What 898 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Soul EV

CAR PURCHASED NEW IN FEB 2016. CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 9,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND UPON ARRIVING AT HER DESTINATION PARKED THE CAR. ON EXITING THE VEHICLE SHE AND HER FRIEND NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD AT THE WINDSHIELD. THIS QUICKLY DEVELOPED INTO A SMALL FLAME. THE ENTIRE CAR WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE WITHIN THE 13 MINUTE RESPONSE TIME OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

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THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE ENGINE. UPON ARRIVING HOME FROM GROCERY STORE PASSENGER NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE KIA EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE WAS CALLED. THE LOCAL KIA DEALER DOESNT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY . KIA CORPORATE ISN'T MUCH HELP EITHER SAYING IT WILL BE 2-5 BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE SOMEONE FROM THERE WILL BE ABLE TO COME AND INSPECT IT. IN THE MEANTIME I AM STRANDED IN FORT WAYNE WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. AGAIN THE CAR IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY!!!!!!!!!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN, SHIFTER, AND BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEN TO THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V736000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM A CERVICAL STRAIN AND MILD THORACIC FACIAL STRAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THREE BROKEN RIBS, A PUNCTURED LUNG, FACE INJURIES, AND A CONCUSSION THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,709. UPDATED 07/13/16*LJ *CN

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE REVERSE GEAR, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V736000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THIS RECALL PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000.

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I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH ON HWY US1, CAR IN FRONT OF ME REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. I PLACED FOOT ON BRAKE AND DIDNT SEEM TO BE SLOWING QUICK ENOUGH. I THEN PLACED BOTH FEET ON BRAKE TO STOP AND STILL HIT THE CAR INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT.

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WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE BRAKES FAILED ON MY WIFE'S 2015 KIA SOUL. SHE PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY NEVER PRESSURIZED. FORTUNATELY THE AIRBAGS WORKED WELL, AND SHE WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE LEFT IN AN AMBULANCE. I TESTED THE BRAKES ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE BODY SHOP, AND THEY DID NOT PRESSURIZE THERE EITHER. THE CAR IS 9 MONTHS OLD, HAD ROUGHLY 9,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS NOT HAD ANY MECHANICAL WORK PERFORMED ON IT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED, ICE FELL ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE WIPER BLADES TO STOP FUNCTIONING. MOMENTS LATER, ELECTRICAL SMOKE WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER REMOVING THE ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,900.

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I WAS COMING OUT OF A RED LIGHT INTERSECTION AND WHEN I TRIED TURNING TO THE LEFT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN AND KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. IT TURNED MINIMALLY AND HIT THE CURB SCRATCHING THE 2 PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS (FRONT AND BACK). NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED AS I WAS ONLY AT MAYBE 20-30MPH. AS THE CAR ALIGNED WITH THE ROAD AGAIN I NOTICE THE STEERING IS 90% IMPAIRED. I STILL MANAGE TO DRIVE HOME AS THERE WERE VERY FEW CARS ON THE ROAD BUT THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY SOMETIMES, VERY STRONGLY VEER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I REMEMBER THERE WAS A RECALL LETTER I HAD RECEIVED AND WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED IT OUT AND IT DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME: "THE PINION PLUG WHICH SECURES THE PINION GEAR TO THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY MAY LOOSEN DUE TO THE USE OF ADHESIVE WITH INSUFFICIENT BONDING STRENGTH DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THE PLUG LOOSENS SUFFICIENTLY, THE PINION GEAR MAY SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND RESULT IN A CRASH.". I THINK IN MY CASE THIS PINION CAME COMPLETELY LOOSE AND THAT CAUSED THE CRASH. THE CAR WAS JUST TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP BUT NOW THEY WILL INSPECT AND DECIDE IF THAT WAS THE CASE OR NOT. WHAT IF THEY SIMPLY DECIDE THEY WILL SAY THIS WAS CAUSED TO SOMETHING ELSE AND NOT THE RECALL ISSUE?

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, VEERED LEFT, AND CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES, WHICH INCLUDED A SEVERED AORTA AND FRACTURED CERVICAL SPINE. THE CORONER INDICATED THAT THE FATAL INJURIES MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE AIR BAG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 02/02/16 *BF UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING SYSTEM WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSE THE ACCIDENT. UPDATED 02/10/16.*JB..UPDATED 03/16/16 *BF *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V736000 (STEERING). WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING, THE STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND, AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE UP ONTO A SIDEWALK, WHERE ALL FOUR TIRES WERE PUNCTURED, THE OIL PAN WAS DAMAGED, THE SUBFRAME WAS BENT, AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAIN BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION LOT WHERE THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATED FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER FIVE TIMES BEFORE CRASHING INTO A MAILBOX. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE LOCAL POLICE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE PARAMEDICS WERE AT THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

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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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I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND WAS REAR ENDED WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARD, BREAKING BACKWARD. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING @RAY SKILLMAN, 1300N. SHADELAND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN. THE SEAT IS BADLY DEFOMED AND BROKEN. I FEEL SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK THIS SEAT TO MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE HAS THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR IS TOTALED AND SHOULD BE CHECKED BEFORE IT IS DESTROYED. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WANT ADDITONAL INFORMATION.

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CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE AS IT PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT. ENDED UP STOPPING IN A STOREFRONT. NO SIGNIFICANT VISIBLE DAMAGE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALL THREE PASSENGERS (INCL ONE 3 YR OLD) WERE COMPLETELY UNSCATHED. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN FAIRMOUNT BLVD. I HIT A POT HOLE, CAUSING MY TIRE TO GO FLAT AND THE AIR BAGS CAME OUT. *TR

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