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Gen 2 Soul steering recall

39K views 149 replies 43 participants last post by  XxHaimBondxX 
#1 ·
All over the news this morning is a report that 256,000 Kia Souls manufactured from Jan 2014 - Sept 2015 are being recalled for potential steering failures. All the articles say "Certain models", but they don't specify which ones. The recall says the steering pinion gear was glued to the shaft and can fail.

Kia recalls over 256,000 Souls for steering problem - US News

Anyone have info on which models are affected. 256,000 seems to indicate most of them.
 
#3 ·
a bit more info on this recall:

Kia has issued a recall for the 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV to fix a problem that can lead to steering failure.

The company uses a thread-locking adhesive to secure the plug that attaches the steering pinion gear to the steering gear assembly. The adhesive appears to have insufficient strength for the application, allowing the pinion gear to separate from the assembly.

"If the pinion gear separates, there would be a loss of steering which could increase the risk of a crash," the company notes in its recall documents.

A dealer first opened a Technical Assistance Center case report in September after a customer experienced steering failure. Two more failures were reported within two weeks, prompting an investigation that eventually focused on the thread-locking adhesive.

Service technicians will inspect and, if necessary, replace the pinion plug. A set bolt will also be installed for additional reinforcement.

The campaign affects approximately 256,000 units sold in the US market


Read more: Steering failures prompt Kia Soul recall | LeftLaneNews
 
#6 ·
From the NHTSA:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners...eria.make=KIA&searchCriteria.prod_ids=1978592

Pretty much the same but it does have associated docs that show timeline of dealer opening service report.

Thankfully no injuries have been caused by this...yet.

And i don't know if you can blame KM just yet. They may have 3rd party to make such parts. Such as the takata air bag recall. But then again, maybe its the robots fault. Or the whizbang engineers whose numbers got skewed on the strength of that glue.

I for one will be driving a little more cautiously till the exact info comes out.
 
#7 ·
Not good news.
I am sure Kia is not happy with all the negative publicity caused by this recall.
Thank heaven thus far,no one has been injured.

As already commented,it is a good bet that the part involved in this situation was
supplied by a contractor for Kia. A issue that does not surprise me is that the
steering problem happened with a new vehicle. The Gen2 Soul that came out in 2014.
There is always a risk when you have a vehicle that is built on a new platform.
Vehicle manufacturers are very tight lipped when it comes to flaws in components.
It is possible that Kia has known about this problem and put in a fix with later
2015 models and surely,the 2016.
If the recall is limited to specific units(VIN's),it would make one curious that indeed
the steering problem was known and fixed in units after a specific manufacture date.
 
#8 ·
If the recall is limited to specific units(VIN's),it would make one curious that indeed
the steering problem was known and fixed in units after a specific manufacture date.
as the recall effects vehicles produced from Jan. 18, 2014, to Sept. 30, 2015 then they have just recently rectified the problem. I would say they have reacted very quickly, it shows the feedback they get from their dealer techs has some merit.

A dealer first opened a Technical Assistance Center case report in September after a customer experienced steering failure. Two more failures were reported within two weeks, prompting an investigation that eventually focused on the thread-locking adhesive.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Sigh. It's never a good thing to buy a new car and have it recalled less than a month later. Given the potential danger of losing steering, I wish they wouldn't make us wait until at least late December before they start doing the repair.

And how did they not figure this out when they did the earlier recall on the thread-locking adhesive?
 
#11 · (Edited)
So those of us who went through this with our 2014 Souls probably won't be affected since that pinion gear recall was for Souls built between July 21st 2013 - Jan 17th 2014 (if I'm reading this correctly???) As Conwel says, it continues with those built the day after the 17th (which will still include some 2014's)

Mine was built Jan 14th 2014, but since the recall was VIN specific (even though it did fall within the date range) was not included in the recall, as many of us with manual transmissions built that day found out. They must have used the "good stuff" that day???

Kia explained to me that the "thread adhesive" that was used on some of the vehicles in that date range was fine (um, not the bad stuff).

Like with the last recall, you can go online to the NHTSA site that AlienIsMySoul posted above and enter your VIN number or better yet, the Kia Owners Website. The information may take awhile to be updated however.

And of course, wait to get your letter in the mail.
 
#16 ·
The recall isn't supposed to start officially until 22 December (according to the press reports), so it might be a while before it shows up on the Kia Owners site.

Oh, well, at least it sounds like a fairly easy, non-invasive fix. I'm glad that Kia stuck with it and realized that it was the adhesive itself that was the problem, but the way it was being applied.
 
#21 ·
Yikes!!
From the posts,sure does look like paranoia for some is setting in.

I don't know all the details of the fix on the steering problem. I'm assuming
it has to to with some type of adhesive(thread locker)that was used on
a fastener in the steering gear. As I have used thread locker(mostly Permatex)
over the years,I cannot recall any time a bolt has come loose. Of course,there are
different types of thread locker adhesive. Most are designed to provide adequate
"holding power" for the application. Factors are temperature and the degree of movement
of the parts. Possibly the adhesive used for the steering gear application did not
offer adequate holding power--dunno
I would think that Kia will take an aggressive stance on this problem and direct their
dealerships to prioritize the fix. Hopefully the fix is not too technical to fix right.
I had a similar recall problem some years ago with another vehicle I own. It had to do
with front tire feathering(alignment). Yes,communication to the customer went out.
Dealers knew of the problem. Kits and information went out to dealer service to fix.
The negative was,not all dealers could fix the problem. Took me four dealers before
my car was fixed. Tires were replaced(at no cost to me) several times.
All this because of:service personnel did not read the instructions or,the dealership
personnel did not have adequate training to fix.
Hopefully the steering recall fix will be quick,easy and done right.
 
#22 ·
lets get some perspective on this:
- it was recalled based on 5 complaints, no crashes or injuries have been reported
- starting with October 2015 production it would appear it has been rectified
- it was only reported to the public a couple of days ago
- it effects all model of Soul's built between Jan 18, 2014 and September 30, 2015
- recall is expected to start Dec 22
- customers will be notified officially by mail with details for the fix
- KIA needs to time to get all the VIN's into their system and to get the info to the dealers for the correct repair and to have the supplies required for the fix, after all its for roughly 256,000 vehicles.

The Problem: The adhesive used to secure the steering pinion gear to the steering gear assembly may have insufficient strength, and may separate from the assembly; this would cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
The Fix: Kia will inspect and, if necessary, replace the pinion plug that secures the pinion gear; dealers will also install a set bolt for additional reinforcement. The repairs will be done free of charge.
 
#23 · (Edited)
So what are we to do until they get around to fixing these DEATH TRAPS just run the gauntlet day after day???? I don't feel safe driving mine.

Mark

Soiling myself from fear.

 
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#26 ·
I'd be more fearful of the radiation coming out of that clipart CRT monitor :)
 
#24 ·
well Mark? You could always trade for a GM car then you could fear from any number of unknown things that could kill you. Only you would not know because GM does not admit their issues until people die and the govt comes knocking.

I know you were joking and I agree with you. freaking out over this is silly. It wont affect any driving I or my wife do.
 
#28 ·
Conwel I have had seven new cars in my life and I was seldom close to the dealership were I purchased it. The closes Dealership is 80 miles one way. I have owned two Kia's before this one and never had to take them back in. So just surprised that it happened, as was stated their are more problems with other cars and trucks on the road. So no Manufacture is left stand alone without some recall or another. Thanks for all the info, I will check the year made when I get in to were my wife has the car at her mother house, 25 miles from were we live. Will have to Drive my 07 Dodge One Ton, which I don't use near enough only has 72,000 miles since 07.
 
#31 ·
I hardly ever go fast on my Soul. But if the steering fails while I am on the hiway doing 70 and I die you can be sure my wife will own a chunk of Kia. And even if the steering does fail at hiway speeds the brakes would still work! My car drives true and does not wander on the roadway. Better than even chance of getting thru that situation intact I would guess. For me the threat is minimal and I can wait for recall mail to set an appt for both cars.
 
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