March 29, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V218000
High-Voltage Battery Pack May Short-Circuit
A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V218
Manufacturer Kia America, Inc.
Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Potential Number of Units Affected 2,689
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.
Remedy
Dealers will update the battery management system software, 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 are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC267.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Check if your Kia has a Recall
2015-2019MY Soul EV
High Voltage Battery
Basis of Safety Defect Determination 573.6(c)(6)
May 31, 2022
Kia North America (Kia NA) receives Techline case from dealer to report smoke from battery vents located under passenger seat during diagnosis of a 2017 Kia Soul EV (Vehicle #1). Heat damage limited to within the battery case assembly. Kia record shows vehicle’s high voltage battery previously replaced under warranty.
June 13, 2022
Kia NA Safety Office requests Kia Customer Care repurchase subject 2017 Soul EV for further evaluation.
October 5-7, 2022
Kia Canada informs Kia NA Safety Office of thermal damage incident involving the high voltage battery in a 2018 Soul EV (Vehicle #2) where customer reported vehicle began to smoke and slowed to a stop. Dealer inspection noted heat damage limited to within the battery case assembly. Kia NA Safety Office notifies Kia Corporation (Kia HQ) of thermal damage battery incidents and requests investigation assistance.
October 22, 2022
Repurchased Vehicle #1 arrives at Kia NA for further investigation.
October 25-28, 2022
Kia HQ and supplier inspect Vehicle #2. Inspection confirms prior dealer inspection of heat damage limited to within the battery case assembly.
October 31- November 3, 2022
Kia NA Safety Office, Kia HQ and supplier conduct partial teardown of Vehicle #1. Preliminary investigation results are inconclusive. Battery sent to supplier for CT scan and additional tear down analysis.
December 1, 2022
Kia NA receives customer complaint of popping noise and smoke coming from cupholders of a 2018 Soul EV in Hawaii (Vehicle #3).
February 2-6, 2023
Kia NA Safety Office and Kia HQ meet with supplier to review investigation results from CT scans & tear down analysis for Vehicles #1 and #2. CT scans and tear down analysis are inconclusive due to thermal damage and water intrusion from fire suppression (i.e., flooding of high voltage battery).
March 1, 2023
Kia NA Safety Office informs NHTSA of Soul EV high voltage battery investigation.
March 13-17, 2023
Kia NA Safety Office, Kia HQ and supplier inspect Vehicle #3 in Hawaii & perform tear down analysis. Heat damage limited to within the battery case assembly. Preliminary investigation results are inconclusive. Kia NA Safety Office ships high voltage battery to supplier for further evaluation.
March 20, 2023
Kia NA Safety Office conducts field data review and confirms no other potentially related incidents.
March 21, 2023
Kia HQ informs Kia NA Safety Office of its analysis that an electrical short circuit between the anode and cathode of battery cells can occur with the high-voltage battery pack assembly case. Cause of electrical short circuit unknown but believed to be caused by abnormally excessive precipitate within the battery cells.
March 22, 2023
Although cause of electrical short circuit is unknown, Kia NA decides to recall all 2018-2019MY Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery and certain 2015-2017MY Soul EV vehicles that had the high voltage battery replaced under warranty with E400 battery. Three (3) thermal incidents limited to battery case assembly (two (2) from U.S.; one (1) from Canada), no injuries, no crashes and no fatalities.
5 Affected Products
Vehicle
| MAKE | MODEL | YEAR |
| KIA | SOUL EV | 2015-2019 |
3 Associated Documents
Defect Notice 573 Report
RCLRPT-23V218-8936.PDF 214.216KB
RCLRPT-23V218-8936
Recall Acknowledgement
RCAK-23V218-4749.pdf 645.065KB
RCAK-23V218-4749
2015-2019MY Soul EV High Voltage Battery Chronology
RMISC-23V218-5158.pdf 88.195KB
RMISC-23V218-5158
Latest Recalls Documents
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=23V218&docType=RCL
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SEOCONTENT-START
OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-218 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : Submission Date : Kia America, Inc. MAR 29, 2023 NHTSA Recall No. : 23V-218 Manufacturer Recall No. : SC267 Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : Kia America, Inc. Address : 111 Peters Canyon Road Irvine CA 92606 Company phone : 800-333-4542 Population : Number of potentially involved : 2,689 Estimated percentage with defect : 1 % Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2015-2019 Kia Soul EV Vehicle Type : LIGHT VEHICLES Body Style : ALL Power Train : HYBRID ELECTRIC Descriptive Information : All 2018-2019 model year Soul EV vehicles manufactured from July 3, 2017 through September 28, 2018 equipped with an E400 high voltage battery and certain 2015-2017 model year Soul EV vehicles manufactured from July 15, 2014 through June 30, 2017 that had their high voltage battery replaced under warranty with an E400 battery. The recall population was determined by a review of vehicle production and warranty records. The vehicles subject to this recall were not produced in VIN order. Customers seeking information about their specific vehicle will be referred to Kia’s Customer Care Center or their Kia dealer. Production Dates : JUL 15, 2014 – SEP 28, 2018 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : An electrical short circuit between the anode and cathode of the battery cells can occur within the high-voltage battery pack assembly case located underneath the vehicle. If an electrical short circuit occurs, a fire may result while driving, thereby increasing the risk of injury. The cause of the short circuit condition remains unknown, but it is believed to be caused by abnormally excessive precipitate within the battery cells. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : A fire increases the risk of injury. Description of the Cause : Cause of the electrical short circuit condition remains unknown but is believed to be caused by abnormally excessive precipitate within the battery cells. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-218 Page 2 Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : 1) Incomplete high voltage battery charging, 2) loss/fluctuating vehicle range, and/or 3) illumination of EV warning light Involved Components : Component Name 1 : PACK ASSY-BATTERY Component Description : Battery Pack Assembly Component Part Number : 37510-E4300 (2018-19 MY) Component Name 2 : PACK ASSY-BATTERY Component Description : Battery Pack Assembly Component Part Number : 37510-E4350 (2018-19 MY) Component Name 3 : PACK ASSY-BATTERY Component Description : Battery Pack Assembly Component Part Number : 37510-E4200R (2015-17 MY) Component Name 4 : PACK ASSY-BATTERY Component Description : Battery Pack Assembly Component Part Number : 37510-E4250R (2015-17 MY) Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : SK On Address : 325, Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu Daejeon Foreign States 34124 Country : Korea, Republic of Chronology : The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-218 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 See attached document titled “2015-2019MY Soul EV High Voltage Battery Chronology.” Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : All owners of the subject vehicles will be notified by first class mail with instructions to bring their vehicles to a Kia dealer. Kia will instruct dealers to update the vehicle’s battery management system with new software that will detect abnormal battery cell voltage condition before an electrical short circuit occurs. Following installation of the new software, if the abnormal battery cell voltage is detected by the vehicle’s battery management system, the EV warning light will illuminate, charging capacity will be limited to 80% and the vehicle will be placed into a reduced-power limp home mode. If this occurs, dealer will replace the high voltage battery. Kia will reimburse owners for repair expenses already incurred pursuant to Kia’s General Reimbursement Plan filed May 10, 2022. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : New software has been added to the battery management system to detect abnormal battery cell voltage condition before an electrical short circuit occurs. Not applicable. The subject vehicles are no longer in production. In addition, the 2020MY Soul EV was not manufactured for sale in the U.S. Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : Dealer notification is scheduled to begin and end on May 22, 2023 and the Owner notification is scheduled to begin and end on May 26, 2023. Planned Dealer Notification Date : MAY 22, 2023 – MAY 22, 2023 Planned Owner Notification Date : MAY 26, 2023 – MAY 26, 2023 * NR – Not Reported
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