10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 47,754 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
My 2014 Kia Soul which I leased for 39 months in July 2014, just had a recall for a faulty gas pedal that may fracture under excessive pressure. Its great that I am getting the problem fixed for free but I am very disappointed in Kia and the main reason I chose Kia was because they are one of the safest cars out there. I have a four year old daughter and I chose Kia because of her and wanted her to be safe while we were driving. To learn that since the day I leased my car which is almost a year ago, I was driving my daughter around in a car that could have potential caused her injury or worse is very due to my gas pedal breaking is alarming to me, my daughter is the most important and precious thing to me in my whole life. I do not feel that fixing the gas pedal for free is enough and that something must be done to make up for all the times I was driving my daughter in a vehicle that I thought was very safe when it was not. I would like permission to get out of my lease so that I have the freedom to get another vehicle that is safe for my daughter. Anyone with kids should know exactly how I feel and will sympathize with my situation.
- Steilacoom, WA, USA
At zero or near zero mph sometimes the car will not accelerate as it normally does. This causes me concern that I will misjudge how much time I have when pulling out in front of on-coming traffic. This began happening soon after purchasing the car in Feb. 2014. It has continued thru today, Jan 26th, 2015. I asked the dealer about it and they said it may be due to my driving in "eco" mode. They said I should only use "eco" mode on the freeway. I began using the "regular mode" right away, around town. I used "eco" mode when driving from phoenix, AZ to san diego, calif. This weekend. It doesn't matter which mode I am in or what road, I'm on ; it still does it occasionally. I cannot tell when it will happen. It can happen at a stop light or sign, or when entering a highway. I feel that it is a very "unsafe" condition and that Kia should be made to create a fix. I traded in a 2010 Soul for this car and am thinking I was a lot safer with the old one!!
- Peoria, AZ, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate and would not immediately respond when pressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on multiple occasions but the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,200.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
Shortly after buying my new 2014 Kia Soul in March 2014, I noticed that acceleration delayed usually from a stop light, stop sign or stop/go traffic and would need to pump gas for car to move then it will take off quick and almost become out of control, also feels as though lose power steering and proper braking. Dealer service could not find any error codes on scan so no fix. After 2nd attempt to look at problem I was told by service manager that if I was driving in eco mode that could be the issue. If Kia knows this why even offer that mode? I also have a problem with the passenger front seat belt that only allows slight movement before it locks tight and does not retract without unlatching completely. Upon inspecting other cars on lot with service manager we found the optima, Soul, sportage all do the same thing on passenger front only allowing extending the seatbelt/or movement about halfway forward before it locks and will not retract. The gas mileage listed on window tag was over-inflated at 27 mpg it seems to average closer to 23-24 mpg. Finally I was in an accident which I rear-ended someone at stoplight and while I felt there should have been plenty of time to stop the brakes did not feel as though they worked at all, the car just kept going, the weather was dry. It was suggested by a brake & tire specialist to go to dealer for full inspection, but I hesitate to return to Kia do to all my other issues that can't be figured out because the diagnostics can never find an error code. I will be taking my car in for a complete tear down by a 3rd party brake specialist for brake/sensor/master cylinder inspection as I don't even feel safe to drive this new car with approx 17,000 miles. I have since opened a case with Kia consumer assistance due to the many ongoing issues.
- San Bernardino , CA, USA
TL- the contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated constantly when shifting gears and was slow to pick up speed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who recommended replacing the timing belt but did not provide a specific diagnosis to remedy the failure. The contact notified the dealer of the safety concern with the vehicle several times. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100. The VIN was not available. Dyd
- Las Cruces, NM, USA
Cruise control randomly cut off. Then ESC and ABS lights come on and disables anti-lock brakes system and stability control. Best guess faulty brake switch.
- Dayton, TX, USA
I have had my car to the dealer 4 times for this same issue which still has not been fixed. The engine light comes on when it wants too and then there is very little power in 1, 2, and 3rd gears this is a manual trans. I almost got hit in the side because of pulling from a stop sigh and went to go and looked down light was on and car did not want to move. Its very hard to get a stick shift car to start out in 4th gear. Kia says they want me happy but will not replace the car instead offering free oil changes and other items but I want a safe car to drive not other items.
- Columbus, OH, USA
- Gwynn Oak, MD, USA