MyCarTSB

2018 Kia Soul Airbags Problems

10 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

10
Complaints
1
Recalls
8
Crashes
Jan 2026Dec 2022
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Airbags Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #22V031000

AIR BAGS

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.

Owner Complaints (10)

criticalAIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2026

Your 2018 Kia Soul was taken to a Kia dealership for a federal airbag safety recall, but after seven months in their custody, the recall was never completed. The dealership demanded payment for diagnostics and refused to authorize the necessary repairs, then asked you to pick up the vehicle without finishing the recall work. When you retrieved it, you found missing or altered components and extensive water damage that weren't present when you dropped it off. Your vehicle still has an unresolved safety recall and may have compromised electrical and safety systems, making it unsafe to drive. Completing the recall will likely require diagnosing and repairing the airbag system and addressing any water damage to electrical components that occurred during dealer custody.

NHTSA #: 11710613
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Aug 2023

I was involved in a high speed car accident last week where the impact made me hit my head on the steering wheel. My air bags never deployed even though the other driver was going at least 70mph. My vehicle is a total loss.

NHTSA #: 11539186
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Dec 2022

There is a recall on the airbag sensor or something. Since I was notified earlier this year, NONE of the KIA dealers are trying to correct the problem. I have been getting the run around about them fixing the problem. Excuses ranges from a 6 month wait to make an appt. to we don't have the part and when it comes in we will schedule an appt. but it has been 11 months and the RECALL hasn't been fixed on my car to this date. Called the manufacturer and they never called me back after waiting on hold for an hour.

NHTSA #: 11495602
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, another vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into the front end of her vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact which caused the contact to hit her chest on the steering wheel. The contact was treated by EMTs at the scene of the accident and was later taken to the emergency room by her daughter. The contact was treated for pain and soreness to her sternum. The other driver was not injured and did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact's son-in-law was able to drive the vehicle to the contact's home which was nearby. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that her vehicle was placed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V031000(AIR BAGS). The vehicle had yet to be inspected or diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

NHTSA #: 11468664
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Feb 2022

The contact owned a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 35-40 MPH in an intersection, another vehicle ran the red light, causing his vehicle to crash into the passenger side of the other vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to exit the vehicle on his own. The contact sought medical assistance the next day and was diagnosed with a ruptured disk on his neck and lower back. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and advised the contact that the air bags acted as intended and did not have to deploy. The contact became aware of the recall for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V031000 (AIR BAGS). The contact followed with the manufacturer who informed him they could not assist as his VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

NHTSA #: 11451929
mediumAIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
CrashFiled: Aug 2020

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JULY 11 2020. THE OTHER DRIVER RAN A RED LIGHT AND I T-BONED HIM. MY CAR SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. IN THIS ACCIDENT NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA #: 11350865
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Oct 2019

I RENTED THIS '18 KIA SOUL FROM HERTZ. ON 10/17 AT 9 PM I WAS INVOLVED IN A SOLO VERY HARD FRONT END COLLISION WITH A LARGE BOULDER ON A CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN HWY. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SIDE ONES DID FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BECAUSE I WASN'T WEARING A SEAT BELT I ENDED UP HAVING SERIOUS HEAD TRAUMA AS WELL AS OTHER BRUISES. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN THE POSSESSION OF HERTZ RENT-A-CAR.

NHTSA #: 11271100
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
CrashFiled: Mar 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 45 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED IN HALF. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NERVE DAMAGE TO THE BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 11190055
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Feb 2019

I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT ON A CROSS STREET INTERSECTION AT A STOP SIGN I LOOKED BOTH WAYS NO VEHICLE ON SITE UNTIL I STARTED TO CROSS OVER WHEN A DRIVER SPEAD DOWN THE ROAD AND HIT ME THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE SOUL IS GONE THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED (NOT EVEN ONE DEPLOYED). I SUSTAINED CHEST INJURY AND BREAST INJURY I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL AND CHECKED FOR CHEST PAINS XRAYS REVEALED INTERNAL BRUISES. MY CHEST BREAST AND PART OF MY STOMACH ARE BLACK AND BLUE

NHTSA #: 11176640
mediumAIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Jul 2018

BRAKES FAILED. WAS PUMPING PEDLE, NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER AND REARENDED DRIVER INFRONT OF ME AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA #: 11113338

Other 2018 Kia Soul Issues