2025 Kia Soul Owner Complaints

I purchased a used 2025 Kia Soul with approximately 12,930 miles on the odometer in July 2026. Prior to Friday, August 1, 2026, I had not experienced any warning lights, warning messages, drivability issues, or other symptoms. The vehicle appeared to operate normally. On August 1, 2026, as I pulled out of the parking lot, the car surged or lurched forward while pushing on the gas. I pulled over, and the engine RPM still would increase on its own while the vehicle was in park, and and while stopped with the brake pedal applied. On one occasion in traffic a week before, the vehicle stalled unexpectedly. At the time I thought I did something wrong and didn't initially think it was a defect. This has created a safety concern because the vehicle appears to accelerate or push forward without me doing anything. The condition raised concerns about maintaining control of the vehicle in traffic and while stopped behind other vehicles. The vehicle was inspected by a Kia dealership. I was informed that a technician performed a road test and was able to reproduce the concern I reported. The dealership initially identified contaminated A/C refrigerant and recommended evacuation and recharge of the A/C system. After further diagnosis, I was informed that the A/C compressor may have internal damage and may require replacement. The root cause of the unexpected revving, stalling, and lurching has not been conclusively determined. I have received conflicting information regarding whether the A/C system is responsible for the condition and whether the vehicle is safe to drive. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Kia Customer Care reviewed the situation and recommended that the vehicle be evaluated by a different Kia dealership for a second opinion. No police report or insurance investigation has been conducted regarding this issue. Someone advised me to file this report, saying that an AC compressor can't make a car engine lurch.

NHTSA ID

11755282

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

Car window was broken into while the car was locked and the alarm was on. the alarm did not go off!

NHTSA ID

11740988

Incident

May 30, 2026

When pulling out of a parking spot all of collision responses started to flash. This included front collision, side collision and rear collision. The power steering no longer worked. I bought the car new in 11/05/2025. I only have 1,311 miles on the car. I did have an oil change done by the dealer about a week prior and the report showed no problems. I am now very concerned about driving it even after the car would be repaired. I will say that KIA America arranged for the tow back to the dealership and I was given a loaner car to use. I honestly feel this is a safety hazard. Regards, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11740949

Incident

May 22, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11726767

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

Low beam headlights so dim is impossible to drive at night.

NHTSA ID

11722928

Incident

Mar 3, 2026

Headlight housing kept falling out of the bracket Driving at night impossable. Fixed one light still dim lights maKES DRIVING AT night dangerous. Second dealer instructed me to not sue the suto light setting because it dims the headlights. It appears that the front bumper design blocks the light to the roadway. In my view the 4 seperte visits to the Family dealership in Saint Augestein Fl suggest ther is nothing more he can do to improve the light problem. What am I supposd to do to have this 2025 new KIA soul problem corrected that I so I can drive at night

NHTSA ID

11715290

Incident

Sep 7, 2025

I am submitting this complaint to report serious concerns regarding the quality, safety, and reliability of my new Kia Soul, as well as the financial burden caused by defects that should not occur on a vehicle with such low mileage. At approximately **8,500 miles**, one of the original tires failed prematurely. I was forced to purchase a used tire to keep the vehicle safely drivable. I had the front alignment inspected, and I was informed that it was within normal specifications, yet the tire issue persisted. Now at **10,000 miles**, I am still experiencing abnormal tire wear. Additionally, at **10,000 miles**, the vehicle began making **grinding noises when applying the brakes**, which is extremely concerning for a car that is still essentially new. These issues raise questions about the vehicle’s manufacturing quality and whether it meets reasonable consumer expectations for safety and durability. I purchased this vehicle with the expectation that it would be reliable and free from major defects. Instead, I am facing unexpected expenses, safety concerns, and ongoing problems that should be covered under warranty. I am now questioning whether I should continue making payments on a vehicle that is already showing signs of significant defects. I am requesting that the FTC review this matter as a potential issue involving product quality, warranty compliance, and consumer protection. I am seeking assistance in ensuring that Kia addresses these defects appropriately and that my rights as a consumer are upheld. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

NHTSA ID

11714991

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

2 incidents driving in a not familiar area...Almost drove off the road in very dark conditions at a light because I couldn't see that my road had ended .I was almost side swiped trying to get back on the road the last second.Iwas not taking any meds abd Don't drink Also drive at night on well lit highways.Also the lights are so dim that my road assist features did not activate on dark rainy roads where it could not see road markings

NHTSA ID

11707067

Incident

Dec 25, 2025

While driving, the vehicle began accelerating (forced acceleration) without driver input. When driver attempted to stop or slow the vehicle down, the brakes were unresponsive due to the brake override system failure. Because the vehicle could not be stopped or slowed down, and to avoid hitting or harming others, driver veered off the road which caused the vehicle to flip multiple times and finally stop, landing on the roof. It was noted that the engine was still running at that time. The safety of the driver and others was in immediate risk, as the vehicle could not be controlled. The problem has not been reproduced by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.

NHTSA ID

11693405

Incident

Oct 4, 2025

Headlights when on dim are inadequate. You can not see the road. You can not drive with your lights on bright in traffic. Severe hazard to all. Near miss on animals and road damage. Very frightening.

NHTSA ID

11677971

Incident

Jul 7, 2025

Humidity gets insiste headlights. This issue affects headlights performance making hard to see at night. Safety is at risk.

NHTSA ID

11673048

Incident

Jul 11, 2025

2025 Kia Soul LX Headlights. Totally inadequate standard headlights. Higher end models get LED headlights but this standard light system on the LX is dangerous on anything but well lit streets. Safety should not be an option. I would have upgraded to a model that has adequate headlights but was unaware of how bad the standard headlights were until after purchase. These standard headlights should never have been approved by the DOT. There are many reports online about this issue and I'm hoping it will be addressed soon.

NHTSA ID

11670886

Incident

Jan 1, 2025