2021 Kia Soul Brakes Problems

I am filing this complaint to report a serious safety failure involving the service braking system and the failure of Forward Collision‑Avoidance Assist (FCA) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) on my 2021 Kia Soul. During an imminent collision event, the vehicle failed to brake as expected, and FCA/AEB did not activate, despite conditions that should have triggered emergency braking. This created an extremely dangerous situation and placed me and other motorists at risk of serious injury or death. The vehicle is currently subject to an active recall and has now been inoperable at the dealership for approximately one month under the lemon law process. The failure involved federally regulated safety systems, not supplemental or convenience features. I reported this incident to Kia America Customer Care, but the manufacturer has declined to conduct a manufacturer‑level safety investigation unless I personally pay for removal and shipment of the ACU/Event Data Recorder (EDR). Kia America has also declined to provide any transportation assistance while the vehicle remains unsafe and inoperable and has referred the matter back to the dealership and my insurance instead. Kia America has stated in writing that they rely solely on dealerships for diagnosis and repair and that they will not investigate further unless I incur additional costs. This refusal to independently investigate a braking system failure raises serious safety concerns, particularly given the potential risk to other drivers if this defect is not addressed. Due to the prolonged loss of use of the vehicle, I am experiencing significant financial hardship and risk to my employment, as I can no longer afford a rental vehicle. I am submitting this complaint so that NHTSA is aware of a potential defect involving brake system failure and non‑functioning collision‑avoidance systems on this model.

NHTSA ID

11724786

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

Description of Incident: On February 13, 2026, at approximately 3:00 PM, I was driving my 2021 Kia Soul (VIN: [XXX] ) on Calvine Road in Elk Grove, CA. A vehicle suddenly merged into my path. I immediately attempted to apply the brakes, but the pedal failed to depress or engage normally. Despite the imminent collision, the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) failed to provide any alert, and the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system did not activate. To avoid a high-speed rear-end collision, I was forced to perform an emergency steering maneuver toward the curb and into roadside bushes to stop the vehicle. This maneuver resulted in severe mechanical failure, including a broken driver-side axle, damaged rims, and broken brake pads. The dealership (Elk Grove Kia) has provided an estimate of $9,461.67 for these repairs but has failed to explain why the primary safety systems and service brakes failed to function as designed during this emergency. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11718935

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

Description of Incident: On February 9, 2026, at approximately 3:00 PM, I was driving my 2021 Kia Soul on Calvine Road and Winterberry in Elk Grove, CA. A vehicle suddenly merged into my path. I immediately attempted to apply the brakes, but the pedal failed to depress or engage normally. Despite the imminent collision, the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) failed to provide any alert, and the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system did not activate. To avoid a high-speed, rear-end collision, I was forced to perform an emergency steering maneuver toward the curb and into roadside bushes to stop the vehicle. This maneuver resulted in severe mechanical failure, including a broken driver-side axle, damaged rims, and broken brake pads. The dealership (Elk Grove Kia) has provided an estimate of $9,461.67 for these repairs but has failed to explain why the primary safety systems and service brakes failed to function as designed during this emergency.

NHTSA ID

11717950

Incident

Feb 9, 2026

Driving, slowing down for a stop light. Put the brakes on, they did not work. Push the all the way to the floor. Hit the vehicle in front of me. Luckily going slow between lights

NHTSA ID

11663556

Incident

May 3, 2025

Hi I keep needed a oil change on this vehicle please have Kia to check why thanks and I sometimes smell oil out of no where thanks [XXX] [XXX] and I have had serval oil changes at Walmart only since I got the vehicle from carmax INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11651966

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

We were going south on [XXX] about 25 mph intending to make a left turn onto [XXX] My wife said “slow down or you won’t make the turn” to which I replied “I am trying but it won’t slow down” As I applied the brakes to slow down to turn, instead the car started to speed up and I could not make the left turn. I continued down the road trying to slow down enough to attempt a left turn on to [XXX] But the car continued to go even faster, so I pumped the brakes trying to slow down and get the car to stop. Instead, the car kept speeding up faster. In seeing I was close to the end of the dead-end road I swerved to the right to avoid the parked Train cars at the end of the road only to crash into the corner of a building which stopped us. At which time I was rendered unconscious. Something caused the car to speed up excessively and the brakes were unresponsive and should be available for further inspections. Not being able to physically get the car under control put the safety of my wife, myself, and others at risk. In researching I have found that this problem has been reproduced in real time and experienced by multiple others in recent years. Our insurance company has had the cars EDR data inspected although further inspection is warranted. There were no prior warnings or symptoms of this problem until the above incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11643735

Incident

Aug 15, 2024

At my last six month servicing the service person neglected to notice my annual inspection was due. He did, however, tell me my brake pads needed replacing. I asked how that was possible since the car had less than 10,000 miles on it. He went to check with the manager after which he came back and said my brakes were fine. I got a ticket two weeks ago for not having a current inspection. I tried to contact the dealer a half dozen times via phone and their chat feature. They did not get back to me as promised. I scheduled an inspection at a local station and the mechanic noticed when he took my tires off for rotating that my brake pads measured 5.32 seconds. There was no apparent reason for this unusual wear and tear. I tried again to reach the dealer to ask why there would be excess wear on the pads and again heard nothing back. I contacted Kia of America but they would only take a report until I got a diagnosis from a certified dealer. I reminded the rep that there would be a record from my last servicing of 11/23 but was put off with repetitions of the script they use. I am concerned that there is an issue with the rear brake installation on this car that could lead to a dangerous condition for drivers.

NHTSA ID

11575133

Incident

Mar 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that after activating the air conditioning the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Also, the contact stated while depressing the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal extended to the floor causing the braking distance to be extended. The contact stated that there was popping sound coming from the steering column while turning the steering wheel in either direction. The contact stated the headlights were dim and failed to properly illuminate the roadway and the rear brake lights also failed illuminate while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the rear brake light wiring harness was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,000.

NHTSA ID

11543795

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

Mileage

12,000 mi

When exiting the highway, I pushed on brake to slow down and car accelerated at fast speed and had to use emergency brake.

NHTSA ID

11485768

Incident

Sep 21, 2022

I WAS GOING TO GET MY MAIL ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHERE I ALWAYS PARK. I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SPED UP AND HIT TWO MAILBOXES. I COULDN'T GET IT TO STOP. I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST IT WAS GOING WHEN I HIT THE MAILBOXES

NHTSA ID

11387530

Incident

Dec 21, 2020

Mileage

10 mi