Kia Soul Complaints
5,626 consumer complaints on file.
- #11278299November 5, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BRAMLETT KIA (3326 US-31, DECATUR, AL 35603, (866) 750-3933) WHERE INITIALLY ONLY A SYSTEM UPDATE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ONLY WAY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER COULD BE REPLACED PER THE RECALL WAS IF THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PISTONS CONTINUED TO KNOCK ON THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE PISTONS NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,710.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11278303November 5, 2019ENGINE
DURING THE TIME OF PURCHASE, AROUND NOVEMBER OF 2018, FOR THE VEHICLE AT A KIA DEALERSHIP, I INFORMED THE SELLER TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS THAT WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE PURCHASE. HOWEVER, THE SELLER MENTIONED TO BE THAT RECALLS WERE CHECKED, AND I DIDN'T BOTHER TO GET A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM THE SELLER BECAUSE I GUESS I WAS TOO ANXIOUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. I WAS INFORMED VIA OUTSIDE SOURCES AND GOOGLE OF A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, RELATING TO THE CATALYST SYSTEM. HAVING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IN MAY OF 2019, I DECIDED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL ADDRESSED (SEE INVOICE STATEMENT ATTACHED). THE DEALER COMPLETED THE RECALL AND RETURNED MY VEHICLE TO ME. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR MANY MILES AS AN UBER DRIVER PARTNER, AFTER THE COMPLETED RECALL. IN OCTOBER OF 2019, THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO SCAN THE CODE. THE SCAN DATA DISPLAYED THE CODE P0420, CATALYST SYSTEM OPERATING BELOW MINIMUM THRESHOLD BANK 1. THE CURRENT MILAGE IS 93, 700, AND IS RUNNING FINE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CODE IN PROPORTION TO THE RECALL THAT IS IN BULLETIN. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING MY OPTIONS WITH THE NHTSA. PLEASE ADVISE, I APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS. THANK YOU.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11278315November 5, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DENNIS DILLON KIA (9501 W FAIRVIEW AVE, SUITE B, BOISE, ID 83704, (208) 314-3403) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE KNOCK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ECM NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,700. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11278350November 5, 2019ENGINE
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING OUT OF NOWHERE. I EXITED THE NEXT EXIT ABOUT A 1/4 MILE.TURNED DOWN A STREET AND WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP AND CAR DIED. SO TRIED TO START UP NOTHING HAPPENS. . NEXT DAY TOWED IT TO DEALER THEY SAID THEY RESET BATTERY AND STARTED UP THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING SOUNDED LIKE A BROKEN CONNECTING ROD WHICH IS AN ISSUE WITH ALL KIAS. HE SAID THE ENGINES CONNECTING RODS ARE BREAKING AND PUNCTURING THE ENGINES CAUSING FIRES. I TOLD HIM I JUST GOT A OIL CHANGE 3200 MILES AGO AND CHECKED IT LAST WEEK CAUSE I JUST GOT MARRIED AND TRAVELED OUT OF TOWN. THE DEALERS WONT TOUCH IT NOW FOR RECALL BECAUSE IT'S A 2.0 LITER SO NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I PAY FOR THAT DOESNT RUN. I PICK MY CHILDREN UP IN THIS VEHICLE AND THEY COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IS THE SCARY PART.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11278353November 5, 2019ENGINE
MY KIA IS BURNING ALOT OF OIL !! ALWAYS SMELLS LIKE ITS BURNING EVEN AFTER OIL CHANGES AND OIL FILTERS AND MY DIP STICK IS BURNT I HAVE HAD TO PUT OIL IN AND NO SOONER ITS BROWN BUT NOT LEAKING ON THE GROUND BUT THE EXHAUST PIPE IS COATED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11278018November 4, 2019POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SOUL EV. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF CERRITOS (18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703, (562) 860-2424), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,606.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11278022November 4, 2019ENGINE
CAR WAS IN MOTION MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. CAR STALLED WHEN I STOPPED. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN BUT ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I NOTICED LIGHT GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS GOING TO POP THE HOOD TO CHECK IF THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING AND SMOKE BECAME THICKER AND BLACK SO ME AND MY KIDS EXITED THE CAR AND WENT A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR AND I CALLED 911.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11278051November 4, 2019ENGINE
WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, STOPPED AT A LIGHT THEN PROCEEDED TO GO AND VEHICLE HAD LITTLE TO NO POWER. RPM'S WOULDN'T GO ABOVE ABOUT 2500 AND WOULD THEN BOG DOWN AND ALMOST DIE. DIAGNOSED WITH FAILED CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT 66K MILES. IF IT WAS CLOGGING UP, WE SHOULD HAVE SEEN DECREASED PERFORMANCE AT SOME POINT. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT SHOULD JUST HAPPEN ALL OF A SUDDEN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11278178November 4, 2019UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND PLACING THE CAR INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE THE CAR SHUTTERS OR SHAKES HORRIBLY TO THE POINT IT SHUTS OFF/ DIES. ONE TIME IT DID SHUT OFF ON ME I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT TURNING ON THE A.C. AT IDLE SOMETIMES MIMICS THE ENGINE SHUTTER/SHAKING OR THIS COULD BE LINKED TO TWO DIFFERENT THINGS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11277795November 3, 2019ENGINE
IN MARCH 2019, VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING NOISE AND WAS BROUGHT IN TO KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT . WAS TOLD THAT OIL WAS UNEXPECTEDLY LOW DESPITE LAST OIL CHANGE IN NOVEMBER 2018 AND MILEAGE/USE OF VEHICLE WAS MUCH LOWER THAN NORMAL DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. IN OCTOBER 2019, VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING SAME NOISE AND BEFORE IT COULD BE TAKEN IN, VEHICLE STOPPED FUNCTIONING MID-TRAFFIC DURING LEFT HAND TURN ON TO A SIDE ROAD FROM A 45 MPH STATE HIGHWAY. BROUGHT AGAIN TO SAME KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. TECHNICIAN REPORTED ON DIAGNOSIS REPORT THAT "OIL LEVEL SEEMED LOW (ADDED 1 QUART)" AND VERBALLY REPORTED BY PHONE THAT ENGINE HAS UNREPAIRABLE DAMAGE AND ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE QUOTED $6,000-$7,000 BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE ENGINE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY UNUSABLE AFTER BEING AN EXTREMELY RELIABLE VEHICLE REQUIRING ONLY REGULAR AND USUAL MAINTENANCE UNTIL MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11277685November 2, 2019ENGINE
REGARDING OUR RECENT COMPLAINT NUMBER: 11251884. (ENGINE BLEW UP.) RECALL 19V120000 DESCRIBES THE SAME SYMPTOMS WE EXPERIENCED, ALONG WITH THE SAME YEAR AND ENGINE, BUT OUR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE INCLUDE OUR VIN IN THE RECALL AND COMPEL KIA TO MAKE US WHOLE FOR THIS ENDANGERMENT. DEFECT DESCRIPTION: KIA MOTORS AMERICA (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2012-2016 KIA SOUL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.6L GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION (GDI) ENGINES. 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 AND POSSIBLE PISTON CONNECTING ROD FAILURE. INFLUENCEDBY: ENGINE | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR RECALLNUMBER: 19V120000 OUR COMPLAINT FOLLOWS. RECALL'S "ABNORMAL ENGINE COMBUSTION" IS BETTER DESCRIPTION THAN MECHANIC'S "VVT" GIVEN WHITE SMOKE AND LACK OF OIL PRESSURE DROP PRECURSOR TYPICAL FOR VVT PROBLEM. "PURCHASED USED WITH APPROX 30K MI FROM KIA DEALER. HAD OIL CHANGED APPROX EVERY 4K MI. HAD OIL CHANGED AT 131,157 MI ON 5/9/2019. ON 6/28/2019, WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND ENGINE STARTED MAKING TERRIBLE NOISE WITH SEVERE SYNCOPATED VIBRATIONS AND SAW SOME SMOKE/STEAM COMING FROM RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF HOOD/ENGINE. PULLED OVER AT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE OFF RAMP. MILEAGE WAS 135,191. MECHANIC SAID ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PROBLEM WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY SOME ASPECT OF THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING NOT ACTUATING IN ORDER TO PROPERLY TENSION THE TIMING CHAIN. TOWED VEHICLE TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE DROVE THE CAR REGULARLY FOR 100,000 MI WITH NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AT ALL, MAINTAINED IT FAITHFULLY, AND IT FAILED INSTANTANEOUSLY. THAT INDICATES A DESIGN FLAW. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC, THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE BEEN INJURIOUS OR FATAL." *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11277688November 2, 2019ENGINE
2016 KIA SOUL HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION NOW I AM LOSING POWER IT WILL STALL AT 60 DOWN TO 40 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY . WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS OF OTHER RECALLS PERTAINING TO THIS CAR. WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING NOW AT 83,400 THEY TOLD ME THAT MY WARRANTY HAS ENDED .
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11277257October 31, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, FLAMES WERE PRESENT UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. A FIRE REPORT AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11277333October 31, 2019ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE RENDERED INOPERABLE DUE TO A THROWN ROD. ENGINE CONNECTING ROD FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING POPPED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T RUN CORRECTLY AFTERWARD AND REQUIRED A TOW.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11277021October 30, 2019ENGINE
NO INCIDENT YET, BUT VEHICLE BURNS AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL PER WEEK. THE CAR HAS JUST OVER 80,000 MILES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11277080October 30, 2019VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN MY WIFE WAS STOPPED IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PREPARING TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I RAN INTO A PARKED CAR AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET IT TO STOP WAS TO TURN THE CAR OFF. ME, OUR DAUGHTER AND SON ALL HAVE HAD A SURGING ISSUE BUT WAS ALWAYS A MINOR ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11277172October 30, 2019ENGINE
WE CHANGE OUR OIL REGULARLY WITH THE SAME SHOP FOR YEARS. WE NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT STARTED APPEARING FASTER THAN USUAL AND WELL UNDER THE 3000 MILE STICKER. WE HAD TO CHANGE THE OIL 3 TIMES IN ONE MONTH. THE SECOND TIME WE ASKED THEM TO CHECK FOR LEAKS OR FILTER. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO LEAK AND FILTER WAS CLEAN. WE TOOK UT TO AN AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ENGINE. SPECIFICALLY THE PISTON AND HE RECOMMENDED A WHILE NEW ENGINE. WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED. WE JUST HAD THE CAR INSPECTED LAST MONTH WITH NO PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP IF POSSIBLE. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW AND BOUGHT VEHICLE 3 AND A HALF YEARS AGO. WE ARE WORRIED THEY WON'T FIX IT. IT ONLY HAS 92225 MILES ON IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11277207October 30, 2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE STARTING TO FLICKER OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT (ON HIGHWAY, STREET, TURNING, ETC). I AM ABLE TO GET THEM BACK ON BY TURNING THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS, BUT PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. THOUGH THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE KIA SOUL HEADLIGHTS (AND KIA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO INCLUDE THE HEADLIGHTS FOR SOME AND HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR IT), KIA REFUSES TO COVER MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE, THOUGH 2015 IS ONE OF THE YEARS COVERED (I CAN ONLY ASSUME THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11276852October 29, 2019ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2020. I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM IN JULY. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IDLE STOP AND GO FEATURE, AS IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THIS IT IS BEING USED. WHEN I COME TO STOPS AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. WHEN I RELEASE MY FEET OFF THE BREAKS THE CAR MAKES A DULL QUAKE LIKE NOISE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 7 DAYS ALREADY. THEY CHANGED THE BREAK BOOSTER THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS NOT. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SCHEDULE SOMEONE AT THE DEALERSHIP TO RIDE WITH ME FOR A FEW MINUTES TO LISTEN TO THE NOISE. ABOUT A WEEK AND HALF AGO I GOT AN REPLY TO AN EMAIL TELLING ME TO HOLD OFF ON THAT, BECAUSE ANOTHER CAR HAS COME INTO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THEY WILL CONTACT ME WHEN THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN GOING ON WORKING ON 5 MONTHS NOW.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11271730October 28, 2019ENGINE
I GET REGULAR OIL CHANGES ON MY CAR. HAD ONE DONE 30 DAYS AGO. FOUND OUT THIS MORNING THE CAR WAS WITHOUT OIL BUT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF A LEAK, FUMES, BURNING OF OIL. NOTHING!!! WAS DOING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT SIMPLY DIED. THE GAS PEDDLE TIGHTENED UP AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS. UPON STARTING IT I NOTICED A BASEBALL CARD IN THE WHEEL OF A BIKE NOISE. I THOUGHT MY BELT WAS GOING BAD. NOT THE CASE. AFTER STALLING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THERE IS A DESTROYED BEARING IN THE ENGINE DUE TO IT LOOSING ALL OF ITS OIL. THEY TOLD ME THAT A FIRE COULD HAVE HAPPENED DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE INFORMED ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVE-ABLE. I JUST BOUGHT IT 7 MONTHS AGO. THE WARRANTY IS UP. AND I'M GOING TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE. 2014 KIA SOUL WITH A 2.0 ENGINE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0