Kia Soul Complaints

5,626 consumer complaints on file.

#11732228April 19, 2026
ENGINE
Engine has 86k miles and has been well maintained. Recently it started to consume oil rapidly as per last oil change report. We took it to dealership after oil change mechanic suggested needing to have problems looked at per Kias recent service bulletins on high oil consumption issues. I requested the car be evaluated for the oil issue and the dealership service tech confirmed "engine damage DUE TO high oil consumption" but would not perform oil consumption test. The particular vin is not included in current recalls or bulletins but has the same engine as other model years that are in the recall/bulletins for engine oil consumption. Dealership suggests engine replacement but the car is out of warranty because it changed owners before 100k miles. I have opened a case with kia and, to date, they continue to deny the engine replacement due to car being out of warranty. This oil consumption issue is a MAJOR SAFETY RISK and ALL KIAS HAVING THIS ENGINE ISSUE should be offered replacement by Kia, assuming regular maintenance is proven. Other Kias with this same engine are being replaced at Kias expense but Kia is trying to save money by only approving certain year models, leaving thousands of Kia owners left at having to replace engines at the owners expense (over $9000 dollars) when the car itself is no longer worth barely half of that cost. The NHTSA needs to step in to protect the consumers and issue a bulletin for any Kia model having this type of oil consumption issue before more people die or suffer major breakdowns and wrecks from car fires or engine lock ups.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732207April 19, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car stalled with no precursors. The engine and oil was maintain but the engined stall with out smoke or mixed oil. This error falls directly under the recall for pistion rings that cause engine failure. I brought my vehicle to Archer Kia and after two-three months of waited for the recall repair they stated that they could not repair the failed engine under the recall that causes failed engines.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731997April 18, 2026
ENGINE
I just bought the car one month ago, and While driving my 2016 Kia Soul on a high-speed highway at approximately 98,000 miles, the vehicle suddenly lost power without warning. The engine stopped responding and the car could not accelerate. This created a very dangerous situation because traffic was moving at high speed and I was at risk of being hit from behind. I was driving with my son, who has a disability, and I was taking him to his therapy appointment. The sudden loss of power made the situation even more stressful and unsafe because I was responsible for his safety while the vehicle was failing in traffic. Fortunately, I was able to carefully move out of the main highway and exit the road to avoid a crash. I managed to reach a nearby auto mechanic shop, where the vehicle had to remain because the engine had failed and the car could no longer be driven safely. This incident represents a serious safety concern because the vehicle lost power suddenly while driving on a fast highway, which could easily have resulted in a serious accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732012April 18, 2026
ENGINE
I had the oil changed on my car at a local tire and lube shop. Two weeks later I drove to Vegas (7 hrs one way). While in Vegas I started to hear a super faint clicking noise coming from under my hood, but no lights came on inside, so I assumed maybe it was nothing serious and would have it checked when I returned home 3 days later. On the way home (2 hrs from home) the clicking got louder. I attempted to pass some cars and, as I accelerated, the clicking got much louder and then I heard a loud clank and the car shuttered. I proceeded to pull over and got out of the car and saw small flames and smoke coming from under my car. A couple had pulled over with me and had a fire extinguisher which they used to put the fire out. Upon towing the car home I found a piece of metal hanging from a melted piece of plastic. I inspected it and discovered that it was a piece of a piston from my engine. There was also a puddle of oil and a streak of gasoline on the trailer that had come from my car. I experienced catastrophic engine failure. When the engine broke it punched a hole in my oil pan which caused a fire and burned a hole in my fuel line. I am unsure of what caused the engine to fail, but in seeing the recalls for the exact same thing happening to previously recalled Kia Souls I figured i'd check it out to see if I may be included in that. No lights came on alerting me to any problems. There were no signs of leaking oil. Just clicking that got louder and then a loud noise and shudder and fire.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732120April 18, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The car rpm fluctuated from 1000 to 5000 rpm while in cruise control going 65 mph. At a stop, thr transmission took 30 seconds to engage to low speed. The car was stuttering and bucking at 10mph to 45mph
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731747April 17, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My Car would shut off in the middle of the road after I stopped to make a turn or even stop at a stop light. Also the engine is burning oil. Mechanic says the the engine needs to be replace. Something with the oil piston and the exhaust is burning oil. I am not sure
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731602April 16, 2026
ENGINE
I have a code of P0420 show up on a vehicle diagnostic test. This is directly related to recall SA363 ECU LOGIC . The engine light kept coming on. I was driving on the highway and the car stalled and then stopped as I was coming off the exit.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731690April 16, 2026
ENGINE
the engine is consuming a quart of oil per thousand miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731380April 15, 2026
ENGINE
My car was fine one day the next day without warnings was driving on highway and it starting riding sluggish making a rough noise I had pull over to the side of highway turn car off started back up drove home and that was the day my nightmare started. I took my car to the dealership and had a diagnosis performed and they said i need a new engine 8000.00. on 07/25/2024my car was having similar problems the y said it was a knock sensor they fixed that problem. Now I'm02 without transportation. this engine has has a lot of issues. can anybody help with this problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731425April 15, 2026
ENGINE
Hi my vehicle was stolen and the police found the vehicle. The car was damaged part of the damages was a broken ignition. I am unable to fix the damages until I get paid from the kia classaction lawsuit. The car still starts and stays running. I have the key for the car but I have been starting the car was butter knife bc it's easier then the key. I made an appointment to have the oil piston ring looked at. When I brought it I. They refused to look at it bc it has a broken ignition. I don't think the safety recall has anything to do w the ignition. The car is easy to turn on and shut off. I wouldn't care if my car wasn't stalling at traffic lights. My car is going thru a lot of oil. I am not working currently. This car was purchased for me by my dad. He paid cash for it. He bought it bc I had just been diagnosed w a rare autoimmune disease. He bought it so I would have something safe and reliable to drive in. We have had nothing g but problems since day 1. All I wanted was for them to look at it so im not going to be in harms way. Idk what to do the dealership said they cant look at it until I fixed the ignition. But like I said I won't have money to do that until I get the class action lawsuit.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731412April 15, 2026
ENGINE
I am filing a complaint regarding a safety recall (NHTSA Recall 25V099) on my 2021 Kia Soul that was marked as completed, but the defect was not properly repaired. On 3/17/26, I took my vehicle to a Kia dealership to have the recall addressed. The dealership performed only a software update and diagnostic testing and marked the recall as complete. No engine repair or replacement was performed. Within approximately one week of this recall service, my engine suffered a catastrophic failure while driving, resulting in a hole in the engine block and total engine failure. This created a serious safety risk due to sudden loss of power and fire hazard. I then had the vehicle inspected by a second Kia dealership. They informed me that the engine failure was consistent with the defect described in recall 25V099 (piston oil ring failure) and that the prior recall repair did not correct the underlying issue. This indicates that the recall remedy performed on my vehicle was incomplete or ineffective, and that the vehicle was returned to me in an unsafe condition. I am concerned that other vehicles may be receiving only software updates without proper inspection or repair, which could lead to similar dangerous failures. I am requesting that this situation be investigated as a failed recall remedy and a continued safety risk. Timeline: 3/17/26: Recall repair performed (software update only) 3/29/26: Engine failed catastrophically 4/2/26: Second dealership confirmed failure related to recall defect
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731246April 14, 2026
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle began shaking violently and made a loud knocking sound. The contact experienced a loss of automotive power, and the vehicle was unable to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the catalytic converter needed to be repaired. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. However, the dealer stated that the engine had to seize for the replacement to be covered. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,009.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731005April 14, 2026
ENGINE
I have always taken my 2019 Kia Soul to the dealership in Quincy IL, where I had purchased it from as the first and only owner. I have recently drove it to work and it made an awful noise and started to run rough. Upon taking it to the dealership I learned that cylinder number 3 had blown and even melted the coil pack connector boot to the spark plug. It has used more oil than usual over the years in-between oil and filter changes. Since this problem has occurred, I have learned that the engine manufacturer has had similar issues with engine failure in multiple models. Including 2019 Kia Soul such as mine. I would like for it to be replaced under the same settlement for this engine type and it's flaws.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731008April 14, 2026
ENGINE
I was driving down a major highway (I65, northbound, indiana) and my vehicle suddenly slowed down and wouldn't accelerate in the middle of traffic. The check engine light came on and was flashing, as well as many other lights on the dash. Thankfully I was able to pull over. I had to wait on the interstate for a tow truck with cars and semis flying past me. It was absolutely dangerous and Kia states they won't cover it because it wasn't dangerous. This is a known issue with this vehicle, and I did get the updated knock sensor when that recall came out. My engine completely stalled on a highway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730782April 13, 2026
ENGINE
I was on vacation driving the vehicle when the engine caught fire..There was kids in the car there was nothing wrong with the vehicle all of a sudden it just went boom and caught fire We were slowing down to get off the exit. I have no idea what all was effected I don't know much about cars to know what did or did not catch fire..
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730985April 13, 2026
SUSPENSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ENGINE
My KIA Soul 2018 caught on file while driving. The whole engine was in flames. I didn't want to die because my car has a manufacturing issue that KIA was not aware about. The dealership I've purchased the car from denied to give me a copy of the mechanical inspection done at the dealership Stonebriar Chevrolet in Frisco, TX. The flames started under the car and made its way to the engine, smoke was coming from the AC vents. People were able to put the fire down before it got to the gas tank. Due to the seriousness of the damage, the car stopped working and we left it on the side of the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730709April 12, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Manufacturer defect: Massive paint delamination/adhesion failure on the roof. Large sheets of paint are flaking off while the vehicle is in motion, creating a debris hazard for following drivers and distracting the operator. The failure has exposed the bare metal structure, which may lead to premature rusting.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730421April 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The paint is continuing to peel off and its getting worse. When I called Kia they said it is not covered. Apparently this is a manufacturing defect. I would really like this to be corrected if possible. T;hank you, Gail LeBrun
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730247April 9, 2026
ENGINE
My check engine light continues periodically turn on and off; diagnostics done by independent service centers shows the code indicating there's something wrong with my catalytic converter. I discovered the make and model of my vehicle has a recall for this issue, but upon contacting Kia directly and speaking with services members & customer care I was told that my vehicle does not fall under the recall even though it is showing the same signs as the vehicles that have. It has not been inspected by anyone other than the hired mechanic and I'm not entirely sure when the problem first began, but has been an ongoing issue for the last few months.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729854April 8, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the engine started knocking on the passenger side of the vehicle underneath the hood. The contact accelerated to 45 MPH and continued driving. After refueling, while continuing to drive at 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost engine power, and the vehicle started coasting. The vehicle was stopped, restarted, and the contact continued driving. A short while after restarting the vehicle, the failure reoccurred. The contact stopped the vehicle, waited, then restarted the vehicle a second time. The vehicle was driven to the destination. An image of an engine was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle continued to make a knocking sound. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine was failing and needed to be replaced. The certified mechanic informed the contact about NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine); and associated the vehicle with the recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, who confirmed the diagnosis; however, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer declined to provide the engine replacement under recall or warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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