2018 Kia Soul Problems & Defect Complaints

On July 2, 2020, Kia America Inc. (Kia) filed safety recall 20V-389 for model year (MY) 2015-2016 Kia Soul EV vehicles. This recall was in response to allegations of unintended vehicle movement while in Park and provided updated electronic control unit software for the electronic parking brake logic as the remedy. The updated logic, which was included during production for MY 2017-2019 Kia Soul EV vehicles, automatically activates the electronic parking brake when the vehicle is powered off while the gear shift lever is in the Park position. On September 10, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ23-005) to investigate allegations of unintended vehicle movement while in Park in MY 2015-2019 Kia Soul EV vehicles. At the time that the investigation was opened, ODI had received 3 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and additional Early Warning Reporting data involving reports of unintended vehicle movement in MY 2017-2018 Kia Soul EV vehicles. One of the VOQs submitted to ODI reported a rollaway collision with a fire hydrant, which occurred after the operator had parked and exited the vehicle. Following the opening of this Recall Query, ODI and Kia participated in a joint inspection the vehicle which had been involved in a rollaway collision. During the inspection, the subject vehicle exhibited the alleged defect, rolling both forwards and backwards while shifted into Park with the electronic parking brake not engaged. The subject vehicle's electronic parking brake logic performed as designed during the inspection and the vehicle experienced no unintended movement while the electronic parking brake was engaged. In its November 21, 2023 response to ODI's information request, Kia provided customer complaint and warranty claim data for 19 unique VINs which relate to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Kia separately made ODI aware of one additional allegation of vehicle rollaway that resulted in a collision with another vehicle. This collision was reported to Kia following their cutoff date for the information request response. Kia stated that based on its investigation, the subject vehicles' parking mechanism can be damaged if the gear shift lever is shifted to Park prior to coming to a complete stop. If the parking mechanism is damaged and the electronic parking brake is not engaged, unintended vehicle movement while in Park may occur. However, based on ODI's analysis of the available information, it is apparent that not all allegations of the subject defect which have been investigated by Kia have had evidence that the parking mechanism was damaged. At this time, the root cause of the alleged defect is not yet confirmed. On October 19, 2023 Kia filed safety recall 23V-724 for MY 2015-2019 Kia Soul EV vehicles. The new recall remedy provides update electronic parking brake logic that automatically activates the electronic parking brake when the gear shift lever is in the Park position, regardless of whether the vehicle is powered on or off. At this time, NHTSA has not received any reports of electronic parking brake failure for the subject vehicles, but will continue to monitor following this investigation. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia, ODI is closing this Recall Query. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.