN DAMAGE AND THEREFORE TOTALED...BUT HIS AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF.

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