Kia Soul Complaints

5,626 consumer complaints on file.

#11673663July 15, 2025
ENGINE
I own a 2016 Kia Soul, VIN [XXX] . The vehicle suffered engine failure and is currently at Kia of Bradley in Illinois. My vehicle is covered under Recall SC176 (NHTSA #19V120) for a known defect that can cause engine damage and fire risk. Kia has denied my recall claim, stating that I did not receive the ECU update and that there is “sludge” under the oil cap. I was never properly notified that failure to receive the update would void my recall protection. Sludge presence is not proven to be the cause of the failure, and no oil analysis or inspection has been performed. The recall mandates free repair or replacement of the engine if damage is present, and this has not been honored. Kia is attempting to charge $600 just for diagnostics and has refused to repair the safety issue despite the engine failing. I am asking NHTSA to investigate Kia’s denial and ensure that the recall obligations are enforced. This is a serious safety concern and financial burden on the consumer. *I purchased the car from a Kia dealership after the recall, the ECU Update should have been done prior to anyone purchasing the vehicle. 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
#11673365July 14, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I’m reaching out as my Catalytic Converter is needing to be replaced due to being faulty and my vehicle per VIN is not included in this recall for some reason however it is the exact issue all of the others have that are included in it. I have only had my vehicle for a year and it is an extremely expensive repair so I am asking if there is any help for this issue because I need it as well just as everyone else who has a recall for this issue
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673378July 14, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that after a recent oil change, the vehicle began to hesitate while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, white smoke was coming from the exhaust pipes with the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road before being able to drive the vehicle to the residence in LIMP Mode. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where the oil change was performed, and the mechanic discovered a leak in the engine and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for assistance. The contact made an appointment with the dealer. The contact then stated that an abnormal odor started coming from the vehicle and chose to stop driving the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673545July 14, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Subject: Possible Design Flaw in Accelerator Pedal – Kia Soul 2015 Dear Kia/NHTSA Representative, I am the owner of a 2015 Kia Soul and would like to report a concern regarding the design of the accelerator pedal. I have observed that when the vehicle is turned on and in “Park” mode, the accelerator pedal can be easily pressed unintentionally simply by moving the foot slightly while seeking a more comfortable position. This appears to be related to the low and forward positioning of the pedal, combined with the soft sensitivity of the electronic throttle system. As a driver, I believe this design may lead to unintended acceleration in certain situations, especially if one is not fully aware of their foot placement. There also seems to be no sufficient space to the right of the brake pedal to rest the foot without nearing the accelerator. While I have not experienced an incident as a result, I believe this characteristic may pose a safety risk to some drivers and could become a distraction either while driving or while the engine is idling. I respectfully request that this matter be reviewed by Kia’s technical team and, if appropriate, considered for design revision or future updates. Sincerely, [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
#11673102July 12, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Flickering lights on off while driving at night turn signal triggers it and does it randomly
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673048July 12, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Humidity gets insiste headlights. This issue affects headlights performance making hard to see at night. Safety is at risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672797July 11, 2025
ENGINE
** Component/system that failed: The engine and catalytic converter. An independent mechanic confirmed the catalytic converter is clogged due to engine oil burning and entering the exhaust system. The component is still in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. ** Safety risk: The car struggles to accelerate, especially from a stop or uphill, and cannot reliably reach or maintain highway speeds. It revs at 3,500–4,000 RPM at just 20–60 mph. This creates a serious safety hazard, especially when merging, changing lanes, or avoiding traffic, putting myself and others at risk. ** Problem confirmed: Yes. A trusted independent shop diagnosed and confirmed the engine is burning oil, contaminating the catalytic converter, and advised against replacing the converter until the root cause is fixed, or it will fail again. The Kia dealership dismissed the issue without testing, claiming it’s acceptable to burn 1 quart of oil every 1,000 miles. However, my vehicle consumes about 1 quart every 500 miles despite routine 2,500-mile oil changes with 5W-20 high-mileage oil. This excessive consumption is abnormal and being overlooked without proper evaluation. ** Inspection by manufacturer or others: Yes. A Kia dealership inspected the vehicle but refused to perform an oil consumption test, claiming the vehicle was “too unstable to drive,” despite me driving it 20 miles there. They blamed the converter failure on “normal wear and tear,” and denied the presence of an oil leak. ** Warning symptoms prior to failure: Yes. The symptoms began months ago and progressed over time, including: loss of power, high RPMs under low speed, poor fuel economy (range dropped from 350 to 310 miles), and difficulty accelerating. No warning lights have appeared. ** Additional note: This issue closely mirrors NHTSA Recall 19V120, but my Soul has a 2.0L engine, not a 1.6L. Many 2.0L owners report the same problem. I believe this defect should be investigated for recall expansion.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672843July 11, 2025
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic receiving an undercoating, the independent mechanic performed an inspection of the vehicle. The contact stated that during the inspection, the independent mechanic identified that there was severe corrosion on the fuel tank straps. The contact was informed that the fuel tank straps needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was scheduled for inspection. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact referenced an unknown recall however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 46,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672500July 10, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that upon start of the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken an independent mechanic where the mechanic discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a purchased from a Toyota dealer. An email was sent to the car salesman who sold the contact the vehicle. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 112,485, it was later discovered that the mileage was approximately 138,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672564July 10, 2025
ENGINE
The contact called on behalf of her neighbor who owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. A mobile independent mechanic replaced the starter. The contact stated while the neighbor was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The driver was unable to pull over to the side of the road. The driver was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with the assistance of bystanders. The vehicle was pushed to a business place parking lot, where the mobile mechanic diagnosed that the engine had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672485July 10, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The contact stated that the check engine warning light was flashing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer cleared the check engine warning light code and deployed the Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The dealer advised the contact to bring the vehicle back if the failure recurred. The dealer marked the recall as completed. The contact stated that the failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where DTC: P1327 (Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) was retrieved, and the dealer diagnosed the vehicle with piston vibration. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the dealer informed the contact that the failure was not related to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired, but the dealer cleared the diagnostic trouble code. Additionally, the vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where DTC: P1327 (Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) was retrieved, and the contact was informed that there was a vibration in cylinder #3. The contact stated that the failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where DTC: P1327 (Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) was retrieved; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle passed the SC336 recall inspection test. The contact stated that the dealer performed the test in 20 minutes. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the engine was previously replaced at 67,000 miles. The dealer and the manufacturer informed the contact that once the district manager became available a determination would be made if the engine should be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 128,495.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672421July 10, 2025
ENGINE
Engine burns oil irregularly and quickly. In October 2022, the check engine light was on and stalled while driving. Kia dealership in Sioux City stated my vehicle was not part of the original recall. The car was under warranty and they kept it for nearly 2 months to repair. Vehicle started stalling again last winter. Was told mice ate wires per dealership. In June 2025 - oil still burning quickly despite getting on time and regular oil changes. This time while driving on the interstate the check engine light came on again. Went to my local mechanic immediately (Car is out of warranty per mileage 85,000) and I hate the dealership - bone dry oil. They are convinced it's the pistons. Called the dealership. They made me call Kia. Kia claims my vehicle is not effected by the updated April recall - but they could repair my...horn. This car is dangerous. It constantly makes a knocking sound. I check the oil twice a week and have to add oil accordingly like it's a 1978 Buick. If this car stalls out while I'm commuting to work on an interstate, I and others could be seriously injured.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672180July 9, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine hesitated while turning over, with black smoke coming from the exhaust. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact scanned the vehicle with an OBD2 scanner for an unknown error code related to the catalytic converter. The vehicle was taken to a local AutoZone, where it was diagnosed with a catalytic converter malfunction. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the VIN not being associated with any recalls. In addition, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672193July 9, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car is losing oil and the light does not come on to tell me when oil runs low I have been to Coral Springs Kia in the Coral Springs automall many times and they have all my records.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672373July 9, 2025
ENGINE
I tired to let the KIa dealer in Evans Ga know my Kia was consuming oil about a quart a week. They did an oil consumption test and stated it was within normal range. That’s 4 quarts of oil a month. This was done before the warranty ran out. Now they are saying it’s 14000 to replace the engine. I looked up the 2019 Kia Souls and there are recalls on this model and year but not by the VIN. It is now using 5 plus quarts of oil a month with no visible oil leak.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672376July 9, 2025
ENGINE
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. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire. I have replaced my catalytic converter twice in the last year due to this issue. Engine is dumping oil into catalytic converter causing it to stop up. There was a recall for the 1.6 engine, mine is 2.0 and the issue is exactly the same. 19V-120 / SC176 Recall Summary#19V120000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672038July 8, 2025
ENGINE
My 2017 Kia Soul (VIN: [XXX] ) is experiencing piston ring failure, which has led to excessive oil consumption and the failure of my catalytic converter. The engine is a 2.0L Nu MPI—the same engine type covered under Kia recalls SC176 and SC200—but my VIN is currently excluded. This is a known manufacturing defect that causes oil to enter the combustion chamber, damaging the catalytic converter and violating emissions standards. The repair costs are unaffordable for my family, and Kia refuses to cover them despite California’s extended emissions warranty and identical symptoms to covered vehicles. Many other owners of 2017 Kia Souls with the same engine are also reporting these issues. I am requesting that NHTSA expand the recall to include my VIN and investigate Kia’s exclusion of affected vehicles with the same engine. 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
#11671616July 7, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the catalytic converter was defective and needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671617July 7, 2025
ENGINE
Vehicle: 2020 Kia Soul VIN: [XXX] Component: Engine What happened: My 2020 Kia Soul experienced sudden engine failure at around 130k miles. I was driving when the oil light turned on, and within seconds the engine seized and locked up. The check engine light came on afterward. There were no prior warning signs, no check engine light, and the oil level was not dangerously low. This is the second Kia Soul I’ve owned that experienced this exact failure pattern—my previous 2014 Kia Soul also seized without warning. Kia is refusing to assist or escalate, despite the fact this issue closely mirrors Recall SC209 related to the 2.0L Nu MPI engine. I believe this is a serious safety issue and mechanical defect that deserves further investigation and may justify expanding existing recalls. 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
#11671409July 6, 2025
ENGINE, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving KIA 2012: It will suddenly quit running while driving. Loss of control of steering. Loss of electrical controls, ie: brake lights, head lights & all electrical devices. Dangerous to drive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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