NHTSA Complaint #11670410 — 2015 KIA SOUL

On April 24, 2022, while driving my 2015 Kia Soul, the vehicle suddenly caught fire. The fire originated in the engine compartment and destroyed the vehicle. This occurred despite the existence of a known safety recall related to the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS), which has been linked to engine fires in Kia vehicles. Following the incident, Kia America declined responsibility, and a joint investigation attempt by my insurer, USAA, was ignored. Kia proceeded with an independent investigation and later concluded that the cause was “undetermined” and that the fire originated in the engine compartment but could not determine the cause, which was likely due to the severe fire damage, per their own report. I have since been informed that USAA pursued subrogation against Kia, contrary to Kia’s recent claims. A letter of preservation was also sent to USAA following the incident to ensure the vehicle would remain in its post-fire condition. This was done to safeguard the integrity of the vehicle for investigative purposes. Following Kia’s refusal to assist, I was advised to explore reimbursement through other means, including the ongoing class action settlement related to this engine defect. I submitted a claim through that process but was ultimately denied due to a lack of “proof” that the fire was caused by the recall. However, my vehicle was so severely damaged in the fire that no conclusive cause could be determined , a point even Kia acknowledged in their own post-fire report, which stated the cause was “undetermined” but that the fire originated in the engine compartment. Over a year later, after the original dismissal of Kia, in September 2023, Kia America sent a letter via mail to the wrong address and email requesting documentation for reimbursement, which I provided only for them to again deny any responsibility. This delayed communication, along with the lack of transparency and accountability in handling a known safety issue, raises serious public safe