Kia Soul Complaints

5,626 consumer complaints on file.

#11542768September 5, 2023
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and started to vibrate violently. The contact was able to safely reach her destination. Upon visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact became aware that the engine oil level was extremely low. The check engine and low oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the engine required an engine flush. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11542514September 4, 2023
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES
Abs and airbags not working!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541818August 31, 2023
ENGINE
On 6/30/23 While exiting the highway and waiting at a traffic light he noticed smoke coming from the hood. As he proceeded through the intersection to pull over the dashboard lit up with many lights and then the power went out. He was able to coast to the side of the road. A Police Officer happened to be nearby and called the fire department. When they arrived and opened the hood the engine compartment was in flames. They put the fire out and then the car was towed to a storage yard. A claim was filed with the insurance who then had the car moved to the dealership for repairs. On 7/5/23 Upon arrival, the service advisor proceeded to do their normal intake, put the key in the ignition, and started the car which then burst into flames and became a total loss. The regular driver of the car is disabled and it takes him some time to get in and out of the car, if it had been engulfed in flames he would not have been able to get out as quickly as your average driver. The insurance and manufacturer both have inspected the car and determined it was an engine failure. The car had been to the dealership the week before for an oil change.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541881August 31, 2023
STEERING
Steering coupler is going out. KIA will not cover repair even though it covers 10 years and unlimited miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541574August 30, 2023
ENGINE
In 2021, my Kia Soul engine locked up entirely to the point of needing a total engine replacement. I received mail indicating that engine failure is part of a class action settlement from Kia. Due to the pandemic, I hadn't been able to find an engine or afford the replacement costs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541331August 29, 2023
STEERING, SUSPENSION
The vehicles steering wheel makes a clunking sound and there is a lot of play in it. It makes noise from left to right and vibrates at higher speeds. I have to drive with both hands gripping the wheel to hold it steady. I drive on the freeway at least once a week to visit my son and grandkids and now to nervous to drive it as it’s an hour drive. I am a senior and cannot afford to pay out of pocket. I’ve had my 2012 Kia Soul since 2013. I bought it used with 22,000 miles on it. I now have reached the 100,000 mile mark. I paid $20,000 for this vehicle over time and now I need Kia to step up and pay for this defect. Since it’s happening in almost all their cars it must be their fault. I don’t understand why they are not fixing the 2012’s but all other years are covered. That is a mistake that will kill someone soon and then they will have a lot more problems than they are facing now. They recently offered me a steering wheel lock so that my car can’t be stolen, that’s funny cause I don’t think that it would be worth stealing cause the steering is already compromised. Please get them to step up and take care of all their customers as it’s their fault. The part is a little rubber star thing that costs $8.00 but labor is 400 dollars and up. Thank you for listening.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541434August 29, 2023
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was making a rattling noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 99,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541522August 29, 2023
ENGINE, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car stalls constantly and has been going on for years. Kia had claimed to have fixed the problem that they had fixed the problem however they never did because the car has been continuing to stop in the middle of the road. This car is very dangerous and it has no recalls on it. The catalytic converter is a problem and even though it has been a problem for Kia souls mine is not listed in the recall. Needless to say that this has put me and my child in immediate Life-threatening danger multiple times.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541142August 28, 2023
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a ratting sound coming from under the hood. The contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Pep Boys where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541288August 28, 2023
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the catalytic converter and the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the remedy for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) had failed to prevent the failure. The engine was replaced but the catalytic converter was not replaced due to the vehicle being out of warranty. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 90,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541289August 28, 2023
STEERING
Out of no where and without warning, the steering wheel pulls in opposite direction and stability control light turns green and stays on the dashboard. Cannot move steering wheel. Simultaneously, the HD radio will get very staticy and abruptly shut off. After about a minute, the radio will come back on and the steering no longer has that pressure. It is terrifying.The car has less than 100 miles on it. I bought it 8/15/23. This has happened twice. Trying to get a service appointment for this week.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540861August 26, 2023
ENGINE
My 2016 Kia Soul was part of the Kia Engine Recall. In reading about the recall it says that if the catalytic converter was also damaged as a result of the engine failure that it would also be replaced free of charge. Kia is denying my catalytic converter replacement siting it is out of warranty. But the Warranty and the Recall are two separate things. The Recall actually supersedes the warranty because it does not expire. Perhaps there needs to be a separate recall on the catalytic converter since Kia seems to want to weasel their way out of taking responsibility for their faulty engine components.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540865August 26, 2023
ENGINE
I was driving my 2019 Kia soul when I heard a noise I as I was pulling into a parking lot to park and see what was going on the car just cut off. There were no warning lights or anything on the dashboard. I called the dealership where I got the car and got no response for a week, then finally the guy who sold me the car reached out. I told him I had the car towed to my house and that I needed to get it to the dealership for service, the dealership is in a different city 30 minutes away. I was told that somebody from service would reach out to me that never happened. So, another week goes by I get the car towed it sits at the dealership for two weeks and the finally tell me the engine needs to be replaced. This is a 2019 kia soul where routine maintenance was always done on time. I was given no reason for the engine failure just told it was out of warranty and I would have to pay $11,00 to replace it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540896August 26, 2023
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
On April 05, 2022 I was struck head-on by a negligent driver who rounded a blind turn at a rate of speed of above sixty miles per hour. His vehicle drifted across the double yellow lines into my lane and hit three quarters of my front bumper. He was driving a four door sedan and I was driving a 2019 Kia Soul. My vehicle was lifted off of the ground, slid across his hood and roof, landed on its side and grinder against the passenger side of the car along the floor and the roof grinded the guard rail. My steering wheel air bag did not deploy, causing my head to go through the windshield. All of this is evidenced by my dual camera dash cam. The front panel of my car was crushed, which caused the side curtain airbags to deploy. Unfortunately, even though the main impact was the front bumper, the steering wheel airbag did not deploy. I suffered severe permanent injuries from this accident. I have emailed the claims department of Kia motors, but have yet to hear a reply. Thank you! I pray that no one else has to endure such a travailing experience due to a faulty product prevent vehicles from being crash worthy.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11540923August 26, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Kia Garden grove is recommending people not get the recall done, and refusing to schedule and service the recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540768August 25, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the contact smelled an abnormal electrical burning odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to dealer however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540812August 25, 2023
STEERING
2012 KIA SOUL - Steering Column makes horrible clicking / shaking noise when turning wheel. Car only has 36k miles on it. KIA has identified this repair nationally already and offered to extend warranty to 10 years / unlimited miles due to a failed MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING (MDPS) FLEXIBLE COUPLING. Turns out mine conveniently failed right outside of this 10 year mark and they allegedly mailed a letter in 2019 to a home address that I moved from 5 years ago, even though I have been to the KIA dealership many times since, was never told of this and they had my updated address for sure. I firmly believe this is a safety issue and life or death situation as this is causing my car to shake on the roads / highway and for the steering handling to be extremely frightening to me when driving. KIA HQ was called by me today on this and refuses to step up. They simply told me no exception and this is a customer paid repair. This repair is likely $ 500 and I am certainly not going to accept this when this should be a recall as it impacts steering !!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540847August 25, 2023
AIR BAGS
I phoned your hotline today to report that I have been unable to get the dealership and the manufacturer to repair the SAFETY recall. She told me filing a complaint wouldn’t help me even though I kept telling her that I wanted to file a complaint. I asked to speak to someone else and she said because she was working remotely I could not speak with anyone else. So I saw I could file a complaint online, but that doesn’t seem accurate either. I am completely frustrated. My vehicle isn’t up to safety standards and I cannot get anyone including this agency to help me solve the problem. Thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540474August 24, 2023
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My engine light malfunctioned, never lit up to report a clogged catalytic converter.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540505August 24, 2023
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car knocks bad. Air has never worked well. Car had been stolen before. Insurance did not do anything. My insurance has gone up because of the security system scandal.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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