This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I bought my 2014 Kia Soul with 6 miles on it Nov 2013. I have had nothing but problem after problem with my headlights turning off when I use my turn signal or after using my turn signal. I have taken it to the dealership to have the same problem fixed. Finally big red sports & imports took a Kia Soul off their car lot (after my 3rd trip there & they still didn't have the part) to put a new part in my car to fix the problem. I still had problems with my head lights so I took my Kia to a different dealership. Now my car won't go into reverse at times, and while I'm "trying" to put it in reverse my automatic locks start locking an un-locking really fast. I have to turn my car off, and try to start all over so it will go into reverse. I have also already had to have the battery replaced. My worry is my safety when driving at night with my head lights wanting to work when they feel like it. Or if I get stranded somewhere because my car won't shift gears.
Taking a day trip to the crayola factory, we were 10 miles from our destination when we first smelled smoke then saw it coming in through the vents and from the front passenger corner of the vehicle. I first checked the gauges to see if it was over heated, nothing. Popped the hood and that's when we realized it was on fire. We raced to get the 2 small kids out of the vehicle as the flames were starting to over take the front hood. We were able to secure the kids and get far enough away from the vehicle but 3 minutes later the car was gutted. Nothing but metal left on the inside. We had no warning that something was wrong while driving the car, no engine light, no overheating - just smelled and then saw smoke. We were lucky we had a place to pull off on a busy highway. I was told by the police officer that I'm lucky that I turned off the car and opened the doors before the locks malfunctioned as he has seen in other Kia cars. My hope is that Kia can find the source of the fire and do a recall before anyone else is faced with this nightmare. I reported it to Kia via social media, but they seemed more concerned on how to take my pictures off rather than fix the issue. Updated 11/02/2017
The vehicle hit a tree at an unknown rate of speed. The seat belts functioned, and the air bags were deployed. The vehicle caught fire immediately or shortly thereafter. Two bystanders could not open the doors because the door locks were still engaged. They had to break the glass, manually unlock the doors, then open them - the doors functioned normally after unlocked. It is my understanding that the door locks were supposed to disengage when the airbags deployed - they did not.
While driving home at approximately 30 mph in my 7 month old Kia Soul, I started to smell smoke. All of sudden black smoke started pouring out of my air vents. I went to pull the vehicle over and the it completely locked up. I then went to open the drivers side door and flames were shooting into the car. I had to jump over the console to get out on the passenger side. My disabled daughter was in the back seat and I had a hard time getting her out because the automatic locks kept engaging. I did get her out and by then the entire front of the vehicle was on fire. A passerby stopped to help us and we drove a safe distance from the vehicle. As I called 911 to report the accident, I could hear my windows blowing out. It took the fire dept. 15 minutes to get there and by then the car was completely on fire. There was nothing left of it but the frame. I have written and called Kia to let them know of this incident. I also sent pictures of the car and a video of it burning. They are supposedly checking into it, but this happened on Feb. 6, 2015 and I have still not heard from them.
I was approaching a traffic light and the light was green and traffic in front of me was moving. I must have take my eyes off the car in front of me and the green light for just a few seconds and when I looked ahead the car in front of me had stopped at the turning light and I ran into the back of it. Never even had a chance to hit the brakes. My car had a lot of damage to the front half but the airbag never deployed.
We had been driving for about 20 minutes. We pulled off highway to look at a tourist attraction. No indication whatsoever that anything was wrong with the car. Parked, turned car off. Got out. Glanced back at the car and smoke was pouring out from under the hood. Soon there were flames dripping from underneath front end (looked like melting plastic). Called fire department. Within 1 minute flames were jumping up on interior (dash area) and exterior (under hood). Got fire extinguisher from nearby business, but with hood closed, did not help. Within 4 minutes entire front end and front interior were engulfed in enormous flames. Many popping noises (explosions). Fire department arrived after about 5 minutes and extinguished the fire. Entire front end of car melted to the ground. I should note that while we left the car unlocked when we got out, the doors locked themselves during the fire, and the key fob was inoperable (lock electronics in the car were fried). Had a person or pet been in the car, they would have been trapped. My husband cut his face during this, but did not seek a doctor. All personal items in the car are severely damaged by smoke.
We recently purchased a new 2014 Kia Soul. I noticed that the ignition switch lock cylinder in the steering column seems very loose. With the key in the cylinder it has too much play. The key wiggles around very loosely. Being concerned that it may cause the ignition switch to turn off while driving, I took it to two different Kia dealers' service departments. Both told me it's normal;. I've been driving since 1969 and have never seen an ignition switch have that much play in it. I am concerned that this condition may cause the car to turn itself off while driving and cause an accident. Please investigate this. Thank you.
I had an emergency and tried at night to unlock electric doors for my passengers and I. upon attempting to manage the emergency and unlock the door for my passengers to exit the vehicle, I was greatly delayed because the "unlock light is non functioning" and can't be seen in the dark. This is a safety problem & I believe it warrants a recall because the dealer refuses to acknowledge it as a problem that needs correcting. Thanks god there was no fire! please advise and assist, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact rented a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the passenger's side heated seat caught on fire and burned two holes through the seat. The contact informed the rental Agency of the fire. The contact did not call the vehicle manufacturer. The vehicle was removed from the fleet. The failure mileage was 18. Updated 1/29/14..updated 02-04-14
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Stillwater, OK, USA