Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Kia Soul submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
On Saturday June 18th, I was in a 4 car pile up accident. My kia soul was totaled, and the airbag did not deploy. Following the event, I am seeking medical attention for follow up. Research on the cause for failure to deploy has shown me there was a recall on these car for air bag issues. Please advise if there is a claim to file regarding this recall and accident.
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.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 17V608000 (STEERING), 22V096000 (AIR BAGS) and 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the dealer and manufacturer informed the contact there were no recalls associated with the VIN. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while the vehicle was driving at various speeds, stationary, or parked, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with catalytic converter failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that three years after the initial repair, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to contact the dealer and the manufacturer for the vehicle to be repaired under the recalls; however, the dealer and manufacturer declined to schedule an appointment for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly jerked and shook abnormally before returning to normal functionality. The contact retrieved the vehicle from the dealer following the repair under NHTSA Campaign Number 20V750000 (Engine) and NHTSA Campaign Number 22V096000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that 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 recall repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 144,000.
I phoned your hotline today to report that I have been unable to get the dealership and the manufacturer to repair the SAFETY recall. She told me filing a complaint wouldn’t help me even though I kept telling her that I wanted to file a complaint. I asked to speak to someone else and she said because she was working remotely I could not speak with anyone else. So I saw I could file a complaint online, but that doesn’t seem accurate either. I am completely frustrated. My vehicle isn’t up to safety standards and I cannot get anyone including this agency to help me solve the problem. Thank you
My wife was involved in a traffic accident yesterday where she was not at fault, was hit, had on her safety belt, and her head hit the steering wheel of this car and she lost consciousness and has lacerations requiring stitches on her face. The airbag should have deployed in this case and did not. I called 3 kia dealerships locally for several months since September 2022, requesting this warranty work be done, and they all refused to do the work by not scheduling me for a service appointment after repeated requests via telephone to each service department. They should have me in their computer system as having requested this work be done. Dealerships were DARCAR Kia Temple hills, Address: 4700 Branch Ave, Temple Hills, MD 20748, Koons Kia of Woodbridge, Address: 14208 Richmond Hwy, Woodbridge, VA 22191, and Ourisman Kia of Alexandria, Address: 8670 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22309. I filed this complaint several weeks or months ago and nothing has been done.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V75000 (Engine), the vehicle sputtered and hesitated while attempting to accelerate above 40 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the spark plugs were cracked. After replacing the spark plugs, the vehicle continued to experience failure. The contact stated that occasionally the vehicle stalled during the failure. Additionally, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact stated that the cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
I was informed by U.S. Mail with a letter from Kia America this vehicle has an important NHTSA Recall number 22V096. I have contacted three Kia dealerships since received the letter dated April 4, 2022, about 3 times each. Each time, a representative says they will contact me "when they receive parts for the recall" but this recall indicates there are no parts required, instead saying "dealers will update the ACU software to enable deployment of the frontal airbags..." I am concerned these three Kia dealerships are not acting in good faith to fix a critical safety recall on my vehicle. They are denying me service. This seems illegal. How do I get my car software fixed so the airbags will deploy properly in all accident conditions? These are the three dealerships I have left my contact information with, requesting recall service repair work to be done: Koons Kia of Woodbridge, 14208 Richmond Hwy, Woodbridge, VA 22191 Ourisman Kia of Alexandria, 8670 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22309 DARCARS Kia of Temple Hills, 4700 Branch Ave, Temple Hills, MD 20748
Took car into Dean McCary Mobile, Al on June 13, 2020 for the two recall, engine and air bag Also problems with car, wouldn’t pick up speed over 60 miles, with rattling noise, I was putting extra oil in car, because it kept using lots of oil, They told me they did an inspection on engine, and air bag, also they told me under engine was fire red inspection done by Tech: James Allen
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that upon placing the key into the ignition and turning the key in the on position, the passenger side curtain airbag deployed without warning. No injuries were reported. The dealer was notified of the failure and he was referred to an independent body shop for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the body shop and remained in the possession of the body shop. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the daughter was driving approximately 40 mph the vehicle crashed into the rear end of another vehicle. During the crash, the front end sustained severe damage and the vehicle was destroyed but the driver-side air bag did not deploy and the front driver-side seat belt malfunctioned and did not secure the occupant causing the driver's head to make contact with the steering wheel. The driver sustained a head injury that required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined and the local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 94,000.
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT JUST CAME ON FOR NO REASON. DEALER STATED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSORS BEING BAD AND THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS WOULD STILL DEPLOY BUT PASSENGER WON'T. DEALER ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR TO BE APPROXIMATELY $1,500. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000 MILES. KIA HAS A HISTORY OF ISSUES WITH THIS AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM SO THAT CONSUMERS AREN'T FORCED TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A REPAIR TO A CRITICAL SAFETY MECHANISM. SINCE I CANNOT AFFORD THIS LARGE EXPENSE AT THIS TIME, I'M BEING FORCED TO CONTINUE USING THE VEHICLE AS IS.
AFTER HITTING A SNOW PILE LEFT FROM A SNOW PLOW I JUMPED THE SNOW PILE AND HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER GOING BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH AIR BAGS DIDNT DEPLOY. I HIT IT MOSTLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT NOTHING HAPPENED STILL. I DESTROYED THE BUMPER AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE PROTECTION IS CRACKED BUT NO AIR BAGS? ITS NOT THE FIRST TIME FROM WHAT I CAN SEE FROM THIS MODEL THAT A 2014 SOUL WITH AN ISSUE WITH AIR BAGS. MY DAUGHTER THANKFULLY HAS CONTROL OF HER HEAD FOR THE MOST PART AND KEPT IT FROM GETTING HIT AS WE SPUN OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. THANKFULLY MISSING ANY OTHER VEHICLES BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE KIA SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE HEAD ON. DUE TO THE IMPACT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND WAS INITIALLY TREATED FOR A HEAD INJURY. DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT SHE CONTINUED TO SUFFER PAIN AND HAD MADE TWO ADDITIONAL VISITS TO THE SAME HOSPITAL FOR PAIN TO HER HEAD, NECK, BACK, RIGHT ARMS, RIGHT LEG, AND RIGHT HAND. THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE OTHER DRIVER WERE UNKNOWN SINCE TO THE DRIVER FLED THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. DUE TO THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, HER INSURANCE HAD TOWED THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER LOCATION TO PERFORM A DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO REPAIRED OR ASSESSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,965.
RECALL 17V608 DID NOT FIX PRIOR RECALL 14V332 AND 15V736 PROBLEMS, CAUSED FAILURE OF STEERING, AIRBAGS, AND ENGINE. ACCIDENT ENSUED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON CITY STREET AT SPEED UNDER 40 MPH. DRIVER WENT TO CHANGE LANES AND STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. REAR-ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF, CHANGE LANE INDICATOR WAS NOTED ON AT SCENE. DRIVER STATES VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE INTO LANE TO THE RIGHT AND, THEREFORE, REAR-ENDED VEHICLE. SEVERE DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF KIA SOUL NOTED. KIA WAS CONTACTED.
AT 37,000 MILES THE RACK AND PINION BROKE. THIS DISABLED THE CLOCK SPRING WHICH DISABLED THE AIR BAGS. WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH AND STEERING FAILED. THANK GOD I WAS NOT ON EXPRESSWAY GOING 55MPH OR WHEN THE RACK AND PINION BROKE MY STEERING ABILITY WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA AND RACK AND PINION REPLACED. I HAVE ANOTHER 2014 KIA SOUL AND I WORRY THE SAME THING MAY HAPPEN TO IT. KIA TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS A PART FAILURE.
CAR WAS TURNING AND STRUCK IN THE FRONT END AT APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH. IT WAS SPUN AROUND AND CAME TO A STOP. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED,. WHEN I CALLED KIA THEY WOULD NOT RESPOND AFTER I SENT THEM PICS. PICS ARE ATTACHED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY GEICO. PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE FRONT END IS GONE. YOU CAN REACH ME AT [XXX] IF NEEDED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT AS THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND DID NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V123000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 14V332000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
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.
HIT A STOPPED UPS DELIVERY VAN ON A MAJOR ROAD AS HE WAS MAKING A DELIVERY. I SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE LEFT REAR CORNER OF HIS VEHICLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY KIA SOUL. THE VEHICLE BECAME SLIGHTLY AIRBORNE AND TURNED MORE THAN 90 DEGREES, ALMOST FACING THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MY HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING SEVERE LACERATIONS TO MY FOREHEAD AND RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN TIME TO PREVENT SUBSTANTIAL INJURY. ALTHOUGH THE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY AT SOME POINT, THERE WERE NO VISIBLE INDICATIONS OR PAIN THAT THE AIRBAG DID IN FACT MAKE CONTACT WITH ANY PART OF MY FACE. *TR
THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR, THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED RESULTING FROM DRIVER ERROR IN A DARK RURAL AREA, SHARP S CURVE AND RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A GUARDRAIL AND OVER A SLIGHT DITCH, THEN INTO A FENCE. DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD, CRACKED WINDSHIELD, AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT FOR EITHER OF THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS. AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AS NOTED IN POLICE REPORT. CHECKED FOR ANY OPEN RECALLS FOR THIS VIN, HOWEVER, 2012 KIA SOUL HAD RECALLS FOR FAULTY AIRBAGS. INTERESTING. *TR
ANIMAL RAN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, WE WERE FORCED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, CAR DID NOT STOP. HEAD ON COLLISION INTO THE TREE(S). THE CAR STOPPED DEAD CENTER IN THE LARGE TREE I HIT, CAUSING MY BODY (PASSENGER) TO GO BETWEEN THE LAP BELT AND SHOULDER BELT. MY BODY SMACKED THE DASH AND HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. UPDATED 07/01/14 *BF..UPDATED 08/12/14 *BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2014 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH, BRUISING AND BACK INJURIES. A SECOND PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISING AND A SPRAINED ARM. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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