Page 17 of 17 · complaints 801–818 of 818

2016 Kia Soul complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2016 record →

Engine
Filed Feb 15, 201819,000 milesFL

MY CAR IS 2016, ITS 18 MONTHS OLD HAS 19K MILES AND THE ONLY THING DONE TO THE CAR WAS OIL CHANGES WHICH WERE PERFORMED AT THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR. ON JAN 19, 2018 MY CAR STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING 45 MILES AN HOUR ON THE STREET. IT HAPPENED ON NW 36TH STREET GOING EAST IN MIAMI, FLORIDA ZIPCODE 33166 WHEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WAS TOLD ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY THE PISTON PUSH THE ROD BLOCK AND THE ENGINE LOCK UP. ITS STILL AT THE DEALER. ON MONDAY IT WILL BE A MONTH. AND EVEN THOUGH I AM DRIVING A RENTAL ( WHICH THE DEALER IS PAYING FOR) THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE CAR WILL BE FIXED. EVERYTHING IS UNDER WARRANTY. MY CONCERN IS HOW CAN THIS MANUFACTURE BUILD CARS WHICH THEIR ENGINES LOCK UP AFTER LESS THAN 2 YEARS. THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING IN AN EXPRESSWAY. I AM BEYOND SCARED TO DRIVE THIS KIND OF CAR AGAIN. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 17, 2017FL

I EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT HESITATION WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR ISN'T DOWNSHIFTING CORRECTLY OR ISN'T GETTING ENOUGH FUEL IN ORDER TO PICK UP SPEED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS AND COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE CAR CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS HAPPENS IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Steering
Filed Dec 4, 20179,283 milesLA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WAS LOOSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V608000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (ALL STAR KIA OF BATON ROUGE, 5740 SIEGEN LANE, BATON ROUGE, LA 70809) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER FOR TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT WANT TO VISIT A DEALER FURTHER AWAY FROM HER HOME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,283. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 24, 2017500 milesAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAVENAUGH KIA (LOCATED AT 3315 STADIUM BLVD, JONESBORO, AR 72404, (870) 802-4451) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 18, 201712,000 milesWA

KEY WILL GET STUCK IN IGNITION AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE KEY AFTER TURNING KEY TO OFF POSITION. KEY WILL ALSO NOT TURN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED ON BOTH OCCASIONS. THE INABILITY TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016. THE INABILITY TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 SEPARATE TIMES. MOST RECENTLY WAS SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2017 AND I WAS AT A HIKING TRAIL IN THE MOUNTAINS.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 14, 201730 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (SPITZER KIA CLEVELAND 3414 BROOKPARK ROAD, CLEVELAND, OH 44134), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jun 12, 2017KS

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE IN HALF AND SOMEHOW STUCK ON. [XXX] WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND IT JUMPED OFF A THREE FOOT WALL, RAN THROUGH A WOODEN FENCE AND HIT THE BRICK WALL OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING. DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE 2014 AND 2015 MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR BREAKING ACCELERATOR PEDALS, HOWEVER THE 2016 HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed May 2, 201727,000 milesMD

ALL INTERIOR WINDOWS FOGGED UP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUTSIDE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE EARLY MORNING, MID TO LOW 60 DEGREE TEMPS, I PUT HEAT ON LOW FAN SPEED AND MID TEMP, INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED TO FOG UP AND WINDSHIELD STARTED TO FOG UP, I SWITCHED HEATER TO DEFOG AND IN A FEW SECONDS ALL WINDOWS FOGGED UP. IT WAS DARK AND I WAS IN A ROUNDABOUT WITH TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME AND BEHIND ME. I OPENED ALL WINDOWS AND PUT DEFOG TO FULL SPEED AND AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE WAS THE WINDSHIELD DEFOGGED. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWED POSSIBLE CLOGGED HEATER/AC BLOWER BOX, WHICH WAS REPORTED TO BE A SERVICE ISSUE AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I WAS ABOUT TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY BEING IN THE VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE THAT WILL LEAD TO VEHICLE COLLISION WITH INJURY AND.OR FATALITIES.

Seats
Filed Mar 23, 2017AL

THE MAIN PART OF MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE HEAD RESTS LEAN FORWARD SO MUCH THAT MY HEAD IS BENT DOWNWARD WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR; THEREFORE, I FEEL I CANNOT LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD. I AM SHORT, BUT HAVE NO PHYSICAL DEFORMITIES THAT KEEP ME FROM DRIVING OTHER VEHICLES SAFELY. I SIT ON A CUSHION REGARDLESS OF WHAT TYPE VEHICLE I DRIVE. I FEEL THE WAY THE HEAD REST BENDS MY HEAD FORWARD IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME. ALSO, THE SEAT BACKS SEEM TO HAVE A CURVE AND WILL NOT ALLOW A PERSON TO SIT UP STRAIGHT IN THE SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN, OF COURSE, AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE MADE THIS COMPLAINT KNOWN TO OUR LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIPS, AS WELL AS THE KIA MANUFACTURER.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 27, 20172,200 milesWA

ON 2/18/17 MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION IN OUR 2016 KIA SOUL. SHE STRUCK A STOPPED TOYOTA CAROLLA AT OVER 45MPH ON SOUTHBOUND I-5 IN SEATTLE WA. THIS WAS A DIRECT FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS IN THE KIA SOUL DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE METAL BUMPER BAR WAS COMPLETELY BENT IN A "V" SHAPE BACK BEYOND THE RADIATOR. KIA USA FIRST CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO UNDER RIDING. SENT THEM DAYTIME PHOTOS FROM THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE VISITED THE CAR TO REMOVE PERSONAL ITEMS AND THEY CHANGED THE STORY TO "THE AIR BAG SENSORS ARE IN THE CONNECTING PILLARS SO THIS STILL WOULD NOT HAVE TRIGGERED THE AIR BAGS. KIA USA IS ACCEPTING NO FAULT AND IT TAKING NO ACTION. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THIS COLLISION SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS AS BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE OCCUPIED BY ADULTS AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. MY HOPE IS YOU CAN USE THIS INFORMATION AND MY PHOTOS TO INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION AND RESOLVE IT WITH KIA. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW WE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF ONE OF THE CARS MAIN SAFETY FEATURES, FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS. I HAVE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AND A VIDEO THAT I AM WILLING TO SHARE IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB

Seat Belts
Filed Feb 25, 201716,600 milesWA

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE I HAVE HAD THE SEAT BELT FASTEN LIGHT COME ON WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. INITIALLY I TRIED PARKING THE CAR, TURNING OFF THE IGNITION FOR 30-60 SECONDS, TURNING THE CAR BACK ON, AND ONCE I START MOVING AGAIN THE INDICATOR WOULD COME BACK ON. WHAT I FINALLY REALIZED, AFTER DOING SOME TESTING, IS THAT IF I PLACE MY CELL PHONE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE CAR (PLACING IT ABOUT 1/2 WAY FROM THE FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE SEAT), IT WILL TRIP THE SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR TO COME ON. AFTER DOING SOME TRIALS, I HAVE FOUND, REMOVING THE CELL PHONE FROM THE SEAT AND PLACING IT EITHER IN THE CUP HOLDERS OR THE CENTER CONSOLE WILL ACTUALLY SHUT OFF THE INDICATOR. IN CLOSING, I WAS UTILIZING THE BLUETOOTH FOR BOTH HANDS FREE AND NAVIGATION WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, I ALSO HAD THE PHONE PLUGGED INTO A CIGARETTE LIGHTER ADAPTER (NOT THE ONE FOR IPOD). THE CAR WAS MOVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH (THE DEFAULT SPEED FOR THE INDICATOR TO COME ON WITH THE SEAT BELT WARNING TO COME ON). THE CHIME DOES NOT TURN ON AT ALL, BUT THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT WILL FLASH.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 10, 2017200 milesNC

THE 2016 KIA SOUL OWNERS MANUAL HAS FALSE, MISLEADING AND INCORRECT INFORMATION. BEFORE PURCHASING THIS NEW KIA SOUL IN 12/16 I LOOKED THROUGH THE CARS OWNERS MANUAL. SOMETHING THAT CAUGHT MY EYE AND HELPED SWAY ME TO PURCHASE THIS CAR WAS THE INFORMATION IN SECTION 8 PAGE 15 UNDER ONLINE FACTORY AUTHORIZED MANUALS (U.S. ONLY) IT STATES THAT THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON WWW.KIATECHINFO.CON AT NO CHARGE. SERVICE MANUAL, ELECTRICAL TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL, OWNERS MANUAL. IF YOU VISIT THAT SITE WWW.KIATEAHINFO.COM THE FIRST SCREEN THAT POPS UP STATES THAT EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 17,2014 THE SITE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO A SUBSCRIPTION-BASED PAY PER USE SITE. KIA REFUSES TO HONOR THE INFORMATION IN THE 2016 OWNERS MANUAL STATING THAT THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THIS INACCURATE AND MISLEADING INFORMATION NEEDS TO HONORED BUY KIA MOTORS AND THIS AND ANY FUTURE INACCURATE INFORMATION IN THE KIA SUPPLIED OWNERS MANUAL NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED PRIOR TO THE SALE OF ANY AND ALL KIA AUTOMOBILES.

Steering
Filed Jan 18, 2017MI

WHILE DRIVING TURNING LEFT CLICKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN I HAD TO SNATCH THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. I'VE HEARD LIGHT CLICKING BEFORE ON AND OFF, BUT TODAY WAS AT IT WORST. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR

SteeringCrash2 injured
Filed Jan 3, 201715,000 milesCA

ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET DOING ABOUT 15 MPH. WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEERED TO THE RIGHT HITTING A PARKED CAR AND DOING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY KIA SOUL AND MODERATE DAMAGE TO A FORD EXPLORER. IT WAS MID DAY AND GOOD VISIBILITY AND I WAS ALERT ON FAMILIAR TERRITORY IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM CONCERNED THAT EVEN THOUGH KIA AND NHTSA DON'T SHOW THIS VIN # IN THE STEERING RECALL HOW CAN I AND OTHERS BE SURE IT SHOULDN'T BE? CHP DID COLLISION REPORT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V736000. PLEASE RESPOND THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS REPORT AND ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *TR

Power Train
Filed Dec 26, 2016PR

SINCE DAY ONE, MY KIA LOOSE COMMUNICATION WITH GAS PEDAL TO TRANSMISSION OR COMPUTER.FROM STOP I ACCELERATE, AND IF FOR ANY REASON I OUGHT TO RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL, THE TRANSMISSION ACT LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL GEAR,AFTER ACCELERATE TWO OR THREE TIMES IT ACCELERATE ABRUPTLY.IT ACT EXACTLY LIKE HIUNDAI RECALL NO.16V6280.I TAKE THE VEH. TO THE DEALER, I REPORT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY TELL ME THAT THEY DOES NOT FIND NOTHIN WRONG, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.MY VEH. TRANSMISSION IS A 5 SPEED ECO SHIFT DUAL CLUTCH

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Jul 29, 2016110 milesWA

WHILE DRIVING IN REGENERATIVE BRAKE MODE AND COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT, I LET THE REGENERATIVE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR TO AROUND 10 KM/HR THEN APPLIED THE NORMAL BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE REST OF THE WAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT ENGAGE WHATSOEVER. I DID NOT FEEL ANY RESISTANCE AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND. BECAUSE I COULDN'T STOP, I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME - LOW SPEED SO LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. PEDAL WAS FLOORED AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION, ONLY MILD DECELERATION (I.E. STILL FROM THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES PRESUMABLY) THUS I AM QUITE CONFIDENT THIS WAS NOT A CASE OF PEDAL MISAPPLICATION.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 18, 20161,350 milesCA

DRIVING THIS CAR HIGH SPEEDS (FREEWAY) FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME (30 MINUTES OR MORE PER DAY) FOR MORE THAN 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS AFFECTS MY OVERALL HEALTH AND ABILITY TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT GET CHRONIC HEADACHES, TROUBLE CONCENTRATING, SLEEPING PROBLEMS, DIZZINESS, FORGETFULNESS, EXHAUSTION, AND ANXIETY WHICH AFFECT MY REACTION TIME AND ALERTNESS WHILE DRIVING, AND ABILITY TO MAKE PROPER DECISIONS IN TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, SINCE I DISCONTINUED DRIVING THE CAR AS SOON AS I BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I ALSO WENT TO A DOCTOR WHO CONFIRMED THAT I AM SENSITIVE TO THE BATTERY OF THE VEHICLE (SEE ATTACHED). I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE LOCAL KIA SERVICE DEPT., BUT THEY SAY THE BATTERY IS WORKING PROPERLY.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 30, 2016OH

THE PANIC BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB IS NOT RECESSED SO IT ACTIVATES WHEN YOU DON'T WANT IT TO. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE KIA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND ALSO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND BOTH COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. ANYTIME I HAVE THE KEY FOB IN MY POCKET IT IS LIKELY TO ENGAGE THE PANIC BUTTON. IT HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES. PEOPLE THINK THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT NHTSA CAN DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. (I PREVIOUSLY HAD A 2013 KIA SOUL AND THE DESIGN OF THE KEY FOB WAS DIFFERENT SO I NEVER HAD THE PANIC BUTTON GO OFF BY MISTAKE.) HELP.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2016 Kia Soul → · Every Soul year → · How the figures are calculated →