10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 8
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 55,829 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
The car computer is not registering the correct gear the car is placed into, thus causing the car to bypass critical safety features. The car's power train, electric systems, and fuel systems fail intermittently as a result of failing neutral safety inhibitor. The car reads that the gear is in drive instead of park and will not turn over. Thousands of other Kia customers are reporting the same issues since 2010 with no resolution. Dealership service centers have not been able to help the customers because the diagnostic tools do not pick up on this signal failure. The send car owners away saying the vehicle is in great condition only for the car to stall on the highway unexpectedly a few days later. This is dangerous and the customers have been given no option but to drive a vehicle with serious safety issues. Just check out the numerous youtube videos of customers all having the same issues across multiple Kia models starting in 2010.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
Driver side headlight cuts out intermittently while in use. Upon inspection the connection to the bulb socket was found melted and black
- South Portland, ME, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would randomly stall however, moments later the vehicle would restart. The contact also, stated that the vehicle has failed to start on several occasions. In addition, an electrical burning odor was present inside the cabin as well as a humming and a clicking sound was audible coming from the dashboard. No warning lights were illuminated. The battery was replaced but the failures continued to occur. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer sun trip Kia (6263 South lumber blvd, St. Louis, mo.) but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.
- Hillsboro, MO, USA
My vehicle is having issues starting. The starter and battery have all been replaced already. I had the battery replaced and soon as I drove away it stalled and I was stranded. I have read numerious complaints from other vehicle owners of the same vehicle. I need help.
- Springfield, MA, USA
Takala recall when I push on gas pedal it takes 3-10 seconds to kick in acts like its not getting any gas let up on gas pedal then it kicks inhappens 3-4 times a day the window works when slid down doesn't take a hold when try to raise it back up but not all time we don't do window a lot due to that problem on right side front while in motion then stopping and trying to stop again gas pedal doesn't kick in car is sluggish takes a bit to
- Liberty, MO, USA
Kia Soul 2015 stalls at highway speeds, service center blames bad battery. Also car strands me by failing to start twenty minutes later it starts fine. I blame electrical system that may have taken out my battery. Bad battery or not, a car should not fail at highway speeds due to a bad or low battery. This is incredibly unsafe at any speed.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
The air and heat stopped working altogether. I took it to arapahoe Kia in centennial, co. They told me the blower motor had failed. I had another shop look at it and they told me the wiring to the blower motor had completely melted. It looks like there was a short that lit the wires on fire. Luckily, it did not ignite the whole car like some other cases.
- Denver, CO, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to hatfield Kia (1455 auto mall dr, columbus, oh 43228, (855) 226-5444) where the contact was informed that the starter failed. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred twice. During the second occurrence, the vehicle was taken to the same dealer and the contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired both times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 30,400.
- West Jefferson, OH, USA
The lights go out when I turn my turn single on or when I switch from low beams to high beams.it happens standing still or moving.it started awhile ago don't know the month it was sometime last year.
- Leesburg, FL, USA
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Soul. While the vehicle was parked, it caught fire and burst into flames. The contact stated that a neighbor alerted her that the vehicle was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A report was filed by the fire department. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The contact called drive time at (832) 325-4380 (located at 11205 gulf freeway, houston, tx 77034) and was informed to contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 57,000.
- Humble, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the driver's side head lamp assembly pigtail failed to function as the driver's side low beam lights were shorting and began to flicker. The contact had to maneuver the headlight switch to get the lights to remain illuminated; however, they continued to flicker and short without warning. The vehicle was taken to classic Kia (902 walton dr, texarkana, tx 75503, (903) 793-4623) who replaced the bulb. Within a week, the driver's side light failed to illuminate again. Classic Kia was contacted again and was unable to supply the part. The lights continued to flicker. The vehicle was then taken to crown Kia (2001 w loop 281, longview, tx 75604, (903) 759-4667) who was able to supply the pigtail and light, which was replaced on the driver's side a second time. Months later, the lights continued to flicker. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notifed months later. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
- Leesburg, TX, USA
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Soul. While the vehicle was parked, it caught fire. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was inspected, but a defect was not found. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The failure mileage was 20,000. Consumer stated the vehicle was not inspected. It was just declared a total loss. Fire dept said it was too burned to know what caused the fire. Only the motor burned, not the rest of car. The motor up to 2 front tires glove compartment melted. Updated 8/30/18
- Billerica, ME, USA
Kia uses soy based coating/insulation on all their wiring & hoses, making it susceptible to being damaged by rodents. The windshield washer hose on mine was damaged due to rodents. After doing more research online other people have complained about more important components being damaged by rodents as well, and Kia stating it was not covered under the manufactures warranty, and/or it wasn't their fault. My car was damaged by these rodents while sitting parked in the parking lot of my apartment building.
- Rockville, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. While driving approximately 40 mph, the low beam headlights and the instrument panel lights turned off and came back on approximately a second later. The contact also stated that the failure occurred every time the vehicle was driven at night. Over the past two months, the low beam headlights and the instrument panel lights flickered. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (browns Kia in manassas, Virginia) for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 87,543.
- Bellbrook, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. While driving, the contact noticed that the front driver and passenger side headlights failed without warning. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the plugs were melted. The contact also stated that the rear driver's side tail light failed without warning. The contact repaired the driver's side tail light, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that they had no knowledge of the failure. No further assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000. Updated 11/06/17
- Hemet, CA, USA
Continuously having my battery go dead, but locks and lights work at the time the. Artery is dead. When you go to start the car you hear a series of clicks, but won't turn over. When you go to jump start the battery it takes only 30 seconds to a minute to start. They have checked my battery and car out and can find nothing wrong with it.
- Medora, IN, USA
The vehicle stibility control light comes on when it want, which is the part of the (ABS). The vehicle has been several times to resolve the problem with no luck. The light will go off when you turn off the vehicle. I do also hear a clicking noise from th driver side rear brake for couple of feet but went away. No codes present at all a cording to the dealership when they checked. Doe to the photos which my wife and I have taken during the problem the dealership decided to check the auto. The wife and I have waited several hrs. At the dealership, but still no luck for the light or the clicking sound to come on. The wife and I are very unsatisfied with the results at this time. It seems like (replace the ABS) control model should eliminate the problrm.
- El Cajon, CA, USA
Chronic dead car. Battery tests fine, no draws and was replaced to ensure failures were not the battery. 30 days out of service to date. Dealer/manufacturer cannot diagnose issue. There have been noises from fuse box under hood while car is dead. Clicking noises inside car, when car is dead.
- Federal Way, WA, USA
Car battery seemed dead though when I turned the key the lights go on and flickering sound but doesn't catch. When jump started it didn't take long maybe two minutes and car started.
- Waialua, HI, USA
- St. Cloud, MN, USA