Kia Soul Complaints

5,626 consumer complaints on file.

#11735537May 4, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am writing to report safety concerns regarding my 2018 Kia Soul Plus. I have been experiencing several engine issues, including knocking noises, hesitation during acceleration, excessive oil consumption, and an active check engine light. Recently, while driving with my daughter, the vehicle began shaking and the check engine light flashed three times. Although I strictly adhere to the recommended maintenance schedule, these issues persist. My mechanic identified code P0455, but a smoke test did not reveal a leak. Additionally, despite having a full tune-up in August [2025] at 105,636 miles, I am being told I require another tune-up due to engine misfires. I am concerned about the frequency of these repairs and the overall safety of the vehicle’s engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735549May 4, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
After multiple recent services at the dealership, the car caught fire while idle in the driveway. The fire was under the hood in the front part of the engine compartment, just behind the latch mechanism. Fire was extinguished and verified by the local fire department. The parking spaces are close to other cars and townhouses.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734927April 30, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle began to make a knocking noise which became progressively louder and backfired. There was white smoke coming from the exhaust as the contact moved to the side of the road and exited the vehicle safely. The vehicle then developed a small fire underneath the hood in the engine compartment, which quickly became engulfed in flames. The contact was approximately 30 to 40 feet away when this occurred. The smoke was described as having an electrical odor. The fire spread into the interior of the vehicle, resulting in damage to the dashboard, front seats and windows. No additional property damage was reported. Emergency services were contacted and the fire department extinguished the fire. The insurance company determined the vehicle to be a total loss. No injuries were sustained. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number 20V750000 (Engine). The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734807April 30, 2026
ENGINE
My 2022 Kia Soul with a 2.0 Litre Engine is consuming lots of oil, I'm having to ad a quart every day. I have check engine lights for the catalytic converter and engine missfires. The car has always consumed oil between oil changes since I bought it new in 2022, and its gotten progressively worse. I've maintained the car as required by the manufacturer and have topped up the oil when low. I had the dealer perform an oil consumption test in June 0f 2025 at 60,275 miles. After 1000 miles the Dealer determined the car was consuming 8/10ths of a quart of oil after 1000. The dealer informed mt that Kia only considered 1 quart of oil or more after 1000 miles to be a problem. So I continued to change oil and top it off as necessary. The car continued to consume more and more oil, and I contacted Kia Customer Service In June, November, December of 2025 regarding the increasing oil consumption problem. In April I contacted Kia Customer service again stating the oil consumption had gotten much worse. The took my information an said someone woul call me. I called them again 5 days later and told them I had a check engine light regarding an engis miss and Catalytic convert code, and asked the expedite the call back. I've spoken with the expedited service person three times since the 25th of april and informed the that I'm having to add 1 gt of oil daily. The expedited serviec person informed me that Kia would not provide me with a loaner car or rental reimbursement until it was determined by Kia that there is a problem with the engine. She also said I should drop the car off and leave it with the Dealer, and call her back when I've done so. My car has 77731 miles on it, I've never missed and oil change, and I've always kept it topped off. I'm concerned the catalytic converter will plug up and leave me stranded, or worse, result in an engine fire!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734660April 29, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated. The contact added oil to the vehicle; however, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and failed to exceed 60 MPH while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the contact was informed that the engine replacement was not covered under an unknown class-action lawsuit settlement recall because only 12 out of the required 17 oil change service records were available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and made the same assessment. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 128,129.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734083April 27, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Intermittent failure of multiple safety‑critical Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) while driving. Forward collision avoidance, lane safety, and other driver‑assist features disable simultaneously without warning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734070April 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
took to kia of jackson for recall sc209a they said they would not do recall because i was a dealer ,called customer service and they said do to the fact that i was a dealer it would not be covered kia of jackson [XXX] kia customer service case [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733837April 26, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am reporting a safety concern related to NHTSA Recall 19V120 involving my Kia Soul. The recall identifies a defect related to catalytic converter overheating, which can lead to engine damage, stalling, and increased risk of fire. My vehicle is currently experiencing an illuminated check engine light and unsafe driving conditions. During service evaluation at Kia of Columbus, I was informed that my vehicle has a catalytic converter blockage contributing to these issues. However, I was also told that my vehicle does not qualify for recall repair because no engine code was detected during diagnostics. This is concerning, as the vehicle is actively exhibiting symptoms consistent with the recall condition, including a confirmed catalytic converter issue and an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp. Despite this, I was denied full recall coverage and instead offered a goodwill repair requiring me to pay 50% of the cost. I believe this situation represents a failure to properly apply recall criteria and raises concerns regarding customer safety, as the vehicle may be at risk for engine failure or fire. I am requesting further review of this matter and investigation into the handling of this recall by the servicing dealership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733855April 26, 2026
STEERING
Steering wheel column coupler clicking and wore out
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733744April 25, 2026
ENGINE
On [XXX], while my vehicle was at the dealership for a federally mandated engine replacement recall (Campaign PI2107Y/Z), the service department attempted to obstruct the completion of the safety repair. The dealership informed me that unless I paid a 264.40 fee for maintenance and fluids, they were required by the manufacturer to drain the old, contaminated coolant from my failed engine and reuse it in the brand-new replacement engine. This threat of intentional contamination poses a severe safety risk, as reusing old fluid from a failed engine can lead to premature engine failure or overheating, potentially creating another hazardous situation on the road. I contacted the manufacturer corporate office (Case [XXX]), and they confirmed that no such requirement to reuse old coolant exists and that the dealership had not even attempted to file a claim for fluids. The dealership misrepresented manufacturer policy to monetize a free safety recall and threatened to sabotage the integrity of the new engine to force a sale. This issue was confirmed to be a dealership-level fabrication by the manufacturer’s corporate customer service line. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733534April 24, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under Kia Recall: SC209; however, the repair failed to prevent the failure. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the contact became aware of a n excessive oil consumption. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil; however, the cause of the failure was unknown. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that oil was being added approximately every 2 days. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733591April 24, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle spontaneously caught fire while parked unattended at 3 am. All the warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure, and the vehicle was undrivable. The contact had received the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). There were no reported injuries, police report, or crash. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to the scrap yard. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 265,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733708April 24, 2026
ENGINE
Problem. Engine control unit, ECU allowed catalytic converter overheat. Engine knocking and stalling. Engine monitor light came on while driving the car when it began to knock and stall while driving it. Can cause piston to break and.puncture the engine block, leaking oil into the hot exhaust and start a fire
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733594April 24, 2026
ENGINE
On [XXX], the check engine light illuminated. No other warning indicators activated — no low oil pressure warning, no low oil level warning, no driver alert of any kind regarding engine condition. On [XXX], at approximately 53,845 miles, the vehicle began running rough. I checked the engine oil and found the dipstick registered empty — no measurable oil in the engine. No low oil level or low oil pressure warning had been provided by the vehicle at any point prior to this discovery. I added two quarts of oil. The vehicle stalled while being driven to obtain the oil, and stalled again after the oil was added. I drove the vehicle to Jiffy Lube and had a full oil change performed. Mileage at the oil change was 53,852. I then scheduled an appointment with Gervais Kia in Lowell, Massachusetts, the nearest Kia dealer, less than one mile from my home. The earliest available appointment was approximately one week later. Because the vehicle stalled repeatedly at idle, I drove it to the dealer using both feet — keeping engine revs elevated with the accelerator while braking — to prevent stalling at stops. The vehicle is currently at Gervais Kia for diagnostic inspection. The symptoms match the failure mode documented in NHTSA recall campaign 25V-099 (Kia recall for 2021-2023 Soul and Seltos with 2.0L Nu MPI engines, piston oil ring manufacturing defect). My vehicle has the 2.0L Nu MPI engine and was manufactured at the Kia Autoland Hwaseong plant identified in the recall filing. However, my VIN does not appear in the current recall population per NHTSA VIN lookup and Kia’s recall lookup. The recall remedy includes installation of Piston-ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software specifically because the defect provides no driver warning before failure — consistent with my experience, in which the engine ran empty of oil with no warning whatsoever. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733377April 23, 2026
ENGINE
My 2018 Kia Soul with the 2.0L Nu GDI engine is experiencing severe oil consumption of approximately 1 quart every 300–400 miles. The engine and lubrication system are available for inspection upon request. My check engine light is currently on. The dealer performed several recalls on the vehicle, including PI2107 (KSDS), SC226, and CS2311A, but refused to perform the required oil‑consumption test described in TSB ENG 222 (Rev 8). The service technician stated that because the oil‑consumption test is “not on the VIN,” they would not perform it under warranty. I was told I could pay $250 out of pocket for the test, but that even if the test confirmed a defect, the dealership would not cover any repairs. I was also told to “run the car until the motor seizes up” before they would help. This instruction is unsafe and contradicts Kia’s own safety systems, including KSDS, which is specifically designed to prevent engine seizure while driving. Driving a vehicle with rapid oil loss until the engine seizes can cause sudden loss of power, loss of steering assist, and a crash hazard. The problem is ongoing and repeatable, but the dealer refused to diagnose it properly. I am reporting this because the dealership refused to perform required safety‑related diagnostics and instructed me to operate the vehicle until catastrophic engine failure occurs, creating a significant safety hazard for me and other motorists.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733263April 23, 2026
ENGINE
My 2021 Kia Soul experienced repeated overheating despite replacement of major cooling system components including the thermostat and water pump. The vehicle continued to overheat and was later diagnosed by a Kia dealership with engine damage requiring full engine replacement. This failure occurred around 105,000 miles. The symptoms and failure pattern are consistent with known issues affecting similar Kia engines, yet my VIN is not included in any recall. I am concerned this represents a broader defect that may not be fully captured in current recalls.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733186April 23, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
This 2024 Kia soul, 2 issues 1. the instrument cluster does not show, when turning the vehicle on the instrument cluster is blank, meaning I cannot see the speed limit, how much fuel or use any adaptive features, braking, lane departure, cruise control, etc ****this creates a dangerous situation and I do not believe the car is safe to drive**** I see there is a recall for this issue on 2023 models Kia 23V298000 Kia SC270 2. Intermittent window issues with the automatic windows, when opening from the driver side the windows will not come back up, have to pull over and turn vehicle on and off and /or try to close the windows from each door individually I called to report this to Kia at [XXX] and asked them to repair both and they were not much help, I asked this be reported and am not confident the person will actually do so They did tell me there were issues already noted which I requested be raised to a technical service bulletin or a recall and extend the warranty for all affected vehicles thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733058April 22, 2026
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. Upon further research, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the inside of the catalytic converter had melted, but there was no fire. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732298April 20, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Engine shut off while making a turn. Took car to mechanic and he stated that the car did not display any error messages. The car also over heated while driving in freeway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732502April 20, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
What component or system failed or malfunctioned? The engine (piston rings) and catalytic converter failed. The catalytic converter is available for inspection upon request. How was safety put at risk? The engine ran low on oil without any external leak, causing warning lights and engine rattling. Low oil pressure can lead to sudden engine seizure or fire. The failed catalytic converter can clog, causing loss of power on highways and increasing the risk of a crash. Has the problem been confirmed by a dealer or independent shop? Yes. A Kia dealer found the engine 2 quarts low, with no external leak, and recommended replacing the catalytic converter at a cost of over $6,000. An independent mechanic confirmed code P0420, which indicates catalytic converter failure. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer? The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Kia dealer, but they did not complete the required inspection for Recall SC336 (defective piston oil rings). They did add the software. Were there warning lamps or other symptoms? Yes. The oil pressure warning light and other dashboard lights came on. The engine made a rattling noise. The vehicle later felt sluggish on acceleration, fuel economy dropped, and the exhaust developed a smell. The check engine light came on and later turned off, but code P0420 was stored in the system.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Soul