Kia Soul Complaints

5,626 consumer complaints on file.

#11608628August 15, 2024
ENGINE
The vehicle stalled due to lack of oil.(Before the 6 month oil change was due.)Yes it is available for inspection upon request. No one’s safety was put at risk. When the problem was brought up to the Kia dealership We were told that they had called in November 2023 And since we did not respond we voided our opportunity to have the engine Covered under the recall warranty. We did not receive a call. The vehicle has only been inspected by mechanic no work has been done on it. No lights came on to indicate there was a problem, it happened suddenly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11608823August 15, 2024
ENGINE
In the timeframe of 1 oil change had to add 3-4 qts of oil to my car and still have 1000 miles left before i have to have an oil change. It is a 2020 2L kia soul. The car has no leaks and has been properly maintained. I have taken it to a shop that told me that it is probably going to blow a motor in the next few thousand miles. The car only has 78,414 miles on it. They explained that if it blows to get ready to hopefully not crash as the power steering will go away.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11608848August 15, 2024
ENGINE
I have a 2018 Kia Soul Base Model with a 1.6 L engine. At the moment, the engine is making a loud knocking noise when the car is running. Also, upon checking the vvt solenoid there were metal shavings as well, which is a common symptom of engine failure. The safety of mine as well as other drivers are at risk as the engine can stop automatically while driving without any warning. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer and has not been inspected by others. There are no warning lamps or messages besides the loud knocking noise and metal shavings found.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11608842August 15, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car kept on breaking down and it happened twice. When i contacted the Kia customer service, they told me the wait time until i can get the car ready is about 2 months and until then im gonna have to either rent a car that they would pay $44 for, which is clearly not enough. I need to get to places, job and school. How am i supposed to afford for this or do anything about it. I want my car fixed and its also covered under the warranty since i bought it in 2021.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11608345August 13, 2024
ENGINE
Car is making a knocking sound
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11608160August 13, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
See attached document for complaint
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607896August 12, 2024
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that after driving the vehicle, thirty minutes later, the vehicle was parked in the driveway unattended and caught fire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was burned from the engine to the door panel. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or police report. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact stated that the failure was due to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic,). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607973August 12, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My vehicle showed a code for the catalytic converter and while driving the vehicle it started revving up really high and then smoke came out the back and it started knocking. I had to pull over on the interstate and have my car towed back to my residence with AAA which cost $490. Went to Kia to speak with them about the recall and they said they would not fix it because it was not a recall recognized in their system. But there are other recalls in their system they will fix those. My vehicle is undrivable. It's sitting in my driveway and I don't have the Ability to just purchase a new vehicle. This is leaving me stranded with no ability to even get to work without having to get a ride.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607666August 10, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
For the 4th time in a year, my headlights automatically turned on while vehicle was parked. I have the headlights set to turn on/off when vehicle is started or shut off. I do not have a DLR options to set the lights to. All four times the vehicle started and I have no idea how long lights were off. Two of the 4 times, I noticed they were on in the middle of the night. The other two times, the neighbor texted me during the day, while vehicle had been parked, for hours and or a few days, and said I should check my lights and when I did, they were on. I rarely drive at night and have read some owners of a Kia Soul have experienced their headlights automatically turning off without notice while driving at night. I am sure most people would not notice or have a clue that there headlights turned off during the daytime by their selves, I know I wouldn't especially since the lights seem to turn on/off by themselves without any notice.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607647August 9, 2024
ENGINE
On June 9th my husband was driving on the interstate when the check engine light came on and then the car stopped accelerating. Thankfully he was not hurt but we had to get the vehicle towed to the mechanic who said that this is a known problem with Kia where the engines consume oil and seize without warning. We maintained properly as recommended through a service center (not Kia dealer) and because we didn’t receive any notification from Kia that there is a software update required to prevent this, we don’t qualify for a replacement engine. A lawyer said that there is nothing we can do because we were not hurt. I think it’s insane that this was not a listed recall on my vehicle and that I was not notified that we needed an update. That we were allowed to have a car that could shut down going 70mph on the interstate in traffic. I think it’s even more insane we have this safety issue and the manufacturer doesn’t have to do anything to make amends. We did not get the notice to update and therefore we didn’t get the update and now we have a dead car due to a manufacturing issue, not a service issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607097August 7, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to respond while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle shut off on an exit and blocked traffic. The vehicle was pushed out of the roadway by bystanders. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer and diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the failure was linked to an unknown recall campaign; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606815August 6, 2024
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle stalled and was unable to be restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 111,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606595August 5, 2024
ENGINE
I am reporting my 2016 Kia Soul that started dying while driving or idling at red lights in late May 2023. I immediately brought it to a Kia Dealership and they had me replace the catalytic converter. I had done the SC176 recall and my car was right over warranty at around 84000. They are not covering this repair with the engine class action settlement even though the SC176 recall mentions if the catalytic converter is damaged, particles can enter the engine combustion chamber and cause abnormal engine combustion which can damage the pistons and therefore the engine. I am bewildered how this has not been covered in the recalls and class action settlements. They replaced my catalytic converter and the car continued to not start randomly and die randomly while driving so I traded it in out of safety concerns. There were no warning lights that ever occurred.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606634August 5, 2024
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was driving to work. 12 miles my oil leaked. A state trooper turned around when seeing flames and called the fire department and tow truck. I lost control of the car, nothing was working. I was only ever given one recall notice which I fixed 2 months after buying the car. The car also has issues with security. Only certain insurance companies will cover the car and their prices are higher. We took car to dealership . three months later I contact attorney general. The GM this started attacking us, denying anything happened etc. He should be fired for how he treats people. Reviews of their business show others have had issues. Kia corporate has always told us they r waiting on images yet this GM contacted them, told us to leave, and screamed he would charge us for every day it was on lot. So we had it towed the next day. Insured company will be doing their own I xpection. This isn't about money, its about safety and these cars have slot of issues. It is wrong to blame the consumer for a faulty product. We had to get new car and now upside down in this one. We bought thus Kia be,cause the previous one the engine seized. We expressed our concerns, but got put in another car with issues. Kia corporate has been non talking to us the entire three months, so the only findings can be based on what GM said. They washed the motor. It sat so long the battery died. Someone went through papers in the glove box then left them out. We had medicine in the loaner, which they say is a lie. My daughter drives the car and recently was laid off. So now she can't have her medication..... Although she left it in the car they had no right to do that. There was plenty of other issues along the way.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606648August 5, 2024
ENGINE
Engine using oil at only 45,000 miles. It's been less than 500 miles since last oil change and today had to put 1/2 quart of oil. Had all recalls done. Told the dealership it was using oil, they said it was a faulty gasket and oil drain plug was lose. Changed everything including oil,gasket and tightened the oil drain plug. But today less than 500 miles later had to add half quart of oil. I am the original owner and I know Kia says a quart per 1000 miles is acceptable. I have owned older cars with over 100,000 miles never used oil in between changes, I have owned new cars never had to top off between oil changes. I am afraid my engine should be recalled now, I don't trust my soul anymore. There's absolutely no reason for this car with 50,000 miles should be using oil. If it breaks down I am hearing that Kia probably won't repair or put new motor in as I have read and heard everyone saying. Even doing a compression test they won't pay for it unless it's rod bearing, no rental car during any time. I have lots of doctors appointments that are over 2 hours away and I am scared of being broken down ( disabled 61 years old female). I am scared that this car is going to cause me harm . I don't know if the dealership even looked into the rings when they did the recall. Also I have nobody to borrow car from so if Kia was to do the warranty I would need a loaner car, rental car for the duration of the work.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606227August 3, 2024
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Turning off a highway onto a rural road & without warning my car would not accelerate. Turn off , let it cool, start up and only get about quarter mile until i lost power again. Had it towed to local garage & told its a blocked catalytic converter & very expensive. Kia says its not covered under warranty or recall so now its just been sitting at the garage for over a month while I pay storage fee until i save enough to repair it
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606145August 2, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
The contact’s daughter owned a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while her daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, another driver honked the horn to inform the driver of an issue with the vehicle. The contact was informed to pull over. The contact stated that the vehicle started jerking and the driver started seeing smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that her daughter’s hair was singed by the fire. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated once the driver saw smoke coming from the vehicle. The driver pulled over off the highway and exited the vehicle and saw smoke coming from under the vehicle before the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been serviced and there were no issues found with the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department. The contact was unsure whether a Fire report or a Police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed from the scene and was deemed totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606165August 2, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
When I apply brake the vehicle doesn’t stop it jumps out (as if someone has crashed hitting the rear of the vehicle) and the vehicle shuts down. Then I have to park the vehicle in the middle of the road and restart the vehicle. Luckily I avoided many accidents by defensively driving. Talked with Kia customer care and complained about this safety issue . I took it to near by Kia dealer for the recall and complained on 25 July 2024. 2017 Kia soul + EV Only 30 thousand miles I’m scared to drive and conserned about the safety of others around me. Please help me
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606185August 2, 2024
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
With the ac running it will accelerate it stalls out
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606075August 2, 2024
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Unknown. Consuming oil at a high rate. Car also randomly loses acceleration power acting as if it’s in neutral.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Soul