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Kia Soul EV High-Voltage Battery Fire Risk

NHTSA campaign 23V218000 · Reported Mar 29, 2023 · Kia America, Inc.

critical How serious is it? About this label

A short-circuit in the battery increases the risk of a fire. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	23V218000
Reported to NHTSA	Mar 29, 2023
Manufacturer	Kia America, Inc.
Part affected	Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
Vehicles covered	2 model/year combinations, model years 2018–2019
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

On certain Kia Soul EV cars, the high-voltage battery pack could develop an electrical short while you're driving, which raises the chance of a fire. To fix this, dealers will update the battery management software, and replace it if needed. The updated software will turn on the EV warning light and cut back charging and power if it detects an unusual voltage problem, and if that happens, the battery itself will be replaced.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is included.
2. Contact a Kia dealer or Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
3. The software update, and battery replacement if needed, is free.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 23V218000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (2)

2018 Kia Soul EV
2019 Kia Soul EV

Who to contact

Kia — official Kia recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-333-4542

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Kia Electrical System Recalls Involve Fires, Power Loss, and Displays · all 19 Kia recalls in this area

Other Kia Soul EV recalls

Oct 26, 2023Kia Soul EV Parking Mechanism May Be Damagedhigh
Jan 25, 2022Kia Air Bags May Fail to Deploy in Crashhigh

Official notice

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit while driving.
Safety risk: A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, free of charge. The new software will illuminate the EV warning light, limit charging capacity, and reduce vehicle power if abnormal voltage is detected. If this occurs, the battery will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC267.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.