Car stuck at dealer for 3 months awaiting warranty battery replacement (2017 Soul EV)

[RubberToe]

Yes please.

ECU SW UPGRADE (EPB LOGIC): Recall perform necessary recall on Kia vehicle, 575 W
BMS SW UPGRADE TO NEWER VERSION: Same

80,000 total miles

 

[uspurs]

Interesting information. I think a "Good Will" payment is the least they could do.

When the day finally arrives and I have my car back with a new battery I would certainly agree to a voided warranty and a "Good Will" check. I'm not giving them back my car.

I'm not sure how much money it cost you while your car was in the shop, but I know how much its been costing me to have my car sitting at the shop month after month.

As I have written previously, we were without our '17 for 14 weeks, across 7-8 visits to dealerships (we did eventually get a reman E400 pack and that's doing well, even after the SC267 recall, touch wood). I submitted to Kia a summary of the additional expenses incurred - we never succeeded in getting a loaner and there was never a mention of reimbursing a rental - and they came back with a goodwill payment of about $180 - no explanation of how that was calculated, of course. And they have never clarified which specific expenses they might reimburse, of course.

 

[spidermonkey]

As I have written previously, we were without our '17 for 14 weeks, across 7-8 visits to dealerships (we did eventually get a reman E400 pack and that's doing well, even after the SC267 recall, touch wood). I submitted to Kia a summary of the additional expenses incurred - we never succeeded in getting a loaner and there was never a mention of reimbursing a rental - and they came back with a goodwill payment of about $180 - no explanation of how that was calculated, of course. And they have never clarified which specific expenses they might reimburse, of course.

I really have to quit coming to this forum, it just breaks my spirit. Remember to claim that 180 buck as income so you can pay taxes on it. What a circus.

 

[uspurs]

I really have to quit coming to this forum, it just breaks my spirit. Remember to claim that 180 buck as income so you can pay taxes on it. What a circus.

They really are a most unpleasant company to deal with; they aren't familiar with 'do the right thing', for sure. They are even being difficult about getting a transcript of the original case I opened (and they closed unilaterally).

 

[RubberToe]

My wife just received an email from Kia with two options: Vehicle buyback or $3,500. The buyback requires 6 items of paperwork, including the original sales contract from 2017 when she bought it off my 3 year lease. She is going to the dealer today to get a copy of that if they have it.

Car is running fine since the last software update a week ago. Warranty expires in December, and the car will be sold before then one way or another.

 

[faf625]

That is horrible Rubber Toe! Did they say what the buy back price is? What a sad end to a car I loved. We all deserve better!

 

[RubberToe]

That is horrible Rubber Toe! Did they say what the buy back price is? What a sad end to a car I loved. We all deserve better!

Not horrible really... I'll let you know what the buyback offer is when we get it. The $3,500 would just be free money, and we could then sell the car to Carvana or whomever after we get the $3,500. So if the buyback offer is > ($3,500 + Carvana), we probably take the buyback.

 

[Matt98765]

Car has been at the dealership since 21st of November 2023 with the high voltage battery recall notice letter.

Breaks my heart that we are being treated this way, is anyone in communication with Linda ? Around Christmas we were tracking a new battery from Korea to California to customs and to the dealership in Eastern Tennessee (Battery and Linda disappeared in customs)

Would love to know what happened to the battery, she said she was in charge of ordering the EV batteries.

Some of you are just starting this process, I have tried everything suggested but it all has backfired on me and the wife. Put in many hours of time and money just to be royally ignored.

Only have 20,000 miles on the odometer and they are messing with the BMS to attempt to make to car run again.

 

[JordanRieger]

OP here. My buyback is still dragging on. Haven't seen any paperwork in the 6+ weeks since it was agreed. Kia says it's complicated because they use a third-party company, Morley, to do the "surrender" of the vehicle, and for me, there is "an issue with how the vehicle will be titled" (legally owned) since I am Canadian but the car was imported from USA and had to be returned there for warranty service.

We are now past EIGHT MONTHS since I last saw my car when I dropped it off.

 

[JordanRieger]

Car has been at the dealership since 21st of November 2023 with the high voltage battery recall notice letter.

Breaks my heart that we are being treated this way, is anyone in communication with Linda ? Around Christmas we were tracking a new battery from Korea to California to customs and to the dealership in Eastern Tennessee (Battery and Linda disappeared in customs)

Would love to know what happened to the battery, she said she was in charge of ordering the EV batteries.

Some of you are just starting this process, I have tried everything suggested but it all has backfired on me and the wife. Put in many hours of time and money just to be royally ignored.

Only have 20,000 miles on the odometer and they are messing with the BMS to attempt to make to car run again.

Not sure if Linda still works there. She was my case manager, but now I've been passed off (escalated?) to Michael.

If anyone is offered fair buyback vs. a good-will payout to keep the car, I'd personally take the buy-back, as long as it's close to market value. Then go buy a used Leaf with that money. (Or, depending on your local government incentives, a new EV or PHEV might be the better option.) I have zero confidence in Kia's ability to maintain/warrant/replace the battery in these Soul EVs, unfortunately.

And it's true, it's a damned shame, because the car is otherwise pretty great -- a perfect, practical little commuter/city runabout.

 

[Matt98765]

Not sure if Linda still works there. She was my case manager, but now I've been passed off (escalated?) to Michael.

If anyone is offered fair buyback vs. a good-will payout to keep the car, I'd personally take the buy-back, as long as it's close to market value. Then go buy a used Leaf with that money. (Or, depending on your local government incentives, a new EV or PHEV might be the better option.) I have zero confidence in Kia's ability to maintain/warrant/replace the battery in these Soul EVs, unfortunately.

And it's true, it's a damned shame, because the car is otherwise pretty great -- a perfect, practical little commuter/city runabout.

Was informed the battery arrived on the 3rd at the dealership, should have called today but will give the whole situation one more day because of the 4th holiday.

What burns me the battery from around the end of December was new, about 99% sure the one they have right now will be a remanufactured.

Will report on how this turns out.

Best wishes

 

[RubberToe]

Not horrible really... I'll let you know what the buyback offer is when we get it. The $3,500 would just be free money, and we could then sell the car to Carvana or whomever after we get the $3,500. So if the buyback offer is > ($3,500 + Carvana), we probably take the buyback.

Ok, we are now about 5-6 weeks into waiting for Kia to get back to us with what the buyout offer is. The wife has been calling Kia and e-mailing them daily and is getting no response. This is the same scenario that played out when going back and forth to the dealer trying to get the car repaired. Total lack of communication.

Don't know if I mentioned this previously but the service person where we take the car told my wife that he tells all his family members to never buy a Kia/Hyundai. There is a Tesla service center literally right across the street (Alhambra) from the Kia dealer, and he drives a Tesla now.

RT

 

[edman98]

For those that didn’t get a loaner or rental, that is bad. Don’t settle, escalate, especially that there is precedent from people here that Kia does offer loaners/rentals. I bet filing a small claims/serving the dealership would change their minds. We were fortunate to have a loaner for the 6 mo repair/replace (did take some conversation when they didn’t or offered ICE). We are keeping the car and just received the $3500.

 

[Nedhastings]

For those that didn’t get a loaner or rental, that is bad. Don’t settle, escalate, especially that there is precedent from people here that Kia does offer loaners/rentals. I bet filing a small claims/serving the dealership would change their minds. We were fortunate to have a loaner for the 6 mo repair/replace (did take some conversation when they didn’t or offered ICE). We are keeping the car and just received the $3500.

There’s no incentive for Kia to process the claims even if they put you in the “escalated” category.

If your state has lemon law where the manufacturer pays the lawyer (like California), it would be in the owner’s best interest to have a lawyer do the arguing for you. Kia’s lawyers will want to limit time spent adding to your lawyer’s fees. There’s a reason to settle the case sooner.

 

[Matt98765]

Mechanic at the dealership said I might get the 2016 EV Soul back sometime on Monday, Taking a wait and see attitude about this whole thing.

Almost forgot what the car looks like, 20,000 miles on the odometer and new set of tires.

More soon

 

[Matt98765]

Yeah, something funny (or not, for us) going on there, I spoke to a minion who looked up my case and he said the battery was in, and then the service manager came on and said it was an error and the battery was NOT in yet. I sent an email to ClassAction.org a few days ago to see if they think there is a suit there. Waiting for a response but not holding my breath.

I am on round #3 of we have a battery for your car, I don't trust anything they say anymore.

Car 2016 Soul EV has been at the dealership since 21st of November 2023, When they sold the car to me they were bragging about the ten year main high voltage battery warranty, When I dropped it off at the dealership at my expense it was with the recall notice NHTSA 23V218 stating that the main battery has known defects and will be replaced free of charge, That statement and the cars Vin# were in red ink.

Just one week ago they lied again and were attempting to rig the BMS to get the car rolling again.

Supposed to get the car back tomorrow but I don't trust them, tracking a new battery in December that just disappeared into thin air.

More soon

 

[Matt98765]

Got the car back today with a remanufatured battery, seems normal for now, Nice to have it back in the driveway again.

Best wishes

 

[RubberToe]

Ok, we are now about 5-6 weeks into waiting for Kia to get back to us with what the buyout offer is. The wife has been calling Kia and e-mailing them daily and is getting no response. This is the same scenario that played out when going back and forth to the dealer trying to get the car repaired. Total lack of communication.

Don't know if I mentioned this previously but the service person where we take the car told my wife that he tells all his family members to never buy a Kia/Hyundai. There is a Tesla service center literally right across the street (Alhambra) from the Kia dealer, and he drives a Tesla now.

RT

Got a response from Kia that they will have the buyback offer to us by the end of this week.

RT

 

[RubberToe]

Got a response from Kia that they will have the buyback offer to us by the end of this week.

RT

They got back to use, still waiting for corporate of course