Kia Soul Complaints

5,626 consumer complaints on file.

#11423599July 6, 2021
ENGINE
My car has been at Classic Kia in Beaumont TX with the exception of 2 days since May 5. It stalled and died repeatedly. They said they fixed it and I picked it up may 19th. It died 20 miles down the road and warning light came back on...service engine soon. I returned it to them May 21 and they still have it. They say metal shavings are in the oil. I am hamstrung without a car. I don't think they have mechanics that know how to fix it. I called Kia Corp. June 7. They said they'd call Classic Kia and call me back. They have still not called me back. Please help me. Nobody should take two months to repair factory recalls!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11423357July 3, 2021
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The connecting rod bearing failed resulting in the engine failing. The engine is still in the car at the dealership awaiting approval from KIA to replace it (they are currently refusing). The engine failing while the vehicle was being operated placed me and other motorist in danger had I not been able to get it off the road immediately. The connecting rod bearing failure was confirmed by the dealership. No, the vehicle has not been inspected by anyone else besides the service techs at the dealership. It is unknown if any warning lamps or messages appeared before the failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11423363July 3, 2021
ENGINE
My vehicle started driving really sluggish and slowing down from 55 to 35 when going up a hill. It felt like it wasn’t getting the gas to make it go. I looked it up and found this recall: 2014 Kia Soul; Manufacturer photo Vehicles Affected: Approximately 379,000 model-year 2012-16 Kia Soul hatchbacks equipped with 1.6-liter gas engines The Problem: High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine’s pistons as well as possible piston connecting rod failure. Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block, allowing engine oil to escape that may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire. however I was told that my vehicle is a 2.0 liter engine and it’s under the recall! Drove my vehicle home after the Kia dealer told me I needed a catalytic converter, then my engine light started blinking, called Kia of America corporate to ask them and confirm it wasn’t under recall and they had me get it to the dealer and now the dealer said I need an engine!!! I don’t even have 130,000 miles on the vehicle! Just seems too coincidental that my vehicle has the same issues as the 1.6 liter engine Kia Soul does! Kia is also saying I’m completely responsible for repairs!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11423371July 3, 2021
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2015 Kia Soul had a recall for the Catalytic Converter, which I was Never informed of. My check engine light came on and I took it to get checked, they told me the trouble, my husband was a mechanic so he checked id there were recalls and to find out there was one on the catalytic converter, I took it to the dealership of March in 2021, they fix the catalytic converter and changed it. Only to find out that my entire engine was ruined because of the damage from the catalytic converter. My car stalled on the freeway going 65 miles an hour with my daughter in the car. We were almost hit by a semi truck, I took it back down to the dealership after the check engine light came on told them it was stalling. They charge me for a fuel sensor and said that was the problem. I took a back down to the dealership because it was continuing to Saul after that, call the recall Center for Kia and I was told by a representative that I would be getting a new engine. When I went down to the dealership to get the new engine they told me that was incorrect and I have still not gotten my car back after two days. The dealership has yet to call me either to tell me what exactly is the issue with my car
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11423290July 2, 2021
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The engine light is starting to appear more frequently this started about two years ago and every few months would appear and the oil would be a little low and more recently after oil changes... I had brought the car in late last year to check on the recall of the engine & mentioned concern... I was told everything was fine and this problem started occurring while before I reached 100,000 miles... I've been waiting over two weeks for an appointment and have one scheduled for July 14 which I made over two weeks ago when the problem occurred once again and I had my mother in the car 90 year old... I've been told by the Kia dealership that everything was good however it appears that this is put me in a situation that could be extremely dangerous if all the oil burns off or there are other issues similar to the below ...Optima Hybrid, 2012 Sportage, 2012–2013 Sorento, and 2012–2013 Forte and Forte Koup with the 2.4-liter Theta II engine; and the 2014–2015 Forte, Forte Koup, and Soul with the 2.0-liter Nu engine. Kia will notify owners starting on January 27, 2021. Dealers will inspect the engine compartments of affected vehicles, make repairs, and potentially replace engines. Kia also intends to carry out a software update to add a Knock Sensor Detection System as soon as possible, and the NHTSA report states that Kia will provide 15-year/150,000-mile warranty coverage for engine repairs needed "due to connecting-rod bearing damage." Kia will also reimburse owners for any repair expenses already incurred related to the problem, NHTSA's report says...Just to recap we can't get an appointment till the 14th they're trying to squeeze me in earlier I'll know next Tuesday however I have just paid off my Kia after five years and was hoping to enjoy many more years... I'm very disappointed that the safety of the car and the drivers and the owners are not of the upmost importance Something should be done immediately for their loyal customers... Call [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422954June 30, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle stalls when trying to pick up speed and when trying to accelerate from a traffic light or stop sign. The vehicle also gets stuck in park and the release button does not work and takes it takes a long time to get the car out of park when it is stuck. The signals also go out at any given time and this problem can last up to an hour.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422713June 29, 2021
ENGINE
Bought a 2019 Kia Soul+ and after hitting a few hundred miles outside the 60,000 warranty the engine dies to the point Kia has to replace the whole engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422707June 28, 2021
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My car started making a loud noise and the car would not accelerate as I was returning home on the highway. I was driving home on I-75 South when my car started to slow down and it was very hard to accelerate and was making a loud noise. I made it to the next exit off Sharonville Rd and made it into a gas station. I opened the hood to check the oil and it was extremely hot and smoking. I had to wait until it cooled off and put in some oil to try to make it on home. The check oil light was not lit which didn't even provide any indication that my car was out of oil during the 1/2 hour drive. I do not feel safe to drive this car, since this incident. I took it for auto repair immediately the next day. Please help with assistance with this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422496June 27, 2021
ENGINE
Car displays a check engine light. The check engine light reports an issue with the catalytic converter. Car has began to shut off randomly when coming to or at a stop (for example: at a red light).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422503June 27, 2021
STEERING
It suddenly didn't want to turn and made me wreck it and bent the tie rods or something
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422504June 27, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1) wiring harness is malfunctioning causing bulbs to prematurely blow. I’m constantly having to replace turn signal bulbs, headlight bulbs, taillight bulbs and break light bulbs. 2) I’ve read many accounts online that this is a common occurrence in the 2013 Kia Soul. 3) this put drivers behind me at risk when my tail lights/break lights fail. Since they are behind me, I have no idea that they have failed because there’s NO warning lights that alert me to the issue. 4) I have left MULTIPLE MESSAGES at MULTIPLE LOCATIONS and PHONE NUMBERS for Kia and their service departments, for over a month and NOBODY HAS returned my phone calls.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422260June 25, 2021
ENGINE
I was driving and check engine light went on , drove to Pride Kia where this car was purchased. Before check engine light went on car started to decrease in acceleration. And some smoke could be seen once or twice upon acceleration. Car has been at Pride Kia for 15 days and have not been told what the problem is. This 2015 Kia Soul was was taken in at Pride Kia for a product improvement on December 2020. And on February 2021, there was a recall SC200, to check engine. Currently there are two recalls for a 2015 Kia Soul. One is for a catalytic converter 19V120000. The problems described in this recall are very similar to the problems of the Kia Soul I drive. Also, recall 20V750000, is similar to the engine problems of my Kia Soul. Upon inquiring about the Kia Soul engine problems, I was informed that it seems likely it could be catalytic problem Since the check engine light is blinking, this demonstrates a catalytic problem and not a sensor problem. The stalling of the engine also has taken place when the ISG feature Is on. I asked the Pride Kia dealer service department and they said keep driving it nothing. Thank you, Al DiCenso
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422264June 25, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while turning on the vehicle as well as while driving, an oil odor was detected, a knocking sound was heard, and the vehicle was consuming excessive amounts of engine oil. The check engine light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who performed an oil change and stated that the catalytic converter was faulty. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer and the dealer performed a recall for the Engine Control Unit (ECU) software update however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The contact stated that smoke was seen coming from under the hood while driving. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that she needed to pay for the diagnostic and since the recall repair was not performed in 2018, the dealer was not responsible for the engine replacement under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine) for which the Vin was included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was 146,630.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422309June 25, 2021
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the daughter was driving approximately 40 mph the vehicle crashed into the rear end of another vehicle. During the crash, the front end sustained severe damage and the vehicle was destroyed but the driver-side air bag did not deploy and the front driver-side seat belt malfunctioned and did not secure the occupant causing the driver's head to make contact with the steering wheel. The driver sustained a head injury that required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined and the local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 94,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11422380June 25, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle had a strange smell ever since we got it a few years back. Earlier in the month, the headlight and dashlight would flicker with the turn signal. We looked it up and set up an apppointment with a local Kia dealership for recall on this issue. Then this week, the engine suddenly quit while the car was parked. The vehicle wouldn't start at all. Kia was notified and they said that there was another recall on engine SC200 on this vehicle that was just announced earlier this year. Online lookup also revealed that the smell issue can be from burning oil or a leak into catalytic converter. Other Kia cars from the same years have also said to have had these issues. Then an OBD II check showed the codes 7E8 and 7E9 which has been noted online by other customers as engine problem recall for which Kia has replaced their engine free of charge.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422087June 24, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number:21V259000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer who stated the parts were not available. The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422106June 24, 2021
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
While driving to work my engine began to knock, my oil light flickered and went out, and then I completely lost power. I took my 2018 Kia soul to a local mechanic and he confirmed that my engine was blown and would need to be replaced with only 78,388 miles on my vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422107June 24, 2021
ENGINE
While I was driving on the highway, I heard a loud banging coming from the front of my car. I took it to a repair shop and was told it needed a valve replacement but it was only a matter of time before I would need to replace the engine. I did have the valve job done at great expense to me. However the engine light came on and despite having each of the problems fixed generated by the codes that came up, the engine light never went off. Now I understand there is an engine recall and the problems described are exactly what is wrong with my car e.g. engine light is on, check oil light flickering on, gasoline/fuel odor. I also had the catalytic converter replaced at my expense, only to find out there was a recall on that too. I need to have my engine replaced. This is a safety issue. Kia needs to make good on its promise.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422177June 24, 2021
ENGINE
While driving on the highway in cruise control, the engine suddenly went into a lower gear and lost acceleration. Since then, the car has had difficulty accelerating and struggles to get up to speeds over 60mph. I had the car checked out and was told it was a clogged catalytic converter and that it needed to be replaced. Prior to the highway incident, the oil light would come on frequently and oil would have to be added every two to three weeks. The dealer has inspected the car for the engine recall and found no issues even though the car was experiencing oil loss when it was taken to the dealer. The car has 110,000 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422185June 24, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to have the recall repairs completed. The contact stated on March 5, 2021 while driving 30 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed but failed to accelerate. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed both front and rear catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated on April 29, 2021 while driving 80 mph, the vehicle seized. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to glide on neutral to a stop. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed the engine was needing to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer for diagnosis and repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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