Scary situation! 2015 kia soul hazard! Please read & respond!!

3510 Views 17 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Tape, Jun 26, 2015

deerock94

Discussion Starter · Jun 16, 2015

]Hi there everyone....

Let me start by saying I owned a Kia Soul 2011 and just recently got into the 2015! I love everything about it except I've discovered a
MAJOR FLAW!

The other day I was driving home and I had my left hand on the steering wheel and my right I was just putting down my water bottle into
the cup holder. When I went to put my hand back on the steering wheel it kind of just accidentally hit my start engine button.
I really don't even know how - but regardless my car stopped RIGHT THERE in the middle of a busy road (which THANK GOD) was not a busy time of
day so the person behind me had enough time to go around me as I panicked and was shocked so it was hard to think straight with all the cars zooming by me to throw it back into park and restart the car.

I realize not everyone is going to smack the button..but even the thought that say you drop your water bottle, or a phone or again for whatever reason I'm worried that it could happen to someone else on a busy road and it could be devastating!

The button is WAY too easy to press down..you don't even have to put any effort into it just a light tap can make it turn off!
I wish they would have made it more difficult to press down so a light accidental tap of my hand across it wouldn't effect it.

Perhaps they could have been a cage overtop of it you have to open and click closed would solve the problem....OR better yet
why didn't they put it up higher where other cars have it.

Anyway, I hope it doesn't happen to you. Now I'm scared to grab a drink of water in the car while driving.

What are your thoughts????

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1 - 18 of 18 Posts

GeoSoul

· #2 · Jun 16, 2015 (Edited)

I have noticed comments by reviewers questioning the placement as well. Probably should have been a dash button like most other cars.

I feel the same about the new push button transmissions, placing too many things in the center console, drink holder & other gadget area. They need to get key controls out of that area & on the dashboard.

A long, long time ago my parents had a Rambler & a Plymouth that both had push button automatics. All buttons were on the dash, left of the steering wheel where the shotgun passenger or kids in the back seat couldn't fool with them.

It's amazing to me the plethora of controls, including critical e-brake, drive & power buttons are being placed in the "common area" of some cars. Even the family dog could accientally trigger some event.

jdmartin

· #3 · Jun 16, 2015

^^I don't quite follow this. Were you moving? If you were moving, the car should have still been coasting.

Cobra259

· #4 · Jun 16, 2015

If it happens again, don't stop the car. put in neutral and restart and keep going........

Reactions: 1

scooterct

· #5 · Jun 16, 2015

It's very hard for me to believe this is true. My 2015+ doesn't have the start button, so I can't verify. Any automotive designer with more than a pea for a brain would use an interlock to disable the start button unless the vehicle is motionless and in Park (if auto).

How about somebody else out there with a stop button test this? If it's actually true, it's something that should be sent to the NHTSA as a safety complaint. And also to your dealer and directly to Kia through their customer portal.

Like I said, hard for me to believe this is true. If it is, I'm wondering if a safety interconnect is just broken on your car. This would be such a monumental design flaw that it's just inconceivable.

Reactions: 1

jpstinne

· #6 · Jun 16, 2015

scooterct said:
It's very hard for me to believe this is true. My 2015+ doesn't have the start button, so I can't verify. Any automotive designer with more than a pea for a brain would use an interlock to disable the start button unless the vehicle is motionless and in Park (if auto).

How about somebody else out there with a stop button test this? If it's actually true, it's something that should be sent to the NHTSA as a safety complaint. And also to your dealer and directly to Kia through their customer portal.

Like I said, hard for me to believe this is true. If it is, I'm wondering if a safety interconnect is just broken on your car. This would be such a monumental design flaw that it's just inconceivable.

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Jeff.G

· #7 · Jun 16, 2015

Have you tried reinacting the knocking of the start button to see if it was the cause of the car stopping.
Normal for cars to go into limp mode if something wrong . In uk driving offence to eat drink or handle Phones while driving.
Jeff

tampa8

· #8 · Jun 16, 2015

I too have to think (hope) with the car running the engine does not turn off and somehow the car become disabled if you hit the button. Anyone else confirm this?

grege

· #9 · Jun 16, 2015

scooterct said:
It's very hard for me to believe this is true. My 2015+ doesn't have the start button, so I can't verify. Any automotive designer with more than a pea for a brain would use an interlock to disable the start button unless the vehicle is motionless and in Park (if auto).

How about somebody else out there with a stop button test this? If it's actually true, it's something that should be sent to the NHTSA as a safety complaint. And also to your dealer and directly to Kia through their customer portal.

Like I said, hard for me to believe this is true. If it is, I'm wondering if a safety interconnect is just broken on your car. This would be such a monumental design flaw that it's just inconceivable.

We just neEd someone with button start to try replicating it!!! GET ON IT FOLKS.

GeoSoul

· #10 · Jun 16, 2015 (Edited)

I've watched demos of cars that experienced the "runaway" throttle situation. I think in pretty much all cars with push button start you have to depress and hold the button in for about an 8 count for the engine to turn off.

Just giving it a once push shouldn't do anything.

scooterct

· #11 · Jun 17, 2015

I read the (2105) owners manual about the start button (my personal philosophy is to never read a manual unless you have to).

According to the manual, one press on the button while the vehicle is moving will have no effect. HOWEVER, multiple presses in a very short time period will turn off the engine as an emergency feature, as mentioned in the previous posting. So the original poster may have hit the button several times and not realized it, or his car is broken. Either way, it's something I'd bring to the shop for diagnosis.

Reactions: 3

imthebriman1

· #12 · Jun 21, 2015

Can we get this moved to the correct sub-forum?

Reactions: 1

neiljrosen

· #13 · Jun 21, 2015

Cobra259 said:
If it happens again, don't stop the car. put in neutral and restart and keep going........

Go to an empty parking lot and practice this maneuver in case it ever happens again.

GeoSoul

· #14 · Jun 21, 2015

The OP appears to be another "one & done."

Some of these make me wonder if they are genuine or simply, for example, a competitor bashing the Kia Soul by crying wolf.

I have no idea, but it seems if you can take the time to complain to others & ask for help, you can take a few moments to communicate back.

So when the OP says "PLEASE RESPOND!!!!," I would say the same to them.

TechnoMage

· #15 · Jun 21, 2015

I can't help but wonder if they even read any of the forum before posting.
This is NOT the 2015 forum....Eh?

I can only guess that the moderators get tired of moving posts that are NOT in the correct forum.

Happy Father's Day!

jpstinne

· #16 · Jun 21, 2015

GeoSoul said:
The OP appears to be another "one & done."

Some of these make me wonder if they are genuine or simply, for example, a competitor bashing the Kia Soul by crying wolf.

I have no idea, but it seems if you can take the time to complain to others & ask for help, you can take a few moments to communicate back.

So when the OP says "PLEASE RESPOND!!!!," I would say the same to them.

Exactly! I smelled troll with the "I'm afraid to drink from my water bottle again!"

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Reactions: 1

Tape

· #17 · Jun 26, 2015

next time it happens don't stop in the middle of the road, stay calm and put the shifter in (N)eutral and restart the car. Glad you made it without incident.

Tape

· #18 · Jun 26, 2015 (Edited)

TechnoMage said:
I can't help but wonder if they even read any of the forum before posting.

I have a bad habit of doing that. I see the title and respond too quickly.

Cobra259 said:
If it happens again, don't stop the car. put in neutral and restart and keep going........

^^^ that's what I'm talking about

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