What 800 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Soul

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the contact slowed down then merged into another lane when the vehicle decelerated inadvertently and would not accelerate above 2 mph. Another vehicle crashed into the middle of the front and rear passenger’s side door frames of the vehicle, which caused the doors to not be able to open. No medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the catalytic converter was clogged. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer Spradley Kia (2145 HWY 50 West, Pueblo, CO 81008) and a product improvement campaign and ECU software update was performed however, the failure recurred. The contact was made aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the dealer Spradley Kia did not perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that previous vehicle owner had not taken the vehicle in for the recall repair. The manufacturer offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 122,698.

NHTSA ODI 11427621

Catalytic converter failed, sending pieces into engine, causing engine to catch fire. Melted some major components while driving. Same thing as last MAJOR recall in which Kia Replaced my engine. so, this was a BRAND new 1 1/2 year old engine. This vehicle is currently at Keifer Kia in Eugene, OR awaiting Kia National to do their fire investigation.

NHTSA ODI 11425863

It suddenly didn't want to turn and made me wreck it and bent the tie rods or something

NHTSA ODI 11422503

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while turning on the vehicle as well as while driving, an oil odor was detected, a knocking sound was heard, and the vehicle was consuming excessive amounts of engine oil. The check engine light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who performed an oil change and stated that the catalytic converter was faulty. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer and the dealer performed a recall for the Engine Control Unit (ECU) software update however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The contact stated that smoke was seen coming from under the hood while driving. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that she needed to pay for the diagnostic and since the recall repair was not performed in 2018, the dealer was not responsible for the engine replacement under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine) for which the Vin was included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was 146,630.

NHTSA ODI 11422264

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AS SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONTACT'S FIANC ATTEMPTED TO MEET A TOW TRUCK DRIVER AT THE SCENE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT; HOWEVER, UPON ARRIVAL, THE VEHICLE WAS GONE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED TO ASHES. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT NOR A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,186.

NHTSA ODI 11414288

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THEY STARTING THEIR VEHICLE, THEY HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THEIR ENGINE. THE CONTACT CALLED AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER JEFFREY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP ( 30800 GRATIOT AVE, ROSEVILLE, MI 48066 PHONE: (586) 296-1300 ) WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE ENGINE PAN CAUSING THE KNOCK SENSOR TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE, HOWEVER TWO DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE CONTACT STATED THEIR HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 70 MPH AND APPROACHING HIGHWAY EXIT, THEY NOTICE BLACK SMOKING COMING FROM THE FRONT HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AND PULL INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AND WHERE THE CONTACT AND HER HUSBAND EXIT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE VEHICLE WHERE THEY SAW FAIR AMOUNT OF SPARKS AND FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID COME OUT AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NEED AT THE SCENE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE TOWED BY THE CONTACT INSURANCE PROVIDE WHERE THEY INSPECT THE VEHICLE STATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY OIL LEAK FROM THE REAR OF THE ENGINE AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,312.

NHTSA ODI 11412824

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE WHOLE CAR IS DAMAGED. THERE IS NO FRONT THE INTERIOR IS GONE. I HAVE STARTED A CASE WITH KIA. MY VEHICLE WAS GOING UP A HILL ABOUT 30 MINKES AN HOUR WHEN IT STARTED SMOKING. IT WAS PULLED OVER AND THE HOOD WAS POPPED. THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. SOON THE WHOLE FRONT AND MIDDLE OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THIS WAS AT 14000 JERICHO STREET AT THE ENTRANCE OF BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY IN BOWIE MD. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED.*DT*JB*DT*DT

NHTSA ODI 11403965

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND HAD JUST PULLED ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND HE HEARD A "POP" SOUND, SO HE PULLED OVER TO CHECK IT OUT. WHEN HE GOT OUT AND OPENED THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AND ENGULFED THE WHOLE CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING ANYTHING WAS WRONG PRIOR TO HIM HEARING THE SOUND. IT NEVER LOST POWER, NEVER HAD ANY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NEVER A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OVER HEATING LIGHT, LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT, NOTHING. IT WAS RUNNING 100% FINE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS, AND I AM JUST THANKFUL HE STOPPED AND GOT OUT AND IS SAFE AND DID NOT HAVE OUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH HIM AT THE TIME THIS OCCURED.

NHTSA ODI 11398734

DRIVING TO WORK AT 60 MPH CAR FELT LIKE CAT CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND BY THE TIME I PUT MY CAR IN PARK SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH IN 5 MINS FRONT OF MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED

NHTSA ODI 11395999

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. IT STARTED SMOKING AND SECONDS LATER CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY SON WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING, HE TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11390673

THE CRASH AT ABOUT 2:30AM EARLY TUESDAY MORNING ON NOV. 24, 2020, ON HER WAY HOME FROM HER NEARBY 2ND SHIFT JOB, MY WIFE'S 2016 KIA SOL WAS HIT HARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A CAR BEING PURSUED BY POLICE. LUCKILY, AND POSSIBLY BECAUSE MY WIFE IS SHORT AND SITS HIGH, SHE APPEARS UNINJURED ALTHOUGH VISIBLY SHAKEN AND VERY NERVOUS ABOUT NIGHT DRIVING. MY WIFE HAD PULLED HER CAR OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE 4+ LANE ROAD WHEN SHE HEARD SIRENS. WHILE PULLED OVER WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE PERPETRATOR'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PUSHED HER CAR SEVERAL FEET FURTHER TO THE RIGHT, CRUMPLING THE DOORS AND BREAKING OFF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AND SUSPENSION FROM THE IMPACT. THE POLICE REPORT SHOWED THAT THE PERPETRATOR'S VEHICLE APPROACHED HER CAR FROM THE FRONT LEFT, BUT THE VEHICLE HIT THE VERY SHORT KIA SQUARELY AND ONLY IN THE TWO DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OR REAR FENDERS. CLEARLY NOT SIDESWIPED WHERE THE ENTIRE SIDE WOULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. ALLSTATE INSURANCE TOTALED THE CAR AND PHOTOS FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND TOWING YARD ARE ATTACHED, AS IS THE POLICE REPORT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED! NONE OF THE KIA'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN LATE 2015 AND IT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY SERVICED SINCE THEN AT THE ORIGINAL KIA DEALER. THEY RECENTLY UPDATED THE CAR'S COMPUTER UNDER A KIA RECALL. ON DEC. 4, 2020, I CONTACTED THE KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER (KAYLEE C AT 949-468-4689) AND ASKED WHY THE AIRBAGS FAILED. AFTER LOOKING AT PHOTOS I SENT HER AND FROM THE COPART LOT, SHE QUICKLY SAID THE CAR WAS "SIDESWIPED AND NOT HIT HARD ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS". HER RESPONSE WAS PROTECTING KIA LINE AS ANY REVIEW OF THE PHOTOS SHOWS THAT HE CAR WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE VERY HARD AND NOT SIDESWIPED. I ASK THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT AS IT'S UNLIKELY THAT ONLY MY VEHICLE HAS THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW.

NHTSA ODI 11383822

UPON PARKING MY CAR I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UP UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE FIRE WAS DEEMED ELECTRICAL IN NATURE.

NHTSA ODI 11378375

ON OCTOBER 28, 2020 I HAD A BOX TRUCK SLAM THE BRAKES IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO REAR END THEM GOING APPROXIMATELY 25/30 MPH. THE FRONT OF MY KIA WAS SMASHED INTO THE ENGINE AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE SUSTAINED MAJOR LONG TERM INJURIES DUE TO THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING.

NHTSA ODI 11376080

FOUR CAR COLLISION, KIA SOUL 2016 WAS THE FIRST CAR. SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET, BREAKS DID NOT WORK. THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS ON ROAD. NO ONE WAS CITED DURING THE ACCIDENT, OFFICERS ON SITE HAD BELIEF THERE WERE OTHER COMPLICATIONS RATHER THAN DRIVER NEGLIGENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11375311

I WAS REAR ENDED ON THE 91FREEWAY IN CALIFORNIA.I WAS ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC.I WAS HIT SO HARD FROM THE BACK THAT I WAS THROWN INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE IN THE CAR.MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS.NOT ONE SINGLE AIR BAG DEPLOYED.BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES.BY THAT I MEAN WERE ALIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11344214

FRONT IMPACTED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35-40 MPH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS HAPPENED 3/7/2020 AT 3:45 IN PORT CHAROLETTE FL. THIS OCCURRED ON ROUTE 776 AND TOLEDO BLADE

NHTSA ODI 11316827

I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR LAST YEAR AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A BROKEN STERNUM. MY STEERING WAS WEIRD RIGHT BEFORE I CRASHED.

NHTSA ODI 11316104

DRIVING TO WORK ON FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 15-20MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS BLIND-SIDED BY A CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK GOING 50-60MPH. THE INITIAL IMPACT WAS MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. ABSOLUTELY NO AIRBAG WENT OFF ON THAT SIDE. THE IMPACT KNOCKED ME ACROSS TWO LANES OF THE FREEWAYS ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE I WAS HIT AGAIN ON DRIVER'S SIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL BAG WENT OFF AFTER THE 2ND IMPACT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. IS THIS THE CAR YOU HAVE A 5-STAR CRASH RATINGS? MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I INCURRED A SEVERE CONCUSSION AND MULTIPLE FRACTURES THAT REQUIRES SURGERY.

NHTSA ODI 11290796

CAR WAS IN MOTION MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. CAR STALLED WHEN I STOPPED. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN BUT ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I NOTICED LIGHT GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS GOING TO POP THE HOOD TO CHECK IF THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING AND SMOKE BECAME THICKER AND BLACK SO ME AND MY KIDS EXITED THE CAR AND WENT A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR AND I CALLED 911.

NHTSA ODI 11278022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A STRANGE NOISE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, ADDED TWO QUARTS OF OIL, AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. SUDDENLY, A LOUD POP SOUND WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT AND THREE PASSENGERS EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. BOTH POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11269261

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE (I-90 WB) ON 10/11/2019 AT APPROX 70 MPH. MY ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER THEN I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. MY ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AND EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO FLAMES. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11268112

DRIVING HOME NORMALLY, ENGINE KNOCK LOUDLY, LOST OF POWER, BARLEY MADE IT HOME. OIL LIGHT CAME ON IN WHEN I WAS CHECKING ENGINE. NO OIL, JUST HAD A OIL CHANGE MONTH AGO. NO LEAKAGE, NO SMOKE FROM TAIL PIKE. OIL PRESSURE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON UNTIL IT'S OUT. I READ 10 POST THAT IS THE SAME AS WHAT HAPPEN TO ME.

NHTSA ODI 11230019

DAUGHTER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN HER 2016 KIA SOUL WHEN SHE REAR ENDED A SUBURBAN AFTER IT WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT END DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE AND HER CAR WAS TOTALED AND SHOCKINGLY, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11221007

ON SUNDAY, MAY 26TH, 2019, OUR KIA SOUL CAUGHT FIRE AS WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. MY FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR WHEN MY HUSBAND FELT THE CAR LOSE POWER. WE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND BETWEEN US AND UNDER US, FORWARD BETWEEN OUR SEATS AND THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND SAW SMOKE AS HE PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. A FEW SECONDS AFTER WE PULLED OVER, WE SAW FLAMES ERUPT FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. WE GOT OUR THREE KIDS OUT OF THE CAR AS FAST AS WE COULD AND RAN FROM THE CAR. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AND DIRECT TRAFFIC, AS AT LEAST ONE LANE WAS CLOSED. IN THE TIME IT TOOK FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO ARRIVE, OUR CAR EXPLODED INTO A FIRE BALL.

NHTSA ODI 11217487

WHEN I PRESS THE GAS THE VOLTAGE IS HIGH AND AMPLIFIER MY HEART FEELS AS IF ITS GOING TO BURST MY KIDS NOSE BLEED AND THEY GET SICK WHEN AIR IS ON THE SMELL IS BAD IN CRUISE CONTROL AROUND CERTAIN VEHICLES IS SPEEDS UP ON ITS ON...I'VE NOTICED ALTERED PARTS AND THE INSURANCE INFO IS ALTERED MY BOYFRIEND [XXX] BOUGHT CAR 11/2019 FROM KIA OF GREER ONLY ONE OWNER THE MILEAGE ON PAPERS IS WRONG AND SO IT IS ONLINE...I HEAR SOMEONE IN AND OUT CAR AT NIGHTS BOYFRIEND SAID LEAVE IT ALONE MISSING ID SOCIAL BIRTHCERTIFCATES OIT DASH WHEN RUNNING OUT TO SEE WHO WAS AT CAR DOOR WAS LEFT OPENED THE CENTER OF MY HEAD BURNS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME DIZZY 1/2019 ALMOST FEEL ASLEEP THE THING IS THE VEHICLE IS IN HIS NAME NOT MINE BUT INSURANCE HAS HIS DISABLED BROTHER DOWN AS PRIMARY DRIVER MY DRIVERS RECORD IS WRONG MY MOTHER ACCIDENTS OR ON MINE HER PHONE AND BREACHED OLD EMAIL WAS ON THE ACCOUNT ME AND KIDS ARE VICTIMS OF FOREIGN ORGANIZED CRIMES... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11210227