Are Kia Souls Being Recalled

253,281 models from 2017 to 2019 Kia Souls built between July 25, 2016, and December 24, 2018
953 Model Years 2017 to 2019 Kia Soul EVs made between May 18, 2017, and September 28, 2018,
From March 2, 2017, 108,693 Kia Fortes for the model years 2017 to 2018 were built.
up to July 27, 2018
47,690 models from 2017 to 2019 Kia Sedonas built between July 12, 2016 and January 10, 2019
On October 4, 2016, 2 (two!) 2017 Kia Forte Koups were produced.

Kia Recall Contact Information

Instructions on how and when to bring their Kia into a dealership should be sent to the owners of these vehicles by first class mail at the address on file. On March 21, 2022, letters are anticipated to be mailed. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. SC226 is the Kia recall number.

The ACU will be examined by dealers. A dealer will swap out the Airbag Control Unit for a “better” one if the airbag warning light is already on. If the light is not on, a software update will be applied that, according to Kia, will guarantee proper airbag deployment in the case of a collision.

Recall Reimbursement and Unaffected Cars

Kia asserts Sedonas produced in 2019 after January 10 come standard with an upgraded airbag control unit. Kia Fortes for the 2019 model year and new-generation Kia Souls for the 2020 model year both received a different component. According to the Defect Notice Report on the NHTSA website, “Kia will reimburse owners for repair charges previously paid pursuant to Kia’s General Reimbursement Plan submitted May 11, 2020.”

According to Kia and NHTSA, there have been no crashes that have been associated with problems with the airbag systems on the impacted Kia models to far. However, 947 warranty claims and 13 customer complaints have been made in relation to the flaw.

Which Kia models are subject to a recall?

Certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). The printed circuit board’s memory chip may come into touch with the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover, breaking the electrical circuit.

Air bags: Frontal

Some 2014 Soul vehicles are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). If the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cannot communicate with the front impact sensors during a collision, the front air bags may not deploy.

Incorrect front air bag deployment might make it more likely that a crash will result in injuries.

The ACU software will be updated at no cost by the dealers. On April 4, 2022, owner notification letters were sent out. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. The recall number for Kia is SC229

Air bags

Injury risk in a crash might increase if air bags do not deploy as intended.

Dealers will examine the ACU and, if necessary, replace it or update its software. There will be no fees for the repairs. On March 21, 2022, owner notification letters were sent out. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. SC226 is the Kia recall number.

Engine

A select number of 20202021 Soul and 2021 Seltos vehicles with 2.0L Nu MPI engines are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). Engine damage could come from improper heat treatment of the piston oil rings.

A damaged engine could stall, making collisions more likely. Additionally, oil leaks onto hot exhaust components raise the possibility of a fire.

Owners will be informed by Kia, and dealers will evaluate the engine free of charge and replace it if necessary. Kia will also implement the Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) application. On June 11th, 2021, the recall started. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. The recall number for Kia is SC209.

How will I find out whether my Kia Soul is being recalled?

One of the popular Japanese companies that was involved in the biggest airbag recall in history was Kia. Approximately 507,000 Kia vehicles were among the 33.8 million vehicles that have so far been recalled. Due to the enormous number of impacted automobiles that run a substantial danger of fatal airbags, the Takata Airbag Recall is a massive concern. Due to prolonged exposure to extreme heat and humidity, the bags run the risk of exploding when they are deployed.

Five Kia cars from 2010 to 2013 are currently covered by the Takata recall program. Owners of impacted automobiles should expect a letter from Kia informing them of the situation. To solve the issue, they could potentially work with Kia Customer Service at 800-333-4542.

What issues are there with Kia Souls?

The Kia Soul dominated the market for more than ten years with its boxy appearance, which people either love or detest, good safety ratings, and a long list of standard amenities. Today, the Soul is among Kia’s best-selling vehicles and is still a serious competitor in the subcompact crossover SUV market.

Despite being a reliable small SUV, there have been several problems, complaints, and recalls across a number of model years. There are some Kia Soul years to stay away from when purchasing used.

The worst Kia Soul years to steer clear of due to reliability difficulties are listed below, along with the safest years for used purchasing.

Which Kia Soul Years to Avoid?

If at all possible, stay away from buying a secondhand Kia Soul from one of the following model years:

Kia Soul 2012
Kia Soul (2013)
Kia Soul (2014)
Kia Soul 2015
Kia Soul 2016

Kia Soul

The 2012 Kia Soul should be avoided at all costs, according to the people from Car Reports, who cite 470 NHTSA complaints. Body integrity issues and flawed safety features were its principal shortcomings.

Clunking noises when turning are this Soul year’s most prevalent problem. Owners have mentioned hearing a clunking or popping sound when rotating the steering wheel. Additionally, some owners have heard loud rattles when driving on roads or hitting small bumps. Owners are perplexed that there hasn’t been a recall because this body integrity issue is so prevalent.

The 2012 Soul’s unlatched hood while driving is another potential issue. Although this is a rare problem, it poses a serious safety risk, particularly on roads or freeways.

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Kia Soul

Several owners of the 2013 Soul have suffered engine failure, which has been known to occur at roughly 85,000 miles or more. Some users reported hearing a banging sound emanating from the engine, while others just experienced an engine failure. The expected fix for this issue is to replace the engine, which will set you back a whooping $5,000.

A few owners reported that their Soul’s engine had started to make a ticking noise, which is less serious. The ticking noise, which may be anywhere from mildly bothersome to frighteningly loud, compels owners to visit their nearby Kia dealership. With an average repair cost of $4,100, we cannot recommend the Soul model year.

Kia Soul

The 2014 Kia Soul is the greatest loser in terms of complaints. The 2014 Soul is unquestionably one of the worst Kia Soul years to stay away from, receiving more than 900 complaints. Similar to the 2013 Kia Soul, the 2014 model similarly receives a pitiful 1 out of 5 stars from Consumer Reports.

One of the 2014 Soul’s most serious problems, according to a number of Consumer Reports owners, is engine failure. This issue appears to be connected to the oil pump in the Soul, which results in higher-than-normal oil consumption by the engine. One owner said that the car began requiring a quart of oil every 300 miles.

The 2014 Soul has a terrible comeback of the engine’s annoying ticking/knocking noise. The initial diagnosis by technicians is that this occurs at about 105k miles and is caused by low oil. However, the owners who are meticulous and keep up with their oil changes are the ones who complain the most.

Kia Soul

The 2015 Kia Soul is another vehicle you ought to stay away from, with more than 700 NHTSA complaints and four recalls to its name. The 2015 model of the Soul has numerous engine problems, just like the other problematic Souls on our list.

Engine failure is the issue that needs to be addressed first. Around 80k miles is the typical mileage at which this problem appears. Many customers have noted that the engine initially made knocking or ticking noises or began to burn more oil. The Soul’s engine finally just stopped working. You will be responsible for paying the estimated $4,620 cost of the engine rebuild or replacement if this occurs.

Excessive oil use is another area of concern. It seems that the engine guzzles oil like it’s nobody’s business when it’s not breaking down.

Check out our list of the top 10 most dependable used sedans available if you’re ready to start looking for a used automobile and reliability is important to you.

Kia Soul

The number one issue with the 2016 Soul, as measured by the severity scale, is a blown engine. According to several accounts, the 2016 Soul’s engine is prone to blowing up, particularly after 90k miles. This is not only dangerous, but an engine replacement will cost you almost $7,000 as well.

Additionally, Kia Soul owners complained that their car simply won’t start. Although there are indications that there may be a battery issue, most concerns are unrelated to this.

Common Kia Soul Problems

Although the Kia Soul is extremely reliable in every way, there are a few persistent issues that impact cars from a few years ago. Here are a few examples:

spike in cruise control There are rumors that some Soul models have a surgey cruise control technology. Owners reported that when the SUV was in cruise control mode, it would suddenly accelerate and then slow down to a crawl. As of the time of writing, Kia has not yet addressed this potentially deadly problem.
a ticking clock
Although it’s not the most typical of Soul models, 2013 Soul owners find it extremely annoying. Hearing loud knocking or ticking noises emanating from the engine is not enjoyable. The Kia Soul has yet another problem with its engine.
spinning while clicking
The 2012 Soul’s clunking sounds when turning were a problem for owners. This is unquestionably a body integrity issue that Kia overlooked.

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Kia Soul

One of the most dependable Kia Soul generations was the second one ever produced. A adaptable, reasonably priced, and all-around useful compact SUV is the 2011 Soul. Car Complaints awarded the 2011 Soul a “Pretty Good” Seal of Approval for dependability, stating that it is “pleasant to drive, roomy, and trustworthy.”

Kia Soul

The 2018 Soul features a huge luggage area, a roomy interior, a nimble turbocharged engine, and top-notch reliability ratings. In fact, the 2018 Soul received a fantastic Quality & Reliability score from J.D. Power of 84 out of 100.

Kia Soul

The Kia Soul made a victorious comeback the following year with its 2019 year model. The 2019 Kia Soul received praise for its smooth ride, great utility, and respectable fuel efficiency. You may put your reliability concerns to rest because the 2019 Kia Soul received a reliability rating of 4 out of 5.

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What percentage of Kia Souls have burned up?

According to Brooks, “the recall did not address the fundamental faults with the engine design that gave rise to these difficulties in the first place.”

Brooks informed the I-Team that a consumer alert is unavoidable in light of the most recent allegations from the I-Team as well as the continued complaints of flames and engine failures that the Center for Auto Safety is receiving.

We’ll start notifying consumers, he said, and work to spread the news to others looking at used autos.

The 4 million Kia and Hyundai vehicles produced between 2011 and 2019 that could be included in the consumer advisory all feature the Theta 2 engines that have been involved in multiple recalls.

Hyundai Sonata 20112019
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, 20132019
Hyundai Tucson, Models 20142015, 20182019
Kia Optima, 20112019
Kia Sorento, 20122019
Kia Sportage 20112019

According to Brooks, the only way to avoid these complaints from coming in “is to warn people to prevent them from owning one of these vehicles in the first place,” as stated by ABC Action News.

Regarding the announcement from the Center for Auto Safety, we contacted both automakers.

Hyundai’s reaction was

In order to solve engine problems, Hyundai has taken a variety of proactive measures, such as carrying out a number of recalls, introducing a new engine monitoring and diagnostic technology, offering extended warranties, and improving our customer service response. Hyundai promotes a culture of openness and responsibility because customer safety comes first in all we do.

Kia answered:

The safety of our cars is our first concern at Kia America. We promote an environment of openness and accountability, and we take great pride in the reliability of our products and our excellent safety record. As part of ongoing monitoring efforts, we regularly assess our vehicles, and we submit quarterly reports to NHTSA detailing any consumer complaints, notices, or claims for any safety issues. Every Kia car marketed in the US complies with or surpasses all requirements for vehicle safety set out by the federal government.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration declared in December that it would look further into the extent of the recalls and the efficacy of its remedies. NHTSA reported 158 injuries and over 5,000 fires as of December. Two deaths involving on-fire Kia Souls were covered by the I-Team.

Multiple flaws are linked to the fires in recent recalls. They include fuel line leaks that can cause vehicles to catch fire while moving, electrical issues with the anti-lock brake system, and defective recall repairs.

Thousands of Kia Optimas from 2011 to 2014 were recalled in 2018 as a result of the I-exposure Team’s of subpar recall repairs. The 2011 Optima owned by Mathias was exempt from the recall, though.

We requested Meier Fire Investigations’ Richard Meier, a fire investigator, to look over Mathias’ car. He came to the conclusion that there was a fuel pipe gas leak.

The fuel line connector coming off and spilling gasoline is the most likely reason, according to what Meier has seen so far.

According to Mathias, “You must correct those. That only increases the risk to more people.”

Several Kia fire victims, like Yolanda Lawson, informed us that their brakes failed after their cars caught fire. Both the conventional and emergency brakes, according to Yolanda, failed. To get the automobile to stop, she forced it into the median.

Fourteen months after his leased 2019 Kia Soul caught fire, Jordan Carlton passed away in 2020. Becky, his mother, who was in the car with him, got away. Jordan’s father, Robert Carlton, claimed that the brakes failed and kept his son from exiting the car in time to save himself.

The I-Team discovered that Yolanda’s 2017 Sportage was recalled by Kia in March 2021 due to a potential electrical fire hazard. Yolanda said that she was never notified of a recall.

Kia was requested by The I-Team to inspect Maureen Huckler’s 2015 Soul. According to a report that Kia gave to Maureen, the engine’s catastrophic failure, which left a hole in the engine block and caused engine oil to spill over the exhaust system, was what started the fire.

However, records indicate that the car was recalled in 2020 for an engine inspection to check for flaws that can cause a fire. In March 2021, the examination was carried out by a Kia dealer. After six months, the Soul caught fire.

2020 saw a $760 million settlement between Kia and Hyundai in a class-action lawsuit involving engine fires. As a result, Mathias and Yolanda might be eligible to receive funding to make up for their losses. Regarding the Kia Souls, litigation is still going on.