2012 Kia Soul Body & Structure Problems

I was driving on the highway when I heard a whistle. When I arrived at my destination, I was surprised to see that the front driver’s side windshield trim panel was missing and flew off when I was driving. Earlier, I had a similar issue with the front passenger side trim panel. I reported these safety concerns to Kia on 9/2. I received a standard form letter on 9/4 (copied below). I was surprised by Kia’s response because I think parts flying off during typical driving use is more than standard repair and is a safety concern for all of us who travel on our roads. I’m reporting to you because I care about safety as both a driver and a passenger. I attached the photos I took and sent to Kia. —- Thank you for contacting Kia Customer Care. We’re sorry to hear about the concern with your Kia. The standard Limited Basic Warranty for your vehicle has expired (5 years/60,000 miles whichever comes first.). As such, any repairs recommended outside of warranty coverage, or not included in an applicable campaign, would be the responsibility of the vehicle’s owner. If you have any additional questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to call us at 800-333-4542 (option 2, then 5) and provide your case number. Sincerely, Kia America

To Whom It May Concern, I need a Recall Letter send to me to get my 2012 Kia Soul repaired. My Catalytic Converter needs to be replace, and my engine is leaking oil and that will need to be replace, and the Pillars on the front of my car, on the right & left side, needs to be replace, they flew off my car while I was driving on [XXX]. I looked up the information on the computer, that the vehicle emission warranty extends beyond the manufacturer's. along with others emission control devices, Federal Law requires to replace a defective Catalytic Converter & Engine for up to 15 years or 150,000 miles, the miles on my car is 128, 684. I took my vehicle to get check by Brake World , on [XXX] they said I needed a CRankshaft Position Sensor & a new Catalytic Converter. I have the printed out receipt from Brake World. I did get my Crankshaft Position Sensor replace with a shop call ECONOMICAL AUTO CARE LLC. Do I get a refund for that, the price was 182.73, I got it done on [XXX}, I do have my receipt for that. I did take my vehicle to Kia Auto on 735 South Military Trial #C, West Palm Beach, Fl 33415, on [XXX]. I had a Recall Letter for the HECU, and the Dealer Al told me I needed my Catalytic Converter replace, but he did not put it on the receipt when I pick my car up & he did not let me know it was a recall on it, until I looked it up. My car was making a loud knocking noise & would cut off when I stopped at a red light and I had to keep on starting my car up every time and my vehicle would jerked and shake and the Engine Light comes on. So when I got the Catalytic Converter Sensor on it, the loud knocking noise stop, but the Engine Light stills comes on. But I still needs the Catalytic Converter replace on my car. So Please send me the Recall Letters for I can get my vehicle completed. Thank you & God Bless. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The steering wheel ignition lock is easy bypassed by using only a small screwdriver or USB cord. This makes the car easily stolen and therefore violates the requirements of 571.114 which requires a "starting system which, whenever the key is removed from the starting system prevents.. the normal activation of the vehicles engine or motor". This affects all Kia / Hyundai vehicles with a normal keyed ignition and without a vehicle immobilizer produced from approximately 2009-2022. Since the technology required to comply with the regulation (i.e. a vehicle immobilizer) is readily available and available on other cars from this maker, the vehicle manufacturer knowingly violated this regulation. I request a NHTSA inquiry into this clear safety defect.

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, AND ALL THE LIGHTS LINING THE FREEWAY WERE OUT. IT WAS PITCH BLACK, AND A COW HAD MADE ITS WAY INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SENT INTO THE AIR, AND FLEW RIGHT INTO MY CAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ONE OF ADOT'S FENCES WERE DOWN THAT WAS CONTAINING CATTLE. I WAS IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS, ALONG WITH MULTIPLE OTHER VEHICLES. I FILED A POLICE REPORT AND HAVE THAT CASE NUMBER AS WELL. I HAVE PHOTO AND VIDEO EVIDENCE PROOF.

HOOD BLEW BACK BROKE MY WINDSHIELD AND BENT MY FENDERS BROKE MY THE SECONDARY LATCH IS BENT AND THE LOCK DID NOT HOLD

THE HOOD DISENGAGED WHILE MY 76 YEAR OLD MOTHER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SMASHED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES AND CHARGED HER $3,500 TO FIX IT. IT BROKE LOOSE TWICE AFTER THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING BUT DIDN'T FLY UP AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. SHE TOOK IT IN BOTH TIMES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMERS SERVICE ON 9/12 AND THEY SAID THEY'D CALL ME BACK IN 48 HOURS BUT NEVER DID. I CALLED BACK ON 9/18 AND THEY SAID THEY'D CALL ME BACK IN 48 HOURS BUT NEVER DID. I CALLED BACK ON 10/3 AND THEY SAID THEY'D CALL BACK IN 48 HOURS AND THEN I FINALLY RECEIVED A VOICEMAIL ON 10/15 ASKING TO CALL THEM BACK. I CALLED BACK AND RECEIVED THE PERSON'S VOICEMAIL ON 10/16, 10/22, 10/24 AND 10/25. NO RESPONSE AT ALL. THEY ARE IGNORING ME. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HOODS DISENGAGING ON KIA SOULS. MY MOTHER IS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE HER CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD OBVIOUSLY KILL SOMEONE. YET KIA DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN.

5/6/2016 TRAVELING ON 2ND RD APPRX SPEED 35 MPH, HOOD FLEW UP HIT WINDSHIELD LACK OF TRAFFIC AVOIDED COLLISION. ALMOST 1 YEAR TO DAY LATER ON FREEWAY ENTRY RAMP I-65 NASHVILLE TN, 5PM TRAFFIC, APPRX 45MPH.. 1ST EPISODE HAD LEFT HOME AND ONLY ON ROAD FOR A FEW MINTUES SO ASSUMED WAS SOMETHING WE HAD DONE TO UNLATCH HOOD. 2ND EPISODE WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING FOR 3 HOURS ALREADY SO THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THIS.. WE TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER WHERE PURCHASED CAR WHEN WE RETURNED TO JACKSON TENNESSEE AND THEY EXAMINED AND SHOW IT IS A BROKEN LATCH (OBVIOUSLY) BUT THEY DID NOT FEEL WAS THEIR CONCERN. AS THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THE SAME YEAR KIA SEDONA FOR HOOD LATCH DEFECTS, IT IS A MAJOR CONCERN TO ME THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO TO AVOID INJURY OR DEATH OF ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE HOOD LATCH BROKE CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP AND WRAP AROUND THE WINDOW SHIELD. I HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL FOR HELP. I WAS TRAVELING APP. 55 MILES AN HOUR, ON A SECONDARY PAVED ROAD.

THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD SIDE MOLDING FLEW OFF TWICE SO FAR. THE SECOND TIME AT ABOUT 62000 MILES WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED AND INSTALLED THE FIRST ONE FREE, THE SECOND ONE COST ME ABOUT $105.00 AND WAS ALSO INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V822000 (STRUCTURE) AND WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE CONTACT WITH A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER EXPECTED THE CONTACT TO SHIP THE VEHICLE TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THEN SHIP THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONTACT'S STATE AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, WHICH WAS UNREASONABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED AND HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

THE 2012 KIA SOUL DOES NOT COME WITH A SPARE TIRE, INSTEAD IT COMES WITH A CAN OF FIX- A- FLAT AND A AIR PUMP. THERE IS NO JACK EITHER. THE FLAT MAY BE FIXED IF THE DAMAGE IS ON THE TREAD AND THE HOLE IS UNDER 1/4 INCH IN DIAMETER. IF THE DAMAGE IS ON THE SIDEWALL OR GREATER THAN 1/4 INCH, THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED. FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO CELL PHONE OR ARE IN AN AREA THAT GETS NO RECEPTION THEY WILL BE STRANDED UNTIL ANOTHER MOTORIST COMES ALONG AND THESE DAYS MOST MOTORISTS DON'T STOP FOR OTHER DRIVERS. KIA OFFERS ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT IF YOU ARE TRAVELING IN A REMOTE AREA, IN THE SOUTHWEST (LIKE DEATH VALLEY FOR EXAMPLE) WHAT DO YOU DO WITHOUT A SPARE? IF YOUR CELL PHONE QUITS, YOU'RE DONE. EVEN IF YOU HAVE AAA, THEIR DRIVER WILL HAVE TO TOW THE VEHICLE AS HE WON'T HAVE A SPARE EITHER. I PURCHASED A SPARE,JACK, AND TOOLS FOR A 2011 KIA SOUL WHEN I REALIZED I HAD NO SPARE.KIA TOLD ME THAT ALL THE MANUFACTURES HAVE GONE TO THE FIX- A -FLAT AND PUMP VERSES THE DONUT SPARE AND JACK. THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF ANGRY PEOPLE WHEN THEY START REALIZING THEY DON'T HAVE A SPARE AND THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND CAN'T GET A CELL SIGNAL. MY CONCERN IS TRAVELING AT NIGHT IN REMOTE AREAS AND BECOMING PRAY TO OTHER MOTORIST WITH NOT SO GOOD INTENTIONS. I THINK THIS IS A POTENTIAL DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. MOST DRIVERS DON'T CHECK FOR A SPARE WHEN THEY BUY A NEW VEHICLE, THEY JUST ASSUME IT HAS ONE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS TREND. IF NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS AT LEAST LOOK INTO MAKING KIA PROVIDE A DISCLAIMER BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SOLD. I FOUND OUT AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR