2011 Kia Soul Electrical System

This complaint is in reference to existing recall 23v652 for various KIAs including my 2011 Soul. This defective fuse could cause a fire, and owners advised to park outside and not drive vehicle. Advised in November letter, I have called KIA Customer Care and local dealer today (Jan 9 2024), and still no repair solution. I find this delay in remedy unacceptable as I am without transportation. Would appreciate your using your influence to move this to resolution. Thank you.

Recall #23V652000-Faulty fuse can cause fire while parked or driving. I was advised by letter from KIA in November 2023 that due to this defect, the vehicle should be parked outside and not driven until a replacement part was available. I issued a complaint in January 2024 that no resolution was determined by KIA, and I was then rendered without transportation. It is now June 2024, and still no resolution. I find this totally unacceptable, and since you are the regulatory agency managing the Auto Manufacturers, I would expect some pressure would be exerted to push KIA to resolution. This is a serious defect...FIRE!! I can't drive it or sell it (responsibly).

KIA AmericaFebruary 6, 2024 P.O. Box 52410 Irvine, CA 92619-2410 Attn: Customer Relations Good afternoon, I received a Safety Recall letter dated November 14, 2023 concerning the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) for my 2011 KIA Soul, (NHTSA Recall# 23V652). I want to express my extreme dissatisfaction with the lack of response to this issue. I’ve never owned any vehicle subject to a recall that took over two months to address. There has been no follow up information from KIA with any details of progress or timeline to resolve this issue. As a result, I’ve initiated phone calls to a KIA Dealership as well as the KIA Customer department to try and get information and no one seems to have any idea on a resolution to the problem. Since this issue can result in an engine compartment fire, I cannot safely transport any child requiring a secured Child Safety Seat with any degree of confidence. I’m requesting a response on this matter that provides an informed resolution that includes parts and a timeline to fix this problem.

My car has been recalled due to electronic control system fire danger. I am afraid to drive hiway 299 to Redding because my car might catch on fire. All of my services are are in or near Redding. I can't get a response from Kia, other than a pending recall notice. They claim to not know anything.

I have the recall for my 2011 Kia Soul. HECU that states to park outside and away from vehicles due to potential engine fire. Park until recall is fixed. I have contacted the Manufacturer, Dealership, my insurance company and the NHTSA as this is my only vehicle and means of transportation. There is no remedy for the fix nor an ETA of the Fix. I was told there was nothing that could be done. I am so angry as MY car can catch fire while driving which puts my life at risk along with others. WHAT am I supposed to do? Walk everywhere? The manufacturer will not provide a loaner or reimbursement for a rental, the dealership will not provide a loaner and my insurance will not provide a rental due to I don't have a claim. Who takes responsibility for an unsafe vehicle that cannot be driven or driven and put everyone at risk? This needs to be rectified!

THE HORN ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO, I CAN NOT FIND A REASON FOR THIS. DOES NOT MATER IF CAR IS RUNNING OR NOT, WEITHER IT IS TURNING OR NOT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT I WISH IT WOULD HAVE WORKED IN SOME SERIOUS DRIVING SITUATIONS AND IT DID NOT.

I WAS UNAWARE THAT MY CAR WAS UNDER A RECALL. I AM ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE AND DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL STATING MY CAR NEEDED TO BE FIXED. I FOUND OUT THROUGH MY PCS WEBSITE.

107000 MILES ON THE CAR. STARTED CAR IN THE MORNING AND IT MADE A WHINING NOISE. DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE IT WAS COLDER THAN IT HAD BEEN. AFTER WARMING UP A FEW MINUTES DROVE DOWN MY ROAD ABOUT A MILE AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED AROUND AT WENT BACK HOME. POPPED THE HOOD AND SMELLED STRONG BURNING SMELL. PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE ALERNATOR. WHEN I PULLED IT TO REPLACE IT NOTICED THAT THE WINDINGS INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR WERE BURT AND CHARED/MELTED.

BAD WIRE IN STEERING WHEEL, WHICH MAKES HORN MALFUNCTION FREQUENTLY(IF I REPEATEDLY TURN WHEEL, HORN WILL WORK). THIS STARTED THREE YEARS AGO. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, AND I SEE NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE A BAD SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH ALLOWS AIRBAG TO BE ON OR OFF WHEN PASSENGER IS IN SEAT(DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 03/30/16.*JB UPDATED 04/14/16.*JB

OCASSIONALY THE HORN WILL NOT WORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN MALFUNCTIONED SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY LOT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE CRASH, BUT RATHER THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE WIRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO WARM, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, HIS KNEE SLIGHTLY BUMPED INTO THE IGNITION KEY. AS A RESULT, THE KEY TURNED INTO THE OFF POSITION AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 725.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HORN WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE FAILURE BUT NONE WERE SUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITH THE HORN WHEN THE USING THE AUTO LOCK FEATURE ON THE REMOTE. THE HORN ONLY CONFIRMED LOCKING 1/2 OF THE TIME BY A CONFIRMED BEEP. THEN HE NOTICED THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK IN THE MORNINGS WHEN HE PRESSED IT THE BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HORN RELAY WAS REPLACED. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME, THE HORN STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE HORN SOUNDER BOARD. UPDATED 07/29/11