NHTSA Recall Query RQ23005

On July 2, 2020, Kia America Inc. (Kia) filed safety recall 20V-389 for model year (MY) 2015-2016 Kia Soul EV vehicles. This recall was in response to allegations of unintended vehicle movement while in Park and provided updated electronic control unit software for the electronic parking brake logic as the remedy. The updated logic, which was included during production for MY 2017-2019 Kia Soul EV vehicles, automatically activates the electronic parking brake when the vehicle is powered off while the gear shift lever is in the Park position. On September 10, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ23-005) to investigate allegations of unintended vehicle movement while in Park in MY 2015-2019 Kia Soul EV vehicles. At the time that the investigation was opened, ODI had received 3 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and additional Early Warning Reporting data involving reports of unintended vehicle movement in MY 2017-2018 Kia Soul EV vehicles. One of the VOQs submitted to ODI reported a rollaway collision with a fire hydrant, which occurred after the operator had parked and exited the vehicle. Following the opening of this Recall Query, ODI and Kia participated in a joint inspection the vehicle which had been involved in a rollaway collision. During the inspection, the subject vehicle exhibited the alleged defect, rolling both forwards and backwards while shifted into Park with the electronic parking brake not engaged. The subject vehicle's electronic parking brake logic performed as designed during the inspection and the vehicle experienced no unintended movement while the electronic parking brake was engaged. In its November 21, 2023 response to ODI's information request, Kia provided customer complaint and warranty claim data for 19 unique VINs which relate to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Kia separately made ODI aware of one additional allegation of vehicle rollaway that resulted in a collision with another vehicle. T