Kia Motor Soul owners have reported 118 problems related to air bag (under the air bag category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Kia Motor Soul based on all problems reported for the Soul.
Hit a deer. Airbag did not deploy or emergency braking system didn't come on. Police took pictures of car. The car is at the repair shop now. Insurance company hasn't stated if it will be totaled. There were no other problems prior to incident.
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all problems of the 2025 Kia Motor Soul
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This vehicle was seriously damaged in a crash. No airbags deployed. The vehicle was totaled. Another vehicle went through red light and crashed into my car.
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all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Soul
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The airbag in this 2023 kia Soul vehicle had a faulty airbag deployment. The steering wheel airbag exploded upon a minor impact of under 20 mph and no other airbags deployed. The steering wheel airbag never fully deployed or made driver contact, it just simply exploded. The dealership was notified, but declined to research the car immediately following the impact and said that was not part of their repairs and to take the vehicle to a body shop. So, no investigation was done by the dealership to identify the airbag's faulty deployment. Then, the manufacturer refused investigation when a case was filed and waited several weeks after pictures and a full report was filed to say they were dropping the case. Insurance did not declare the claim as a total loss and $7000 of work was performed. There was no assurance that the work performed at the body shop was secure as kia never reviewed the case. Also, there was no safety camera detection or warning of impact. This model had recalls for the side airbags, but kia neglected to follow up on this particular faulty airbag from the steering wheel.
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all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Soul
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The contact owned a 2019 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, another vehicle stopped in front of the contact’s vehicle and the brake pedal was depressed to attempt to avoid a crash; however, the vehicle skidded and crashed into the rear of the other vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. During the crash the front end and the hood of the vehicle was severely damaged, but the air bags did not deploy. Additionally, the seat belt malfunctioned and failed to secure the contact in the seat, causing the contact's chest and stomach to impact the steering wheel. The contact sustained a bruised chest and neck injury but had not yet sought medical treatment. The contact stated that an appointment was schedule to see her primary care physician. The contact was unaware of any injuries to the other driver. A police report was filed at the scene but was not available. The vehicle was towed away from the scene. The contact stated that the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
The contact owns a 2014 kia Soul. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 22v096000 (air bags), 15v123000 (vehicle speed control), 17v608000 (steering), and 19v120000 (engine, engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the vehicle jerked and vibrated abnormally. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle idled down to 5 mph. The contact continued to drive; however, the contact had to pull over several times. The contact drove to the mother's residence. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic, who diagnosed that the catalytic converter was clogged or had melted and damaged the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was informed of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was missing several updates, and the dealer refused to perform the recall repairs. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance with the recall repairs. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
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all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Soul
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Immediately after purchase, the passenger airbag warning light illuminated. An authorized kia dealer confirmed that the airbag system is defective and requires repair under warranty. Despite this confirmation, more than five (5) months have passed without repair, citing parts unavailability. I am operating a vehicle with a known airbag malfunction. This defect involves a federally regulated safety system and poses a safety risk.
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all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Soul
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The contact owns a 2017 kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v031000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated the vehicle was consuming one quart of oil every 2-3 days. The oil warning light was illuminated with an abnormal clacking sound coming from the engine. The dealer was contacted and claimed that the vehicle was repaired. The contact sought confirmation from the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure and stated that the spark plug was fractured and was not properly installed. The contact was informed that the engine was only running on 2 cylinders and was running at 1 psi. The contact was also informed that there was fuel leaking from the exhaust pipe, causing failures with the fuel injectors. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
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all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Soul
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4 29 23 at 101091 miles the catalytic converter was replaced. The car sucks up oil before even the 3000 . Mark. . Kia performed. Then on7/8/25 wg baker replaced catalytic converter again. Also coding of abs brakes now and why would catalytic converter need replacing? because car is eating off oil. Yes my car stopped on the interstate and I had to pull over. I've already done two tune ups.
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all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Soul
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I am submitting this complaint regarding failure to complete a federally mandated safety recall and the subsequent release of my vehicle in an unsafe condition after prolonged dealer custody. Vehicle information provided above safety recall information recall type: federal airbag safety recall recall notice received: 2023 summary of safety concern I delivered my vehicle to authorized kia dealerships for completion of a federally mandated airbag safety recall. The vehicle remained in dealership custody for approximately seven months without completion of the recall. During this period, the dealerships demanded payment for diagnostics and asserted that recall-related issues were “warranty-related” or “customer responsibility,” which effectively blocked completion of the safety recall. Despite my continued communication and willingness to proceed with recall repair, the recall was not completed. Kia declined to authorize repairs necessary to complete the recall. Vehicle released unrepaired and unsafe the dealership ultimately demanded that I remove the vehicle without completing the safety recall. Upon retrieval of the vehicle, I discovered: missing and/or altered vehicle components extensive interior water damage these conditions were not present when the vehicle was delivered and occurred while the vehicle was in the dealership’s exclusive custody. The vehicle was released in a materially worse and potentially unsafe condition. Ongoing safety risk the federal safety recall remains unresolved. Electrical systems and safety components may be compromised. The vehicle is currently unsafe to operate, and repair is no longer a reasonable remedy. Basis for NHTSA review this complaint concerns: obstruction and noncompletion of a federal safety recall improper conditioning of recall repairs on payment release of a recalled vehicle without repair potential compromise of safety systems while in dealer custody.
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all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Soul
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The contact owned a 2022 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, another vehicle attempted to merge in front of the contact, causing the front driver side of the vehicle to collide with the rear passenger end of another vehicle, but the air bag did not deploy. The contact sustained neck and shoulder injuries. Medical attention was not sought as of yet; however has a doctor appointment scheduled. The vehicle was then towed to a tow lot where it was deemed totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 49,000.
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all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Soul
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A kia franchise dealership demanded payment for diagnostics in order to perform a federal airbag safety recall, which I refused. After the dealer’s involvement, the vehicle’s diagnostic/obd port became unreadable, preventing recall completion. A second kia dealer states they cannot complete the recall and wants thousands of dollars just to attempt diagnosis. The vehicle has been out of service for over six months with an open safety recall. I believe the recall process has been obstructed.
Rodents chewed through the main wire harness on my vehicle on 2 separate occasions, both times in the same exact location. This recurring damage poses a serious safety risk and may be linked to soy-based wire coatings that attract rodents. The first incident required a $4,979. 27 repair, covered by insurance; I paid a $500 deductible. The vehicle was diagnosed by boonton auto body shop. I recently discovered a second instance of rodent damage in the exact same location, which has not yet been repaired. This led me to investigate further and learn that this may be a common issue in certain vehicles, possibly due to soy-based insulation. I filed a complaint with kia, but they denied responsibility. The main wire harness is critical to safety systems including braking, steering, engine performance, lighting, and airbags. Although I caught the issue before any accident occurred, undetected damage could lead to serious safety failures while driving. Some may argue the issue is environmental, but I also own a 2012 Toyota prius, which I own and park in the same location since 2012. That vehicle has never had any rodent damage. This suggests that the problem is not just environmental, but may be due to the design, material based, or placement of the wiring in the kia. Many consumers are unaware they can report safety-related issues to NHTSA. After being denied by the manufacturer, most are left with high repair costs and no resolution. I am concerned that if consumers remain silent or unaware of this process, kia will not be held accountable. This is not an isolated case. The repeated, location-specific failure and the manufacturer's refusal to act show a clear pattern of potential design defect. I urge NHTSA to investigate this issue seriously, issue a recall to ensure kia addresses the problem and protects consumer safety, and require the manufacturer to reimburse affected consumers for repair costs. This issue must be addressed before a serious accident occurs.
On 1-16-25 I was involved in a vehicle crash in which the airbags "did not" deploy. The vehicle is at my home, the brakes locked also. I have photos. No inspection to my knowledge. Yet. Insurance claim was filed. I do not have a police report yet. No warning lights or sensors.
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all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Soul
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Involved in wreck air bags did not deploy.
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all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Soul
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Fm radio black screen black screen replacement kia Soul.
November 26, 2024 dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a serious safety concern regarding my 2015 kia Soul. On November 25, 2024, I was involved in a severe car accident. Despite the significant impact, the airbag system failed to deploy. I have attached photos of the vehicle damage for your reference. This incident is particularly alarming as the vehicle had recently been serviced for recalls at phil smith kia (4250 n federal hwy, lighthouse point, FL 33064). The failure of the airbag system to deploy raises serious concerns about the safety and quality control of kia vehicles. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this incident thoroughly and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of all kia vehicle owners. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. Sincerely,.
My engine through a rod on approximately 9/26/24. I had it towed to garden grove kia. They said they needed to contact kia corporate to find out if my car was still under warranty. Corporate acknowledged that there was a recall for the rod bearing that could cause a fire (safety issue). I was also told that there was a class action lawsuit. Corporate informed me that I was notified by mail. Which never happened. And said that it would cost me $500 dollars for them to diagnostic. That my warranty expired at 60,000 miles! they also said had I got the update for that recall that it would have been covered. When I bought the vehicle on 8/21/22 from russell westbrook Hyundai they reassured me that the 2019 kia Soul had zero recalls. Any paperwork I received about this was given to me after the class action lawsuit. The dates to take action were already expired. I have tried to get my kia diagnosed by several shops and they can't diagnosis because kia is not complying with obd2 readers. I have been told by several mechanics that kia has there own diagnostic reader. According to the settlement I am entitled to have them diagnos my kia at no cost to me.
I am experiencing multiple safety and performance issues with my 2015 kia Soul: 1. Vibration at idle: significant vibration when the vehicle is idling at a red light. Possible causes include worn engine mounts, faulty spark plugs or ignition coils, issues with the idle control valve or throttle body, or vacuum leaks. 2. Electrical issues: • codes: b111216 (ignition voltage low), b17672f (OCS algorithm cut off), b251100 (head lamp high lh scg), b251300 (head lamp low lh scg) • symptoms include low battery voltage warnings and short circuits in the headlamp circuits. Possible causes might be a failing battery or alternator, or damaged electrical wiring. 3. Emission system problems: • codes: p0455 (evaporative emission system leak detected), p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold) • symptoms: check engine light related to emission control systems. Potential causes include a loose or damaged gas cap, cracked evap hoses, faulty purge or vent valves, and failing catalytic converter or oxygen sensors. 4. Airbag system issues: • codes: b151100 (buckle switch driver open or short to battery), b110200 (battery voltage low), b149000 (OCS defect) • symptoms: warning lights related to the airbag system. Possible causes include faulty seat belt buckle switches, low battery voltage, or issues within the occupant classification system. 5. Tpms issues: • codes: c1314 (sensor 3 radio frequency channel failure), c1662 (auto learning failure) • symptoms: tpms warnings and inability to correctly monitor tire pressure. Possible causes are sensor failures or calibration issues. Despite regular maintenance, these issues persist and affect the safety and drivability of my vehicle. I request an investigation into these problems to determine if they are common in this model and if there are any recalls or service bulletins that address them. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
The contact owns a 2014 kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v750000 (engine) and 22v096000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
On Saturday morning may 4th, I found the driver side window smashed in and lots of broken glass on street and in my car. I wasn't driving . . It was parked on atreet.
Air bag replacement drive autamticbreaking emergency replacement system.
The recalls on my car has not yet been resolved. I took the car to cartown kia florence south carolina and the one in columbia. First time was at cartown kia florence, they had every excuse that they were short of staff and my car sit there for over a month and claim that I needed to fix the head gasket was the issue in order to do the engine inspection and fix the recall. I took it to the columbia location and they didn't do the recall but gave me a list of things and mentioned that the recall was not covered under the recall warranty. I'm not sure what that means when I clearly have a recall issue and the car is doing exactly that according to the issues for the recall. I told both places my car was doing exactly what the issues are stating in the recall in order to remedy it according to the remedy. But nothing has been done to fix the recalls issue.
I was involved in a head on collision with a f250 truck and the airbags did not deploy. I did hit my head on the steering wheel and have a bruise above my eye and some scratches on my knee. I had pain in my shoulder from seat belt. I took off from work on 2/2 to take care of car getting towed and I went to care now to be checked out and they sent me to the er for a possible scan, but once doctor checked me out they decided there was no need for a scan. I do not have any more information from my insurance company other than the body shop were car was towed to said it was a total loss and there is no reason they could find that the air bag did not deploy. I have owned the car since may of last year and have been to sent 2 safety recall 1 for the catalytic converter and 1 for try to stop kia Soul from being stolen. These are the only one I have received.
The contact owns a kia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly jerked and shook before returning to normal functionality. The contact stated that he had just received the vehicle from the dealer following the completion of recalls for NHTSA campaign number 20v750000 (engine) and NHTSA campaign number 22v096000 (air bags). The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the remedies for NHTSA campaign number 20v750000 (engine) and NHTSA campaign number 22v096000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. 144,000.
Dear officer, I'm writing to report the powertrain and engine issue on my green kia Soul 2017 with a 1. 6l engine. The engine misfired when I was driving on interstate 26 with my whole family (including my wife, mom, and 4-year-old daughter). The speed was down first with no signal and then the car started to shake strongly. It was extremely dangerous as it would very likely have made a collision from the back. I was so scared after that. I couldn't imagine the consequences if the car crashed due to a sudden engine misfire on the interstate. Thank godness, we are blessed as there was an exit that led us to get off the interstate. After towing the car to the dealer for a full inspection, I was told to pay at least $6,600 to buy a new engine to fix this issue without a warranty. I do need your help on the engine issue. More importantly, I hope no more similar safety events happening to other drivers and their families. I greatly appreciate your immediate attention and response. Thank you very much. Sincerely, jingwei li.
The contact owned a 2011 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 63 mph, an object hit the vehicle's front, driver side tire which caused the contact to loose control of the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact crashed into a highway sand barrel as the vehicle flipped forward and rolled over onto the driver side. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact exited the vehicle through the front passenger door with the assistance of a fellow motorist. The contact was taken by ambulance to the emergency room and was treated for head trauma, pain to both shoulders, neck, and back; as well as, scratches to the left elbow and right hand. A police report was filed. A couple sand barrels were damaged which left sand scattered across the highway. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
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all problems of the 2011 Kia Motor Soul
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Engine failure fluid leek and wire burning smells engine bursted into flames from the under carage of the engine.
Driving 36 mph and got hit in drive side and the airbags didn't deploy.
My vehicle was stolen and crashed but the air bags did not deploy.
The contact owned a 2012 kia Soul. The contact stated while stopped at an intersection, the vehicle independently accelerated while the contact's foot was on the brake pedal. The contact steered the vehicle to the left in an attempt to stop the acceleration and repeatedly depressed the brake pedal. Due to the failure, the contact hit a curb, a sidewalk post, and finally a retaining wall which stopped the acceleration. The sidewalk post was damaged due to the crash. The contact was unaware if any warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The air bags did not deploy at any time during the failure. A woman was knocked over by the vehicle as a result of the failure. The woman sustained a cut to her right hand and suffered pain to the right side of her body. The woman was taken to the hospital by ambulance for treatment, her whereabouts remain unknown. The contact was treated at the scene by paramedics but did not need further medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent mechanic and was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,700.
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all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Soul
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I have had my car to the dealership 3 times and scheduled for a4th time for this same issue. It is intermittent which I realize makes it hard to diagnose however the dealership kept it overnight in 2nd visit to try to reproduce it and they did. When driving, the car will randomly start beeping and errors cycle thru in the dash. It tells me that my braking system needs to be checked then lighting system, airbag system failing etc. It goes thru about 5 or 6 system errors. Not always same sysyems and not going at same rate of speed when it happens. I have been told it isn't a safety issue however they apparently do not know what it is causing it to do that so I'm not sure how they can definitively say that. 1st visit I was told they did a software update and that"fixed the problem". After a few weeks it started again. Then I was told that the front camera needed to be recalibrated. 3 weeks after that when the part arrived I was told that fixed the issue. A week later, it is again intermittently alarming while driving. It is very distracting not to mention scary when it happens. The fact that the part was backordered for 3 weeks that they thought would fix it leads me to believe it is happening to a lot of kia cars. It is also on some online forums where others are talking about the same issue. My car has less than 5000 miles on it and I have owned it for 9 months. I am afraid to drive it because it scares me when this happens. This has been ongoing since June.
The contact owns a 2013 kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bag new.
Abs and airbags not working!.
I had a crash that severely impacted the front end of this vehicle and the airbags did not deploy. I have minor injuries.
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all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Soul
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| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Air Bag problems | |
| Air Bag Not Deploy problems | |
| Air Bag Light On problems | |
| Side/window Air Bag problems | |
| Front Air Bag Sensor Control problems | |
| Front Air Bag problems | |
| Warning Light On problems |