What 898 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Soul EV

Check engine light its been on for at least 25000 milles took it to a dealer to have it fix and they sayd its not covered under warranty even though car has a bumber to bumper warranty for 10 years or 100000 milles, currently have 88000 milles Dealer adviced that I had to replace upstream and downstream catalytic sensor and so i did with money out of pocket. Problem was not resolved and now they said i have to replace catalytic converter and that they don't cover under warranty. How come a car that is less than 100000 miles will need new catalyst? This is not good for the environment and kia should be responsible at least for 100000 milles. I asked the dealer that other same model and year cars have a recall to replace rear piston and catalytic converter due to overheating and they said my car does not qualify. Check engine light is still on and they want me to pay to diagnose it and whatever is needed its at my expense.

NHTSA ODI 11502924

When driving this Vehicle my daughter was in a single car acciedent. The engine combusted. The piston rod went into engine. When we took it to the auto shop this is what they told us casued the engine to malfunction and my daughter run off the road. She is very luck she has not been hurt more than she has. We have tried to contact KIA. First we called Royal KIa in Tuscon then Jim Clickk Kia in Tucson. They told me it did not matter that the vehicke had a recalll. We would be financially responsable for fixing it. They would not even alow me to bring it in, THey asked us to csll Kia. Kia was no help. They said that if the car was over 150,000 miles they would not fix a recall. My daughter was in an acciedent due to malfuntion! At this point I did reach out to another dealership in Mesa AZ. If they can not help we need to take legal action. The exact same thing that the engine had a recall on is what happemed to our kia, No one will anwser or fix a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11501901

This 2015 Kia Soul has recalls for oil leaks but VIN has not been recalled. In 2020 check engine light was flashing and then stayed on. I drove to dealer it was bought. Kia Pride dealer on the Lynnway in Lynn, MA. said it was a knock sensor problem and needed repair. After, about six months later, check engine repeated to go on. At the Pride dealer, they updated software issues, that was what Pride dealer said. Around December, 2021, I asked to replace and change oil with synthetic oil. Three weeks , check engine light was on again. Upon this event, brought Kia Soul to Pride dealer. They suggested to drive car 1,000 miles and then return to dealer to see if the Kia Soul was consuming more oil that is allowed by Kia manufacturer. Last week drove Soul back to Pride Kia. Their customer service person said it was burning more oil in between oil changes above their protocol. Pride dealer suggested they perform a consumption test and a combustion cleaning. I did do what they recommended and and on Friday 13, 2023 paid $563.00. I was told to drive Kia Soul another 1,000 miles and return to Pride dealer , and the would determine next action step, or it could be fixed. Today Saturday 14,2023, check engine stayed on and car was stalling when given gas. The KIA Soul is back ar the Pride dealer. On Thursday 12, 2023, I spoke with Lisa at the Kia customer service center. A case file was opened , number is 15262414. Lisa informed me that because of the 2020 engine, I might be covered if engine needs further repair. I called Kia customer service center on Friday 13,2023 and spoke to Miranda and asked confirm, and inquire why the Kia Soul I drive has not been recalled. Other 2015 Kia Soul have been recalled for oil leaks and engine heating up. The two recall numbers are 20V750000 and 19V120000. What can I do about getting help from theNHTSA, if the Pride Kia dealer does not repair the 2015 Kia I drive. Alfred DiCenso adice1234@icloud.com 781.731.2221

NHTSA ODI 11501819

The contact's cousin owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her cousin was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound and then lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with connecting rod and rod bearing failure. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced but declined the engine replacement due to a lack of adequate oil change records. The contact stated that her cousin had owned the vehicle for less than a year. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11501248

Traveling at approximately 75 mph on interstate and check engine light began to flash, car lost power directly in front of tractor trailer, car was pulled over onto an exit ramp, car was rattling/knocking, brakes would not stop the car when applied. The car was moving slowly enough up the exit ramp that once it came to a stop it began to roll backwards. Unable to stop the car from rolling by applying the brakes, had to shift the car to park to stop it. Car was towed approximately 30 miles to the nearest dealership. Dealership diagnosed as needing a new engine.

NHTSA ODI 11501165

Engine failure due to campaign 19120000. I was never notified via phone or mail back in 2020 when this was released. Now it’s not being honored. I’ve been placed on hold, spoke with someone who then put me on another hold and back out to the beginning of the hold process. My car is doing exactly this in this campaign # and while doing so multiple other failures are following.

NHTSA ODI 11500526

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 15-20 MPH and pulling into a gas station, she heard abnormal clicking sounds coming from the engine and the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle shut off after 10 seconds. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine was blown. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that they would not repair the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) as she had failed to complete an unknown software update on the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine was previously replaced in 2020 by a Toyota dealer due to rod bearing failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

NHTSA ODI 11499184

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The driver stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that his daughter was able to steer the vehicle off the roadway and then stopped the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the catalytic converter, and the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11499270

In 2019 my check engine light came on and there was an issue with the Catalytic converter i had 65,000 miles on the car, my car burns oil and has a rough idle, now 48,000 miles later check engine light is on again and it needs a new Catalytic converter, i feel like this is a a safety concern that is related to the engine issue that they are catching fire. the deal says this isnt a warranty issue since it was already covered under warranty in 2019

NHTSA ODI 11498414

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle made abnormal ticking sounds. The vehicle then appeared to be hydroplaning though the road was dry. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving and exited the highway. The contact veered to the side of the road and noticed a trail of oil on the roadway. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the connecting rod had dislodged and had become embedded in the engine block, causing an engine oil leak. Additionally, it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was in the process of being diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that she needed to provide 7-years of service record on the vehicle before considering whether to repair the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). However, the VIN was included, and the failure was related to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,200. The consumer stated after several attempts to get the problem rectified they made the decision to scrap the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11497791

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the catalytic converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the failure occurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11497202

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that engine had developed a fuel leak and was leaking engine oil. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the vehicle did not qualify for an engine replacement. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11496592

On 11/14/22 I was driving on the freeway in my 2015 Kia soul, when the acceleration ability began to slowly decrease, eventually to nothing at all. No lights or anything on my dash area indicated what was happening, nor had I ever experienced this before. I was able to safely pull over to the right shoulder of the road. This was around 10pm at night so fortunately not a ton of people on the road to lose acceleration. Then my car would not start. I called AAA. I get 7 free miles of towing with them so I had it towed to the nearest auto mechanic store. The mechanics determined through a series of checks that it was the catalytic converter (not stolen, but congested, so needing to be replaced)— please see the “notes” section from the mechanic invoice. I am not sure if it would be available upon request at this point, likely not, but the mechanic could be called/asked. The mechanic was able to begin repairs the following day, and then I learned Kia might be able to reimburse me based on a catalytic converter recall for my make/model/year of car. My car is only about 7 years old so it seems odd that this significant of a repair would need to take place. I contacted Kia customer service for a reimbursement request via web submission on 11/19/22. On 11/29 I called Kia and spoke to someone on the phone. The representative told me that the catalytic converter recall was not for my exact engine type. He then indicated I report my problem to safecar.gov, and potentially this might be a problem more people with my engine of my make/model/year have experienced. I did not know about this website or that recalls developed from this! Very cool!

NHTSA ODI 11495723

While driving my father-in-law in his 2015 Kia Soul to ironically get a lube and oil service done on the vehicle, there was a loud "pop," immediately followed by smoke coming out of the engine compartment and rear of the vehicle. Almost immediately, the engine shut down, and I pulled the vehicle over. There were no warning lamps indicating any kind of problem with the engine up to that point. Thankfully, there were two off-duty wild land firefighters that had been traveling the same roadway behind us, and they pulled over to help us. They got us out of the vehicle and immediately called 911. Once we were far enough away from the vehicle, they told us that when they heard the "pop" they saw flames shooting out the back of the vehicle. While waiting for the fire department to arrive, they checked to make sure that the fire was out, which it was. The fire department arrived, and determined that it was safe to have the vehicle towed, which we did, to our local Kia dealership. The service department inspected the vehicle and determined that there was a piston rod that broke and shot out the engine, leaving a "silver dollar size hole." The service department has since said that it was due to customer neglect, and refuses to help. Similarly, the insurance company is no longer willing to cover anything. My father-in-law tried to have the current recall for the overheating catalytic converter, however our local Kia dealership refused the repair saying the car didn't qualify for the recall, and instead tried to charge $1400 to complete the repair. I believe the necessary repair was a software download. Everyone traveling that roadway was in danger. My father-in-law and I were in danger. The residents in the adjacent neighborhood were in danger. Kia needs to stop blaming these issues on their customers and take care of these problems before they get hit with wrongful death lawsuits.

NHTSA ODI 11495488

As I was driving up a hill close to my house, there was suddenly a loud popping noise from the front of the vehicle and very quickly the cab of the car was filled with thick black smoke. I quickly exited the car and saw that the entire engine was completely engulfed in flames. I initially tried to throw snow on the fire but realized that it was already totally out of control and unable to be put out. I ran away to a safer distance from the vehicle and called 911. The entire car was completely engulfed in the flames by the time the police and fire department responded. It still took about ten minutes for the fire to be extinguished by the fire department. The vehicle is a complete loss including many personal items that I was unable to recover. There was absolutely no warning of any issues with the engine such as a notification from a gauge indicating that the engine was over heating or any other warning lights showing any issues. I maintained the vehicle with regular oil changes and other standard maintenance. It only had 41,000 miles on if at the time of the fire. I expected it to last for many more years. Thankfully my son and our dog was not with me at the time.

NHTSA ODI 11494187

Engine consumes excessive amount of oil before next oil change that causes catalytic converter to clog and the car not to perform well. This is a known Kia issue and everyone should be eligible for the engine recall. This is dangerous and cars have been catching fire over this issue. Kia knows and they refuse to fix the issue for 2015 Kia soul + owners.

NHTSA ODI 11493758

NEGLIGENCE OF AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL Please refer to file attached, all details included in file attached

NHTSA ODI 11493234

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved DTC codes P007 and P008 and informed the contact that the camshaft sensors and crank shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. While driving, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic who informed him that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the timing chain, sensors, camshaft and the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the engine would be check for possible metal shavings in the oil. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 11492159

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine had consumed a quart and a half of oil under a thousand miles. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

NHTSA ODI 11490793

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was making knocking sounds. The contact stated that his wife inspected the engine oil and found no oil in the engine. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer declined to perform NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) associated with the VIN due to an unrepaired ECU product improvement campaign of which the contact had not yet received notification. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11490561

Cylinder misfire on 1 and 2. Loss of compression on one cylinder. Loss of power, frequent oil additions. Engine shuttering/stalling. Engine warning light alternating solid/flashing. Dangerous to drive due to unpredictable stalling, loss of power/acceleration. Local KIA Dealer claimed couldn't find a problem after a week, told to replace catalytic converter. Local muffler shop said cannot replace catalytic converter until engine issue(s) addressed. Appears to be a common problem that no one wishes to address, leaving me at a loss as to what to do.

NHTSA ODI 11490621

My 2015 Kia Soul recently went out of service. One day last month my car randomly started stalling and shaking to the point of barely being drivable. There were no signs or dashboard lights. Thursday, September 15th, 2022, I took my car to a local repair shop and they ran a diagnostic that came back as a bad Catalytic Converter on Friday, September 16th, 2022. According to the mechanic, the converter nearest the engine had broken off and pieces of it had gotten into my engine and fuel line resulting in a need for a new converter and a complete engine flush. The mechanic pulled up a recall and suggested that the car be taken to the dealership as this particular issue should have been covered under that recall. He suggested that I no longer drive the car prior to getting it repaired for my and my children's safety as my engine could have blown up at any time and caught fire. Also on Friday, September 16th, 2022, I had the vehicle towed to the Kia dealership in Napleton Mid Rivers as advised by the mechanic. The car was towed to the dealership where I made them aware of the issue and I was advised they would have to perform a second diagnostic to confirm. Monday, September 19, 2022, I get a text message from Dennis Gearhart, a service advisor for Kia - who informs me that their diagnostic came back showing that I need a replacement Catalytic Converter, oil change, and minor tune-up. Dennis advised me that the repair would cost over $2800 and would not be covered under the recall because I'm no longer under warranty and the recall was marked as done. Upon further questioning - I was advised that the service advisor in May 2019 did NOT perform a replacement under the recall because it "didn't need it" yet here I am less than 7 years after getting a new engine from KIA and I'm being told to rectify an issue they were responsible for fixing and yet refuse to mitigate. They placed my and my family's life in danger due to the negligence of their staff!

NHTSA ODI 11490246

My car just shut down out of the blue. There was no warning of any sort as far as anything showing that needed repair with my vehicle. It just started jerking one day. I took it to the Kia dealership and they confirmed that it was due to the recall part but will not fix the part.

NHTSA ODI 11489225

I’ve had my check engine light come on ever since I bought the vehicle and the code is for catalytic converter, my car overheats and does not properly shift right engine is very shaky and unstable while driving on the road. I don’t know why my Kia doesn’t qualify for the recall when it’s having the exact issues that the recalls state

NHTSA ODI 11489119

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, a loud boom sound came from the engine without warning. The contact pulled over and upon inspection of the hood, she discovered flames emitting from the vehicle. Two fellow motorists witnessed the fire and were able to draw water from a nearby ditch to extinguish the fire before the fire department. A fire report was not filed once they arrived at the scene. No injuries were reported. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer a diagnostic discovered that a rod had blown through the engine block. The contact then discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000(Engine); however, both the dealer and the manufacturer notified her that the vehicle was not under the recall. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer but had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11488942