More than 250,000 Kia Souls and Soul EVs are being recalled by the American division of the Korean company, owing to steering problems, according to recent reports.
The steering issues (which may or may not affect the recalled units) could significantly raise the chance of accidents and injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
So to reiterate all of that, Kia Motors America is recalling an estimated 256,459 Kia Soul and Kia Soul EVs — specifically, the 2014, 2015, and 2016 model years. The issue is that the adhesive used to attach the Soul’s steering pinion gear to the steering gear assembly might not be strong enough to function properly — if the adhesive doesn’t hold the two components tightly together, then control of the vehicle is lessened.
To date, though, it should be noted, only 5 owners have complained about the problem — and there have been no reported accidents or injuries due to the problem.
The recall relates specifically to vehicles manufactured between January 18, 2014 and September 30, 2015. Owners of affected vehicles are set to receive notices in the mail sometime before December 22, 2015, reportedly. Once a notice has been received, owners can simply take their vehicle (gasmobile or electric) to a dealer to have the potential issue addressed.
Those wanting more information can obtain it by contacting Kia at 800-333-4542 and enquiring about the recall (SC125). Or, of course, by contacting your local service centers — though, presumably, you will need to have your notice in hand to get much of a response in that way.