Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2021 Kia Soul submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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
Mi carro hay veces que prende la luz de la engine, lo lleve a checar y salió en la computadora que era un problema de Power Train system, que era secondary DTCs P1C28 Y P1C28000, lo busque en Google y salía que era un problema muy recurrente en Kias souls y sorentos. Que podría causar incendios
The entire car is dead from the engine to the key function completely dead. The car broke down 3 time in the middle of the street which could've caused a serious crash putting my safety and others at risk. The problem has been addressed to two different dealers and Kia corporate without resolution. I did make a police report about the mold infestation inside the car. I did now see any warnings prior to the complete reck. The cars been dead from the past 3 months. Both dealers are refusing and/or delaying any type of resolution in fact they gave me even more pressure. Causing me more anxiety than tranquility. Elevating my emotional health.
Auto Start Stop Issue - Vehicle will stall and not start when waiting at a red light after you let go of break. All warning lights would turn on and stall.
When the car was originally going out, the check engine light came on and the engine was making a funny sound, then after we filled up on gas like 10-15 miles later, the engine shut off and stopped accelerating but all of the electronics were still coming on, the battery and oil pressure light came on as well, we pulled it over and when trying to start, it was cranking but not coming on, but the electronics and everything was still working just fine, radio worked and my phone was charging, eventually when we tried cranking again, the engine started rattling and grinding . Towed it to Kia. KIA said they did every test possible on the car and are about 90% sure that the car needs a new ecu, but that kia doesn't manufacture that part anymore and that if they made it, it could take 2 weeks to 4 months, they're saying that it's not apart of the warranty so it would be expensive. They said that the best bet would be to trade in the car. Then they asked for all receipts for oil changes. Then they said it's the camshaft. "Wanted to reach out to let you know we need to replace the Cam shaft, the camshaft phaser and valve cover gasket before we can do the test for the recall this will cost about $1530". He said this after already saying they tested it. They are refusing to repair the recall. This is the Kia dealership in Gettysburg PA.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); 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 contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated causing the contact to depress the accelerator pedal to continue driving. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light the vehicle stalled with the message “Auto STOP Off” and to shift to park to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light, battery failure, and low oil light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle remained with the dealer for a month and the contact was informed that the recall repair had been completed. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that the recall repair was on hold. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Tempe Kia (8005 S Autoplex Loop, Tempe, AZ 85284); and the contact was informed that the first dealer had reported that the vehicle was already repaired under the recall even though the VIN tool indicated that the VIN was still under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 68,600. Parts distribution disconnect.
Vehicle idles low and stalls. This has happened very often while at stop lights and in turning lanes almost causing an accident. Took to the dealership and was told it was because it’s a small engine. The engine sounds like it is low on oil even though oil levels are good. Have had oil consumption and was told it was “within range”. Back hatch will not open from outside and the lights above the license plate no longer work even though we have replaced bulbs and checked fuses. Despite taking the car to the dealership multiple times since purchase and letting them know the issues they continue to tell me there is nothing wrong with the car and have not fixed the issue.
The contact owned a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning electrical odor. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on other occasions while the vehicle was idling, the RPM fell. The dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
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)
Less than 24 hours after being purchased as a Kia factory certified pre-owned vehicle my daughter was driving. While driving headlights, wipers, and dash lights went out including infotainment/CarPlay map display on a rainy day. California requires headlights be on when wipers are used. Occurred while doing approximately 25 mph after going over a speed bump. When stopped and key was turned to ACC, they came back on. Issue did not return when vehicle was started again. Dealer has said they can find not fault. We have located threads for this issue with other Kia models on [XXX] . One common factor is they are key start, not push start models. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My vehicle at three months had transmission failure like many 2021 Kia souls after the repair I began to experience, mini electrical issues and steering issues which are very common for this model year. Most recently I have taken it in for electrical issues. My rear brake lights are not working the fuses burn and the wiring has burned. in addition, there is a bulletin that Kia put out to their dealers asking to repair suspension and steering problems on hundreds of thousands of vehicles but this is not a recall yet my vehicle experience the same symptoms and my vehicle was not repaired siding I was too close to the end of my warranty please see the last page the Kia bulletin regarding popping in the steering the dealer installed parts at purchase of the vehicle in 2021 and please see the brake light repairs Kia motors forced me to sign a disclaimer when the when the transmission went out siding, I would never complain about the vehicle. After submitting a case to the department of Justice in California, Kia instantly reopened my case. The wiring repairs were recorded on my invoices as #Warranty repairs, but when I call Kia motors themselves, they do not show any warranty repairs performed on my vehicle. I don’t understand why they are hiding this information. Again, please see the Kia bulletin in my attachments they did not repair my vehicle based on the bulletin.
My 2021 Kia Soul was an attempted theft. The vehicle was locked and the would-be thieves gained access by breaking the passenger rear window. The True failure is in the ignition system. As the thieves tore apart the steering column and dismantled the ignition system, and they were ready to pull away before being interrupted. This defect in the simplicity and ease of access to the ignition system without ANY safe guards to prevent theft poses a safety risk to those who may interrupt would-be thieves in the action. While also posing a risk to the general public by inciting further possible road hazards, due to the nature of those operating the vehicles.
Horn fails to operate. 2nd time for this car. 1st time was repaired by dealer as warranty. Now failed again. Car only has 14000 miles on it.
When exiting the highway, I pushed on brake to slow down and car accelerated at fast speed and had to use emergency brake.
HAD CAR 1 WEEK - 204 MILES. POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55. THEN THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. THEN ALL WARNING LIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING OFF AND ON THEN FINALLY JUST OFF. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT WHERE ALL SYSTEMS STOPPED WORKING. WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO CLOSE SUN ROOF. NO POWER DOOR LOCKS - HAD TO OPERATE MANUALLY. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THANKFULLY I AM A STRONG PERSON AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT WITHOUT INCIDENT. I AM NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENED SINCE I DID NOT EVEN HAVE WORKING HAZARD LIGHTS.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, LOST WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS. HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. VEHICLE STATED KEY WASN'T DETECTED IN CAR. WHILE IN MOTION USING OTHER VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY THANKFULLY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT.
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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