Kia buy back

[Cliff]

I was just contacted by corporate Kia, offering to buy back my vehicle. Can anyone who has gone through this share the buyback amount they were offered, and how well the process worked?

 

[Bearcat]

I haven't gone thru the complete process. I originally paid $13,300 for a 2016 Kia Soul EV+ (MSRP ~38K) in 2019. In Feb of this year, Kia offered me $10,100 for the vehicle: I think this was a fair offer. The car is in very good shape and has about 40K miles on the odometer. Unfortunately, it is a victim of the High-Voltage Battery Recall fiasco and has been sitting at the dealers since Feb. awaiting a new battery. I loved the vehicle and would prefer to have the battery replaced under warrantee and the vehicle returned to me in good condition. Consequently, I did not accept Kia's buy-back offer. I will wait awhile longer hoping for the best but if a new battery doesn't ever materialize, I will probably apply for another buy-back offer, which I am assuming they will offer, as it is probably cheaper to buy the car back than to replace the battery. I am guessing they eventually will replace the battery but don't know how long this could take. If I had accepted the repurchase offer, Kia indicated it would take 60-90 days to complete the process, which I imagine would involve the local Kia dealer, but I have no great insight into the final steps of the process. Good luck!

 

[buddhaauthor]

I haven't gone thru the complete process. I originally paid $13,300 for a 2016 Kia Soul EV+ (MSRP ~38K) in 2019. In Feb of this year, Kia offered me $10,100 for the vehicle: I think this was a fair offer. The car is in very good shape and has about 40K miles on the odometer. Unfortunately, it is a victim of the High-Voltage Battery Recall fiasco and has been sitting at the dealers since Feb. awaiting a new battery. I loved the vehicle and would prefer to have the battery replaced under warrantee and the vehicle returned to me in good condition. Consequently, I did not accept Kia's buy-back offer. I will wait awhile longer hoping for the best but if a new battery doesn't ever materialize, I will probably apply for another buy-back offer, which I am assuming they will offer, as it is probably cheaper to buy the car back than to replace the battery. I am guessing they eventually will replace the battery but don't know how long this could take. If I had accepted the repurchase offer, Kia indicated it would take 60-90 days to complete the process, which I imagine would involve the local Kia dealer, but I have no great insight into the final steps of the process. Good luck!

Thanks for this post. The details may be very useful to many of us. I am currently ignoring my BMS recall notice, as I love this car and have a really excellent battery. (Um, you know, provided it doesn't spontaneously combust!)

 

[Ationg]

I contacted Strategic Legal Practices in Century City, Los Angeles, uploaded some docs and pointed them to this Kia Soul forum for more owners with our recall and buy back problems about 3 weeks ago. They called me back 2 weeks ago but being cell phone challenged at 77 YO, I missed the call AND the friggin' msg. Anyway, I'm calling them on Mon at 310 277 1040. Maybe you guys could also reach out to them and we can get a class action lawsuit going and maybe the publicity will get Kia Corporate going. Fingers crossed.

 

[CoachME]

I contacted Strategic Legal Practices in Century City, Los Angeles, uploaded some docs and pointed them to this Kia Soul forum for more owners with our recall and buy back problems about 3 weeks ago. They called me back 2 weeks ago but being cell phone challenged at 77 YO, I missed the call AND the friggin' msg. Anyway, I'm calling them on Mon at 310 277 1040. Maybe you guys could also reach out to them and we can get a class action lawsuit going and maybe the publicity will get Kia Corporate going. Fingers crossed.

Any updates? We have been waiting for our battery replacement since November of 2023.

 

[Ationg]

I called, left a msg, never heard back. I did give SLP the forum URL coz I didn't want to them for a $6K case. I don't know if they ever came to the forum. I got my car back this week after the software update--fingers crossed, but I certainly will report if I get turtle mode back.

 

[spidermonkey]

Thanks for this post. The details may be very useful to many of us. I am currently ignoring my BMS recall notice, as I love this car and have a really excellent battery. (Um, you know, provided it doesn't spontaneously combust!)

This might sound weird but how are you handling the whole spontaneous combustion warning? It wasnt an official recall, but it did feel a whole lot like "Legal Notice", as in if your car were to catch fire and burn down your home or an apartment complex all that is on you, you were warned. Kia wont pay for damages outside of parts and labor and your insurance company might not want any part of it.
Yes, I'm a very paranoid person.

 

[mariano3113]

This might sound weird but how are you handling the whole spontaneous combustion warning? It wasnt an official recall, but it did feel a whole lot like "Legal Notice", as in if your car were to catch fire and burn down your home or an apartment complex all that is on you, you were warned. Kia wont pay for damages outside of parts and labor and your insurance company might not want any part of it.
Yes, I'm a very paranoid person.

In the US it is an Official Recall though:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/KIA/SOUL%20EV/SUV/FWD#recalls
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: 23V218000

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 and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, 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 were mailed August 18, 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.

5 Affected Products
Vehicle
MAKEMODELYEAR

KIASOUL EV2015-2019

 

[mariano3113]

In the US it is an Official Recall though:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/KIA/SOUL%20EV/SUV/FWD#recalls
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: 23V218000

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 and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, 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 were mailed August 18, 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.

5 Affected Products
Vehicle
MAKEMODELYEAR

KIASOUL EV2015-2019

The Soul EV was a risk of short circuiting/fire while driving.

Compared to Bolt's Fire Risk while parked
Where NHTSA site has recall marked as Urgent
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/CHEVROLET/BOLT%20EV/5%20HB/FWD#recalls

 

[spidermonkey]

The Soul EV was a risk of short circuiting/fire while driving.

Compared to Bolt's Fire Risk while parked
Where NHTSA site has recall marked as Urgent
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/CHEVROLET/BOLT%20EV/5%20HB/FWD#recalls

I'm in the USA as well and I'm sitting here reading the notice they sent me....and I uh, well really need to hone my reading comprehension skills. Like where it says at the top "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL"
I'm starting to get all my details convoluted, some people get cars some people dont get cars some people get software upgrades, then there are all the news articles..."dont charge or park next to other cars, dont park in the garage, keep vehicle in concrete bunker blah blah blah"
Sorry my paranoia is getting the better of me.

 

[spidermonkey]

Having gotten out in front of a couple of kitchen fires, two combine fires, having a not quite released parking brake on a tractor catch the tractor on fire, slapped out a field fire with a wet towel and having been over run by a stubble fire, as well as my own personal self being on fire a couple of times, I have concluded that my fire paranoia is some what justified.

Yet I still play with it. Go figure.

 

[ntiditoev]

Hello....

Kia is in the process of buying back some Soul EV's that are still under warranty.
We're negotiating the price right now.
Kia only wants to pay the wholesale value and I want the retail value.
I think a warranty should cover replacement cost.
What do you think?

On August 23, 2024, Kia bought my 2017 Kia Soul ev+ for $26,000. My purchase price was $22,000, after Federal tax credit and other rebates. In 2020, Kia replaced 27Kwh battery pack to 30Kwh battery. From December 16,2023 to May 16, 2024. In June, Kia offered me the buyback amount,. n July, I uploaded all the documents...I live in Los Angeles.

Hello....

Kia is in the process of buying back some Soul EV's that are still under warranty.
We're negotiating the price right now.
Kia only wants to pay the wholesale value and I want the retail value.
I think a warranty should cover replacement cost.
What do you think

 

[NRH]

On August 23, 2024, Kia bought my 2017 Kia Soul ev+ for $26,000. My purchase price was $22,000, after Federal tax credit and other rebates. In 2020, Kia replaced 27Kwh battery pack to 30Kwh battery. From December 16,2023 to May 16, 2024. In June, Kia offered me the buyback amount,. n July, I uploaded all the documents...I live in Los Angeles.

Seems like a pretty amazing price that they have given you. We had almost given up hope of ever getting the car back and then suddenly one day out of the blue (about a month after we had started the buyback process) we were told once they finally got a software update for the battery and we could pick the car up that day. We had previously been told that if they were able to fix the car the buyback process would stop. They had had our car for about 5 months by then and the loaner had cost them $7k. I presume you got a buyback offer before they finally solved the software issue?

 

[ntiditoev]

Seems like a pretty amazing price that they have given you. We had almost given up hope of ever getting the car back and then suddenly one day out of the blue (about a month after we had started the buyback process) we were told once they finally got a software update for the battery and we could pick the car up that day. We had previously been told that if they were able to fix the car the buyback process would stop. They had had our car for about 5 months by then and the loaner had cost them $7k. I presume you got a buyback offer before they finally solved the software issue?

After 5 month at the dealer for new battery, BMS was updated and getting 93 miles at 100%. Month later Kia offered the buyback amount. $26,000 included interest on the loan, sales tax, document fee. Deducted 3 years of use (battery was replaced). The car was working fine before and after the updates.

 

[Nedhastings]

On August 23, 2024, Kia bought my 2017 Kia Soul ev+ for $26,000. My purchase price was $22,000, after Federal tax credit and other rebates. In 2020, Kia replaced 27Kwh battery pack to 30Kwh battery. From December 16,2023 to May 16, 2024. In June, Kia offered me the buyback amount,. n July, I uploaded all the documents...I live in Los Angeles.

GOOD! I feel like Kia ****** us all around with half truths, wrong info, and flat out ghosting us. It has just been so shady! I’m glad they’re giving you a good buyback amount.

 

[bigendian]

My 2016 Soul EV+ has been at the dealer since Dec 4th for warrantee battery replacement. I've had a loaner or rental of much nicer cars since. I figure these loaners must have cost Kia America around $10,000 by this point. The dealer had me come in to pick it up Sep 8th, and I gotta scary high voltage battery warning as soon as I turned it on—a warning I never saw before. The excellent service guy offered no friction keeping the car and got me into an extremely nice EV6 loaner. I am perfectly happy for them to keep my car as long as they want at this point. I'm surprised Kia America hasn't offered to buy it back to cut their loses.

The dealer themselves offered to buy my car for $8,700 when I originally dropped it off. They then offered $7,000 when I went to pick it up a few weeks ago.

 

[bigendian]

This thread got me wondering.... What does Kia do with cars after buying them back?

 

[Nedhastings]

This thread got me wondering.... What does Kia do with cars after buying them back?

I assume they sell them.

Have you asked about a buy back?

 

[mariano3113]

I assume they sell them.

Have you asked about a buy back?

He said earlier that dealer offered $8700 when he initially dropped vehicle off. (Assuming Dec 4th and recently offered $7000 when he picked it up, but then left it as High Voltage Warning was present)

The dealer themselves offered to buy my car for $8,700 when I originally dropped it off. They then offered $7,000 when I went to pick it up a few weeks ago.

I got my 2015 Soul EV + back in July and then returned it as it rolled out of the driveway.

Got it a couple weeks later in August and same thing happened with it rolling out of driveway; this is post battery replacement and the Parking brake recall software being applied twice.

From Nov 23rd...I got vehicle back Dec 12th...then returned it Dec 19th. (Turtle mode on highway after 13 miles of driving at 93% indicated SOC)
I have had my Soul EV for 9 days in 2024, been in a several Kia loaners for most of 2024 (About 1.5 months of no vehicle from Kia between loaners and service visits.)

2 Kia Sportage loaners, 1 Kia Seltos loaner, 1 EV9 loaners, and now on my 2nd EV6 loaner.

It has definitely cost Kia more than my vehicle is worth in rental fees.
My Soul EV is at 111k miles and the recall process has been very slow. (I have an extended warranty to 150k miles through 2027....the longer it remains in their possession and I in a loaner....the closer I may get to full-use of extended warranty duration.)