What 17 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Soul EV

When I apply brake the vehicle doesn’t stop it jumps out (as if someone has crashed hitting the rear of the vehicle) and the vehicle shuts down. Then I have to park the vehicle in the middle of the road and restart the vehicle. Luckily I avoided many accidents by defensively driving. Talked with Kia customer care and complained about this safety issue . I took it to near by Kia dealer for the recall and complained on 25 July 2024. 2017 Kia soul + EV Only 30 thousand miles I’m scared to drive and conserned about the safety of others around me. Please help me

NHTSA ODI 11606165

Application of the brakes causes complete vehicle shutdown along with message to check electrical system. Brakes appear to fail for a brief moment, then mechanical brakes kick in. Car has zero power until stopped and restarted. Problem is reproducible a high percentage of the time provided the brakes are pressed more than just lightly or briefly. At nearly full charge, this defect can also be triggered by just the engine brake (which is triggered every time your foot is taken off the accelerator). Appears to be an electrical short circuit of some type. Other faults occur upon application of power, shifting engine into low power or turtle mode at any level of battery charge.

NHTSA ODI 11570798

MY ALL ELECTRIC HAS A B MODE TO SHIFT IN. SIMPLY PUT IT ENGAGES THE GENERATOR FULLY WHEN YOU LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL SO YOU CAN GENERATE ELECTRICITY. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU DO THIS THE CAR BRAKES QUITE QUICK, SO QUICK IN FACT THEY CALL THIS TYPE OF DRIVING ONE PEDAL DRIVING DUE TO THE FACT YOU VERY SELDOM TOUCH THE BREAK EXCEPT FOR A FULL STOP. THE PROBLEM IS THE BREAK LIGHTS DON'T GO ON UNLESS YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BREAK. MY CONCERN IS THE CAR BEHIND ME. IF HE IS NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND DOES NOT REALIZE I AM SLOWING DOWN AT SUCH A RAPID CLIP BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN, ITS ALMOST THE SAME AS HAVING DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHTS. MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO HAVE THE BREAK LIGHTS COME ON WHEN YOU FOOT IS FULLY OFF THE GAS PEDAL TO AVOID AND REAR END COLLISIONS FOR ALL CARS THAT HAVE THIS FEATURE. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11022704