2015 Kia Soul Seat belts Problems

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat belt failed to latch and lock securely. The rear middle seat belt was difficult to close. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the oxygen sensor and catalytic converter were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted, and informed the contact that a diagnostic test was needed. The failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11657147

Incident

Nov 1, 2024

Mileage

104,000 mi

This is a supplement to the earlier filed report. The brakes on this Kia Soul did not appear to be working, no matter how hard I pressed on it. Further, I flew forward in this accident, causing me to hit my head. It was like the seatbelt was not working at all. I had to be checked for a potential concussion at the local hospital.

NHTSA ID

11533050

Incident

Jul 7, 2023

This vehicle is currently at Lunsford's towing, and will be moved to another location. Potentially this could be my new residence at [XXX] , but I would like to have contact/see if this has any issues first. There were two components of this accident: 1) a multi-vehicle collision, and a single vehicle collision between the Kia and a tree. I do not believe that these potential issues had much to do with the first component. However, I kept going after this accident, and had a large mark on my head. I am unsure about what my head hit, but my seatbelt may have failed to restrain me. Further, there was little braking before the first component of this, but there seemed to be little significant slowdown after the first part. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11533047

Incident

Jul 7, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her son was driving at 30 MPH, after becoming briefly distracted, the vehicle ahead dramatically reduced speeds, and as a result, he collided with the rear of that vehicle. After this, the seat belt failed to restrain him, and he hit his head on the windshield, causing him to lose consciousness. The force of the impact forced the vehicle off the road and into a ditch, where it came to rest after colliding with a tree, at which point the air bags deployed. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it remains. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The driver was transported to an area hospital, treated for a concussion, and held in the ER for observation. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11532770

Incident

Jul 7, 2023

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REGAL KIA (1025 BARTOW RD, LAKELAND, FL 33801) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,655.

NHTSA ID

11321215

Incident

Apr 14, 2020

Mileage

77,655 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SEIZED AND WAS INOPERABLE. LEITH AUTO PARK KIA (LOCATED AT 5330 ROLESVILLE RD, WENDELL, NC 27591, (919) 200-0560) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ID

11233085

Incident

Jul 2, 2019

Mileage

69,000 mi

I HIRED THIS CAR FROM THRIFTY RENTAL CARS, AND WAS IN A COLLISION ON THE I80 FREEWAY, WHEREIN I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT DURING STOP-START TRAFFIC, I WAS TRAVELLING WAY BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME IN PLACE, AND I FLEW FORWARD OVER THE STEERING WHEEL, AND HIT THE WINDSCREEN. I SUFFERED MILD CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, AND BRUISING DOWN THE FRONT OF MY BODY. I MAY HAVE ALSO PERMANENTLY DAMAGED MY NECK. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO THRIFTY, BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO TAKE ANY ACTION.

NHTSA ID

10960215

Incident

Feb 12, 2016

Mileage

31,393 mi

CURRENT ISSUES WITH MY CAR, LURCHES FORWARD, LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. KIA IS REFUSING TO FIX, DO TO ME LIVING ON REMOTE ISLAND IN ALASKA. CASE #'S OF CALLS WITH KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER: [XXX] RECALL INFORMATION SA206 SEAT BELT SC116 SAFETY RECALL ACCELERATOR PEDAL SC117 LOGIC UPDATE SC125 SAFETY RECALL PINION PLUG OPTIONS: KIA BUYS BACK THE DEFECTIVE CAR KIA SOUL VIN# [XXX] 2015 THEY SOLD ME. KIA BARGES MY DEFECTIVE CAR TO WASHINGTON, AND PAYS FOR MY RENTAL CAR UNTIL MY KIA IS FIXED AND RETURNED. KIA SENDS TOOLS TO LOCAL ALL AMERICAN AUTO REPAIR, SO THEY CAN FIX THIS IS NOT A GAME, MY CAR HAS TWO MAJOR SAFETY RECALLS, AND TWO MINOR RECALLS HAVING TO DO WITH SOFTWARE AND SEATBELT. I BELIEVE THE KIA MANUFACTURER IS OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY, AND KEEP ME AND MY TWO CHILDREN SAFE FROM INJURY OR DEATH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10893229

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

AFTER BUCKLING THE SEAT BELT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND GOING DOWN THE ROAD IF YOU TRY TO LEAN FORWARD ONE FINDS THAT THE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT PERMIT ANY MOVEMENT YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT AND THEN RETURN IT TO ITS PARKED POSITION AND THEN PULL IT BACK OUT AGAIN. ONCE THAT HAS BEEN DONE YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD OR PULL ON THE BELT ONLY ONCE BEFORE IT LOCKS UP AGAIN. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHEN THE SEAT BELT DOES THIS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ONE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT IF THERE WAS A LOT OF TENSION ON THE BELT FROM ITS OWN TIGHTENING. ONE SHOULD BE FREE TO LEAN FORWARD TO OPEN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT OR TURN TO ATTEND TO MATTERS IN THE BACK SEATS. I HAVE ACTUALLY SIMULATED A SCENARIO WHERE THERE WAS EXTREME TENSION ON THE BELT FROM PUSHING BACK IN MY SEAT AND TIGHTENING THE BELT BY PUSHING THE BELT BACK UP OVER MY SHOULDER AND WHEN I TRIED TO RELEASE THE BELT IT WAS SO HARD TO PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON THAT I HAD TO ASK MY WIFE TO GET A RUBBER MALLET AND A LONG SCREWDRIVER SO THAT I COULD HIT THE RELEASE BUTTON WITH THE SCREW DRIVER AGAINST THE RELEASE BUTTON. IT FINALLY DI DISENGAGE. I TOLD MY WIFE TO GO TO THE DEALER AND TELL THEM TO FIX IT AND SHE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE HAD A 2013 KIA SOUL AND THE SEAT BELTS DID THE SAME THING. I FIND THIS SITUATION TO BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THIS PROBLEM COULD BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF FATALITIES.I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER IN REGARD TO THE 2015 AND THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT AND IT WORKS FINE.IT DOES NOT WORK FINE BY ANY STANDARD. I THINK THE DEALER/KIA KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM BUT NEED TO BE TOLD TO FIX IT. AT BEST THIS IS A MAJOR NUISANCE AND AT WORST IT IS A DEATH TRAP FROM WHICH WITHOUT A KNIFE ONE CANNOT ESCAPE.

NHTSA ID

10717885

Incident

Mar 12, 2015

Mileage

512 mi