Kia Soul door locks problems

Filed Nov 6, 2026 · Electrical, Steering · CA

Steering Collumn Rod failed, mechanic said 2013 souls, all of them are affected, and break/go bad. Once repaired, after alignment and new tires, steering wheel rubs against column and no longer is auto steering. Paint came off of black and chrome rails and body at 50,000miles. Lastly, Electrical components stopped working at 65,000 miles. Electrical for rear side mirrors, front door locks no longer work or unlock while driving, drivers door no longer stays locked and remains open with door ajar light on.

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Body · CA

My 2016 Kia Soul has under 47,000 miles, and is experiencing severe clear-coat failure across multiple panels, including the roof, hood, rear quarter panel, lip of hatch, tops of door handles, and both mirrors. The roof began peeling about 4 years ago, but over the past two years, before the weather was even warm, the clear coat suddenly began bubbling and lifting across the vehicle. There has been no collision or other damage in those areas to explain the deterioration and delamination. After seeing two other 2016 Kia Souls of the same color with the same apparent problem, I researched the issue and found approximately a dozen the federal safety agency complaints describing similar bubbling and peeling. This appears to be far beyond normal age-related paint deterioration. I also have a 1990 Subaru that has been sitting in my driveway, and its original paint remains fully intact. I think this may be a manufacturing or material defect affecting the factory clear-coat system and believe it warrants investigation.

Filed Oct 29, 2026 · Body · FL

The Paint is delaminating on the hood, around the windows, the mirrors and the door handles. I only have 28,000 miles on this white car.

Filed Jul 14, 2026 · Electrical · FL

The car will not lock via the key fob or automatic door locks. When you turn off the ignition and open the drivers door it chimes and you can not lock the doors. It’s in park, and I turn the steering wheel. I’ve unplugged the negative battery, and had the fuses checked.

Filed Jun 13, 2026 · Body · FL

UNKNOWN. See my statement below. I also have pictures I will upload. My vehicle is suffering from Severe factory paint and clear coat delamination on the vehicle's flat surfaces (hood and roof and now starting on the door handles and mirrors), resulting in total material deterioration down to the bare primer and exposed underlying metal sheet. This vehicle has been driven only 63,000 miles, has been impeccably serviced entirely at authorized Kia dealerships on schedule, and has suffered no accidents or body modifications. The factory finish has completely dissolved, exposing the bare structural metal of the roof and hood to rain and heavy humidity. This structural exposure presents an imminent safety risk of premature body panel corrosion, structural rust degradation, and potential panel perforation, which will compromise the structural integrity of the cabin and roof in a collision. Furthermore, this clear coat failure has been visually documented on multiple identical 2016 Caribbean Blue models in my immediate geographic area, confirming a widespread chemical bonding defect at the manufacturing plant. I have color photos I will uplaod of my vehicle sitting next to an identical 2016 Kia Soul, the same paint color, that has the same paint issues. That's when I first realized this must be a factory issue when the vehicle was manufactured. I have since discoverd many customers complaining on the Internet about the same issues with their 2016 Kias, proving once again this was an issue that happened at the factory but was never recalled by Kia North Amercia. I am in the process of writing Kia North America requesting a Goodwill paint job for my vehicle. I will be including all service records, vehicle registation, numerous color photos of the vehicle as well as a copy of the original sticker on the vehicle when I purchased it new. I am requesting that the federal safety agency you open a case concerting my issue.

Filed Oct 13, 2025 · Acceleration, Body · LA

Brake petal sensor broke keeping the tail light on. Has trouble accelerating and throws the traction light on burnt up battery, both front door locks have broke with no reason. Wipers broke does not give water.

Filed Dec 7, 2024 · CA

ON NOVEMBER 29,2024 i FOUND A PAINT BUBBLE under the door handle of the rear passenger side of my Snow Pearl white Kia Soul. The primer is visible underneath and intact but the area is cracking and peeling thereby enlarging quickly. I have read online that others have had this problem. I called the dealer and waiting for a call back from the manager. Thank you

Filed Sep 27, 2024 · Body · CA

Paint started peeling on the side mirrors, door handles within the last year and seems to have progressed really quickly. They are bubbling, cracking and then just chipping off to reveal the unfinished layer underneath. This seems like it will expose the car body to more elements and encourage rusting. I'd like to avoid that.

Filed Sep 3, 2024 · Body · FL

My 2020 Kia Soul S is not even five years old yet and far under 100k miles and I noticed that the paint in several places has started to lift and this should not happen. I have heard that other Kia models with the same paint, Snow White Pearl, have had the same reported issue over the past few years. The paint started bubbling/lifting on the hood and above the drivers side rear door handle which has now peeled off.

Filed Aug 16, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · OH · fire

This vehicle was parked prior to the incident. The 2014 Kia Soul had been backed into parking space number 28 and pulled forward midway through the space where it appears the car was put back into park. It was here the occupant of the vehicle, Mr. Keith Nash perished in a fire that consumed his 2014 Kia Soul while taking his life. The 2014 Kia Soul has an open the federal safety agency recall 20V‑750 and would have been eligible for settlement in the Kia Engine Class Action Settlement. [XXX] (C.D. Cal.) (https://kiaengineclasssettlement.com/CheckVIN). A copy of the Sharonville Police Report, [XXX] is attached along with the Sharonville Fire Department Incident type: [XXX] to this vehicle complaint. These reports go into great detail of this event. Based on this manufacture, and their parent company Hyundai’s history of non-collision fires and the hundreds of prior complaints on file with the federal safety agency, one might speculate that while in motion Mr. Nash noticed smoke from under the dash and put the car back into park. An engine fire can go from nothing to fully engulfing a vehicle in seconds, and as documented with these vehicles rendering the electronic door lock inoperable (as noted in the [XXX] incident in the rented 2019 Kia Soul). In a panic he placed his foot on the accelerator causing the motor to rev to a high RPM. It was noted in the report he seemed distorted and unable to escape, this is to be expected. This 2014 Kia Soul would have been one of the 13,114,339 vehicles recalled for non-collision engine fire according to the Center for Auto Safety Hyundai/Kia Fire and Engine Recalls 2010-2024 report, updated on March 28, 2024. Kia was aware of this incident as well as the owner’s insurance carrier Allstate insurance, yet they both failed to fie a complaint with the federal safety agency. This behavior is inexcusable and jeopardizes the safety of every American on the road and in close proximity to these manufactures’ vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)