2015 Kia Soul Air Bags & Restraints Problems

Involved in wreck air bags did not deploy.

November 26, 2024 Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a serious safety concern regarding my 2015 Kia Soul. On [XXX], I was involved in a severe car accident. Despite the significant impact, the airbag system failed to deploy. I have attached photos of the vehicle damage for your reference. This incident is particularly alarming as the vehicle had recently been serviced for recalls at Phil Smith Kia (4250 N Federal Hwy, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064). The failure of the airbag system to deploy raises serious concerns about the safety and quality control of Kia vehicles. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this incident thoroughly and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of all Kia vehicle owners. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. Sincerely, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. At 4-way intersection w/ traffic light other driver going northbound blew through their red light (maybe on phone or other distraction) at what seemed like a high speed. I was driving westbound at about 30/35mph with a clear green light. Was able to avoid getting t-boned in my door, but couldn't avoid t-boning other car's passenger door (older 2 door F150). My insurance company going to total my car (see pics). My airbags didn't deploy. Friends/relatives have told me their air bags went off in crashes at lower speeds. I hit my head on the left side frame and my head is still sore. The seat belt pretensioner system did work as designed as passenger in my car and I are both sore w / bruises on collar bone, chest, and hip where seat belt clips in so we know it worked. But lots of other bruises/soreness. Air Bags seem defective.

I was involved in a head on collision with a F250 truck and the airbags did not deploy. I did hit my head on the steering wheel and have a bruise above my eye and some scratches on my knee. I had pain in my shoulder from seat belt. I took off from work on 2/2 to take care of car getting towed and I went to care now to be checked out and they sent me to the ER for a possible scan, but once doctor checked me out they decided there was no need for a scan. I do not have any more information from my insurance company other than the body shop were car was towed to said it was a total loss and there is no reason they could find that the air bag did not deploy. I have owned the car since may of last year and have been to sent 2 safety recall 1 for the catalytic converter and 1 for try to stop kia soul from being stolen. these are the only one I have received

My vehicle was stolen and crashed but the air bags did not deploy.

Abs and airbags not working!

This is a supplement to the earlier filed report. The brakes on this Kia Soul did not appear to be working, no matter how hard I pressed on it. Further, I flew forward in this accident, causing me to hit my head. It was like the seatbelt was not working at all. I had to be checked for a potential concussion at the local hospital.

This vehicle is currently at Lunsford's towing, and will be moved to another location. Potentially this could be my new residence at [XXX] , but I would like to have contact/see if this has any issues first. There were two components of this accident: 1) a multi-vehicle collision, and a single vehicle collision between the Kia and a tree. I do not believe that these potential issues had much to do with the first component. However, I kept going after this accident, and had a large mark on my head. I am unsure about what my head hit, but my seatbelt may have failed to restrain me. Further, there was little braking before the first component of this, but there seemed to be little significant slowdown after the first part. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her son was driving at 30 MPH, after becoming briefly distracted, the vehicle ahead dramatically reduced speeds, and as a result, he collided with the rear of that vehicle. After this, the seat belt failed to restrain him, and he hit his head on the windshield, causing him to lose consciousness. The force of the impact forced the vehicle off the road and into a ditch, where it came to rest after colliding with a tree, at which point the air bags deployed. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it remains. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The driver was transported to an area hospital, treated for a concussion, and held in the ER for observation. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

I was involved in an accident where my 2015 Kia Soul was struck from the rear end at a high rate of speed, left the roadway, hit a concrete culver, became airborne, jumped/rolled across a driveway and went through two crosstie corner posts with no airbag deployment. My seat broke 3/4 of the way up due to impact. Unknown as to reason why airbags failed to deploy with frontal impacts and unknown as to component inspection as insurance took car away to auction. I feel that the failure of these items to deploy intensified the injuries I received in the wreck.

I WAS GOING 65 MPH, WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ON, WHILE IT WAS RAINING. I HIT SOME STANDING WATER, WHICH CAUSED ME TO HYDROPLANE. I COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE, SO I ENDED UP SPINNING AND HITTING A CONCRETE BARRIER. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY I WASN'T SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED EITHER WAY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REGAL KIA (1025 BARTOW RD, LAKELAND, FL 33801) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,655.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER'S BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT WHICH STOPPED ABRUPTLY. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURY FROM THE SEAT BELT STRAP ON THE LEFT SHOULDER. THE CONTACT WENT TO AN URGENT CARE THE NEXT DAY. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE PASSENGER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED A WHIPLASH. THERE WAS NO FURTHER DETAIL ON THE INDIVIDUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SEIZED AND WAS INOPERABLE. LEITH AUTO PARK KIA (LOCATED AT 5330 ROLESVILLE RD, WENDELL, NC 27591, (919) 200-0560) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE REVERSE GEAR, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V736000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THIS RECALL PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THREE BROKEN RIBS, A PUNCTURED LUNG, FACE INJURIES, AND A CONCUSSION THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,709. UPDATED 07/13/16*LJ *CN

I HIRED THIS CAR FROM THRIFTY RENTAL CARS, AND WAS IN A COLLISION ON THE I80 FREEWAY, WHEREIN I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT DURING STOP-START TRAFFIC, I WAS TRAVELLING WAY BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME IN PLACE, AND I FLEW FORWARD OVER THE STEERING WHEEL, AND HIT THE WINDSCREEN. I SUFFERED MILD CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, AND BRUISING DOWN THE FRONT OF MY BODY. I MAY HAVE ALSO PERMANENTLY DAMAGED MY NECK. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO THRIFTY, BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO TAKE ANY ACTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAIN BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION LOT WHERE THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATED FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ *TR

CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE AS IT PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT. ENDED UP STOPPING IN A STOREFRONT. NO SIGNIFICANT VISIBLE DAMAGE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALL THREE PASSENGERS (INCL ONE 3 YR OLD) WERE COMPLETELY UNSCATHED. *TR

AFTER BUCKLING THE SEAT BELT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND GOING DOWN THE ROAD IF YOU TRY TO LEAN FORWARD ONE FINDS THAT THE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT PERMIT ANY MOVEMENT YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT AND THEN RETURN IT TO ITS PARKED POSITION AND THEN PULL IT BACK OUT AGAIN. ONCE THAT HAS BEEN DONE YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD OR PULL ON THE BELT ONLY ONCE BEFORE IT LOCKS UP AGAIN. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHEN THE SEAT BELT DOES THIS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ONE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT IF THERE WAS A LOT OF TENSION ON THE BELT FROM ITS OWN TIGHTENING. ONE SHOULD BE FREE TO LEAN FORWARD TO OPEN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT OR TURN TO ATTEND TO MATTERS IN THE BACK SEATS. I HAVE ACTUALLY SIMULATED A SCENARIO WHERE THERE WAS EXTREME TENSION ON THE BELT FROM PUSHING BACK IN MY SEAT AND TIGHTENING THE BELT BY PUSHING THE BELT BACK UP OVER MY SHOULDER AND WHEN I TRIED TO RELEASE THE BELT IT WAS SO HARD TO PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON THAT I HAD TO ASK MY WIFE TO GET A RUBBER MALLET AND A LONG SCREWDRIVER SO THAT I COULD HIT THE RELEASE BUTTON WITH THE SCREW DRIVER AGAINST THE RELEASE BUTTON. IT FINALLY DI DISENGAGE. I TOLD MY WIFE TO GO TO THE DEALER AND TELL THEM TO FIX IT AND SHE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE HAD A 2013 KIA SOUL AND THE SEAT BELTS DID THE SAME THING. I FIND THIS SITUATION TO BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THIS PROBLEM COULD BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF FATALITIES.I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER IN REGARD TO THE 2015 AND THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT AND IT WORKS FINE.IT DOES NOT WORK FINE BY ANY STANDARD. I THINK THE DEALER/KIA KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM BUT NEED TO BE TOLD TO FIX IT. AT BEST THIS IS A MAJOR NUISANCE AND AT WORST IT IS A DEATH TRAP FROM WHICH WITHOUT A KNIFE ONE CANNOT ESCAPE.