What 898 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Soul EV

Involved in wreck air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11640273

November 26, 2024 Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a serious safety concern regarding my 2015 Kia Soul. On [XXX], I was involved in a severe car accident. Despite the significant impact, the airbag system failed to deploy. I have attached photos of the vehicle damage for your reference. This incident is particularly alarming as the vehicle had recently been serviced for recalls at Phil Smith Kia (4250 N Federal Hwy, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064). The failure of the airbag system to deploy raises serious concerns about the safety and quality control of Kia vehicles. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this incident thoroughly and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of all Kia vehicle owners. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. Sincerely, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11627470

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. At 4-way intersection w/ traffic light other driver going northbound blew through their red light (maybe on phone or other distraction) at what seemed like a high speed. I was driving westbound at about 30/35mph with a clear green light. Was able to avoid getting t-boned in my door, but couldn't avoid t-boning other car's passenger door (older 2 door F150). My insurance company going to total my car (see pics). My airbags didn't deploy. Friends/relatives have told me their air bags went off in crashes at lower speeds. I hit my head on the left side frame and my head is still sore. The seat belt pretensioner system did work as designed as passenger in my car and I are both sore w / bruises on collar bone, chest, and hip where seat belt clips in so we know it worked. But lots of other bruises/soreness. Air Bags seem defective.

NHTSA ODI 11587547

My vehicle was stolen and crashed but the air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11574970

I was involved in a head on collision with a F250 truck and the airbags did not deploy. I did hit my head on the steering wheel and have a bruise above my eye and some scratches on my knee. I had pain in my shoulder from seat belt. I took off from work on 2/2 to take care of car getting towed and I went to care now to be checked out and they sent me to the ER for a possible scan, but once doctor checked me out they decided there was no need for a scan. I do not have any more information from my insurance company other than the body shop were car was towed to said it was a total loss and there is no reason they could find that the air bag did not deploy. I have owned the car since may of last year and have been to sent 2 safety recall 1 for the catalytic converter and 1 for try to stop kia soul from being stolen. these are the only one I have received

NHTSA ODI 11570550

I was involved in an accident where my 2015 Kia Soul was struck from the rear end at a high rate of speed, left the roadway, hit a concrete culver, became airborne, jumped/rolled across a driveway and went through two crosstie corner posts with no airbag deployment. My seat broke 3/4 of the way up due to impact. Unknown as to reason why airbags failed to deploy with frontal impacts and unknown as to component inspection as insurance took car away to auction. I feel that the failure of these items to deploy intensified the injuries I received in the wreck.

NHTSA ODI 11508975

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER'S BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT WHICH STOPPED ABRUPTLY. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURY FROM THE SEAT BELT STRAP ON THE LEFT SHOULDER. THE CONTACT WENT TO AN URGENT CARE THE NEXT DAY. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE PASSENGER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED A WHIPLASH. THERE WAS NO FURTHER DETAIL ON THE INDIVIDUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

NHTSA ODI 11233877

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

NHTSA ODI 10873398

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.

NHTSA ODI 10870591

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

NHTSA ODI 10818664

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

NHTSA ODI 10810812

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.

NHTSA ODI 10766295

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

NHTSA ODI 10712114

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

NHTSA ODI 10650225