What 898 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Soul EV

DROVE UP A HILL FOR A DELIVERY. CAR STALLED HALF WAY UP THE HILL. TRIED TO RESTART CAR, WHEN DOING SO & PUT THE GEARS INTO DRIVE THE CAR ROLLED BACK SOME. WITH THIS, THE ENGINE & BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR THREE OR FOUR MORE TIMES. ON THE LAST ATTEMPT, THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. PUT THE CAR IN PARK & TURNED OFF THE IGNITION BUT THE CAR WASN'T STOPPING. IN PANIC MODE, DIDN'T TRY TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. ENDED UP HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. ON TOP OF THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE & THE OTHER PERSON'S, THE TWO PASSENGER TIRES OF MY VEHICLE BLEW OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11217866

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MATT BLATT KIA OF TOMS RIVER (LOCATED AT 1070 NJ-37, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08755, (732) 281-0000) TO BE DIAGNOSED. WHILE PARKED AT THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE OR THE FIRE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO VERIFY IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11196499

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE (PLASTIC) RUPTURED, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY PULLED OVER AND PASSER-BY STOPPED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. COST OF REPAIR IN EXCESS OF $5000, KIA CORPORATE REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER.

NHTSA ODI 11195838

VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER HORRIBLE RATTLING NOISE. DRIVING IN THE CITY GOING AROUND 25 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11194156

I WAS DRIVING TWENTY MILES PER HOUR. THE ENGINE WAS RATTLING THEN I LOST POWER. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER THAT.

NHTSA ODI 11191155

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STOPPED BY AND CHECKED THE OIL. THE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AS SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ALL STAR KIA EAST (225-490-7679, LOCATED AT 27700 JUBAN RD, BUILDING 3, DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 70726) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW SHORT BLOCK BE INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,704.

NHTSA ODI 11190488

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND A PASSERBY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE THAT IGNITED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11190214

I WAS DRIVING SOUTH BOUND ON RTE 295 IN WARWICK RI TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH IN A STRAIGHT PATTERN WHEN I HEARD A SNAP UNDER MY CAR. MY CAR SKID AND MY HYDROPLANE LIGHT, OIL LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW SPARKS. I PULLED OVER AND AT THIS TIME MY CAR STALLED. WHEN I EXITED MY VEHICLE THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY ENGINE. 911 WAS DISPATCHED AND MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN MINUTES AND WAS A TOTAL LOSE. THERE WAS A RECENT RECALL IN THE PISTONS CAUSING FIRE DAMAGE TO THE MODEL, MAKE AND YEAR OF MY CAR. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL AND IT WAS NEVER REPAIRED. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE PISTONS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER; NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000; KIA'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS SC176. I AM A AWAITING MY ACCIDENT REPORT AS THE INCIDENT JUST HAPPENED

NHTSA ODI 11187011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY, SMOKE BILLOWED FROM THE TAIL PIPE, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RALLY KIA (LOCATED AT 438 AUTO VISTA DR, PALMDALE, CA 93551, (661) 349-4639) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A SECONDARY DIAGNOSTIC FOUND A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 11183465

I WAS PULLING INTO A DISABLE PARKING SPACE. I PUSH MY BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKE. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK MY CAR CONTINUE TO GO WITHOUT STOPPING. I PUSH MY BRAKES MANY TIMES, PUSHING IT AS FAR AS I CAN. THE ONLY WAY IT STOP IS WHEN THE CAR HIT THE FAT ROUND CEMENT POLE. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING BRAKES. I'M JUST HAPPY THAT I WAS NOT ON ROAD. PLEASE REVIEW, THIS A DANGEROUS ISSUE,WHICH MAY CAUSE LIVES.

NHTSA ODI 11164351

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE CAR MADE A SOUND LIKE A BLOWN TIRE. I PULLED OVER ONLY TO FIND THAT IT WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO SOUNDS, NO CUES NO WARNING LIGHTS. TOTAL LOSS BY THE TIME FIRE DPT GOT THERE, NOTHING BUT A FRAME.

NHTSA ODI 11154128

ON 11/19/18 OUR 2015 KIA SOUL WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AT APPROX 4:30 PM AFTER ARRIVING HOME FROM WORK, 4 HOURS LATER IN EVENING WHILE WATCHING TV AT APPROX 8:33PM WE HEARD A LOUD POP OUTSIDE, WE BOTH RAN TO FRONT DOOR TO SEE THE KIA SOUL FRONT END INGULFED IN FLAMES RISING SO HIGH HITTING ROOF OF OUR GARAGE. I CALLED 911 WHILE BACKING OUR OTHER CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY AWAY FROM FLAMES, WHILE MY HUSBAND TRIED TO PUT OUT FIRE WITH EXTINGUSER AND WATER HOSE. THE FIREMEN ARRIVED AND FINISHED PUTTING OUT FIRE BUT KIA SOUL WAS TOTALED. KIA DEALERSHIP IN SARASOTA FL HAS NOT OFFERED ANY HELP OR ANSWERS. WE WENT ONLINE AND SEE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE KIAS BURSTING INTO FLAMES...THE MANUFACTURER HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! DAMAGE TO OUR HOME WAS ALSO DONE MELTING STUCCO, CHARING GARAGE DOOR AND CEMENT DRIVEWAY WHERE CAR BURNED. OUR HOME IS ONLY 1-1/2 YEARS OLD!

NHTSA ODI 11153421

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND, WITHIN TWO TO THREE MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STARTED AN INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. *TT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11152031

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, FLAMES APPEARED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND EXITED AS FLAMES QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE ARRIVED, BUT NO REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED BONIFACE HIERS KIA AT 321-951-9595 (LOCATED AT 880 S APOLLO BLVD, MELBOURNE, FL 32901) AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11139506

ATTEMPTING TO PARK: VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, BRAKE FAILED TO STOP OR DO ANYTHING. VEHICLE JUMPED OVER TIRE STOP THEN 8" MALL WALKWAY HITTING BUILDING AND STORE WINDOW.

NHTSA ODI 11129450

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. A CITIZEN EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM BONE KIA (1255 SANTA ROSA AVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95404, 707-545-7050) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11127964

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT'S SON EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11122204

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, THE 11TH OF AUGUST, 2018 AT 12 NOON. IN MOTION ON INTERSTATE I75 SOUTHBOUND. MEDIUM TRAFFIC, DRY AND CLEAR CONDITIONS. I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A ROCK OR OTHER ROAD DEBRIS HITTING THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER I STARTED HEARING A SORT OF TAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL THE GAUGES SHOWED NORMAL. I PULLED OVER THINKING I MAY HAVE PICKED UP SOMETHING UNDER MY CAR. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND EXAMINED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW NOTHING. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND CHANGED MY DESTINATION TO THE KIA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. I NOTICED THE NOISE INCREASING AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE ENGINE LOST LOST COMPRESSION. I THEN TURNED ON MY FLASHERS TO ALERT THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME. ABOUT THIS TIME THE LCD SCREEN TURNED WHITE AND HAD THE MESSAGE THAT THE SYSTEM MAY HAVE RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE FROM THE ENGINE AND NOTED THAT I SHOULD GET TO A KIA DEALER ASAP. THE SCREEN THEN WENT BLANK. I DROVE FOR ABOUT ANOTHER HALF A MILE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE DIED. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND I NOTICE "STEAM" COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON OPENING THE HOOD I SAW THE STEAM WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SHOOTING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, FROM UNDER THE OIL CAP. I TOOK A BLANKET FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR TO BEAT OUT THE FLAMES AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. AT THAT TIME I GOT AWAY FROM THE CAR AND DIALED 911. AT THAT TIME A TRUCKER HAD PULLED OVER AND CAME RUNNING BACK WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND DOUSED THE FLAMES. A FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED AND WROTE A REPORT WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SONS KIA OF MCDONOUGH, GA.

NHTSA ODI 11121719

I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 KIA SOUL ON MY NORMAL ROUTE TO WORK ON 4/5/18. IT WAS A DARK, CLEAR MORNING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS MOVING WITH TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. AT JUST ABOUT 5:30 A.M., THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE AND LOST ACCELERATION. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND PARK THE VEHICLE. I WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES WHEN I SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I EXITED THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. NO OTHER PERSONS OR VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND IT HAD HAD NO SIGNIFICANT MECHANICAL WORK IN THE 2 YEARS THAT I OWNED IT, JUST NORMAL OIL CHANGES AND A COUPLE OF SAFETY RECALLS. NEITHER THE FIREFIGHTER ON THE SCENE, NOR THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER, WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, ONLY THAT IT STARTED IN THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11089043

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.

NHTSA ODI 11083606

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH, THE MANUAL CLUTCH SLIPPED AND LOST FUNCTIONALITY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PITRE KIA (9640 EAGLE RANCH ROAD, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87114, (877) 887-1633) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 11075799

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

NHTSA ODI 11055326

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

NHTSA ODI 11021789

AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. I WAS DRIVING IN THE "B" MODE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, BUT LATER HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY REPORTED THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR FIGURE OUT WHAT CAUSED IT.

NHTSA ODI 10992957

I HIRED THIS CAR FROM THRIFTY RENTAL CARS, AND WAS IN A COLLISION ON THE I80 FREEWAY, WHEREIN I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT DURING STOP-START TRAFFIC, I WAS TRAVELLING WAY BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME IN PLACE, AND I FLEW FORWARD OVER THE STEERING WHEEL, AND HIT THE WINDSCREEN. I SUFFERED MILD CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, AND BRUISING DOWN THE FRONT OF MY BODY. I MAY HAVE ALSO PERMANENTLY DAMAGED MY NECK. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO THRIFTY, BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO TAKE ANY ACTION.

NHTSA ODI 10960215