Kia Soul Complaints

5,626 consumer complaints on file.

#11290603December 21, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
PLEASE NOTE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 19V120000 ORIGINALLY THIS WAS RESTRICTED TO THE 1.6L KIA SOUL 2012, BUT I HAVE NOTED THAT MY CAR HAS HAD AN EXHAUST LEAK AND GETS HOT, EVEN IF OPEN A FRONT WINDOW, GET A NICE WHIFF OF EXHAUST, WHEN THE ONLY CAR IN THE VICINITY. AND IS STATED AS : WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE CATALYTIC OVERHEATING PROTECTION ENGINE CONTROL UNIT LOGIC TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IN ADDITION, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL ALSO BE REPLACED IF IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED. DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF ANY DAMAGE, THE ENGINE MAY ALSO BE REPLACED, FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-333-4542. KIA'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS SC176. SUMMARY: 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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290264December 20, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WHILE CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL, THE OWNER NOTICED THE OIL LEVELS WERE VERY LOW WEEKS AFTER REPLACING THE OIL, AND THE OIL APPEARED TO BE DARK. ALSO A VALVE NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICART KIA (4255 S. HAMILTON RD, GROVE, OH), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13409487. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290257December 20, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A CLANKING NOISE WAS PRESENT UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. HIGH COUNTRY KIA (4004 E. MAIN ST, FARMINGTON, NM) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290321December 20, 2019
ENGINE
ON 05/07/2019, I TOOK MY CAR TO JOE MYERS KIA FOR A REPAIR IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL SC176. MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED AND MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 05/13/2019. ACCORDING TO SAFETY RECALL SC176 BULLET 4, THIS RECALL WAS TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE EXHAUST TEMPERATURES, WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PISTON CONNECTION ROD. DAMAGE TO THIS ROD COULD PUNCTURE THE ENGINE BLOCK, ALLOWING OIL TO ESCAPE AND POTENTIALLY CONTACT A HOT EXHAUST SURFACE. WEEKS AFTER MY CAR WAS REPAIRS I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS NOW BURNING OIL AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE, AND I WAS NOW REPLACING OIL EVERY 1,000 TO 1500 MILES. THIS ISSUE CONTINUED FROM JUNE THROUGH OCTOBER. I HAD THE CAR EXAMINED FOR OIL LEAKS, BUT NONE COULD BE FOUND. AFTER MY 10/06/2019 OIL AND GENERAL SERVICE, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THERE'S A CHANCE THAT OIL WAS GETTING INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. ON 12/05/2019, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND KNOCK LOUDLY WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. AFTER GETTING THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A GAS STATION I CHECKED THE DIP STICK. IT INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT HAVE ANY OIL IN IT, BUT THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I ALSO HAD AN OIL SERVICE IN OCTOBER AND HAD NOT DONE MUCH DRIVING SINCE THEN. ON 12/07/19 I TOWED MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND AFTER EXAMINATION INFORMED ME THAT PISTONS 3 AND 4 WERE MISFIRING AND WERE DAMAGED. I CONTACTED JOE MYERS KIA, AS THEY WERE THE ONES THAT RECENTLY REPAIRED MY CAR UNDER RECALL SC176, AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE CAR TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP FOR EXAMINATION. ON 12/10/19 I TOWED THE CAR TO FREDY KIA FOR AN ENGINE DIAGNOSIS AND FOLLOWING DAY I RECEIVED A CALL NOTIFYING ME THAT MY 1.6L ENGINE THREW A PISTON ROD AND I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE SOUL ONLY HAS 109,775 MILES ON IT, IS SERVICED REGULARLY, AND BARELY AVERAGES OVER 12,000 MILES ANNUALLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290049December 19, 2019
ENGINE
IN MOTION GOING ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN VEHICLE MADE A KIND OF CRACKLING NOISE AND FELT A SLIGHT SPUTTERING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK ENGINE. AFTER CHECKING FLUIDS WHILE VEHICLE WAS OFF STARTED VEHICLE AGAIN. IMMEDIATELY HEARD EVEN LOUDER CRACKLING AND CLANKING NOISES. TURNED IT OFF AGAIN. TRIED AGAIN TO CRANK AND SWITCHED INTO DIFFERENT GEAR TO SEE IF NOISE CHANGED AND IT GOT QUIETER WHEN CHANGING HEARD BUT THEN WHEN RIGHT BACK TO LOUD NOISES. AFTER LETTING IT SIT THAT AFTERNOON HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME A SHORT DISTANCE BUT DID SO VERY CAREFULLY TRYING NOT TO STRAIN THE ENGINE. THEN HAD IT TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP. ENGINE ISSUE, BROKEN CONNECTING ROD CLANKING AROUND IN ENGINE DAMAGED THE ENGINE BLOCK. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THAT MY KIA SOUL PLUS WITH THE 2.0L ENGINE WAS NOT INCLUDED. I SCOURED THE WEB LOOKING FOR OTHER PLUS OR EXCLAIM SOUL OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES AND THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE. I THINK THE 2.0 L ENGINE NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED WITH THIS RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290060December 19, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND THE CAR EXCELERATED ALL OF A SUDDEN TO A HIGHER SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPEN SVERAL TIMES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290085December 19, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WHILE CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL, THE OWNER NOTICED THE OIL LEVELS WERE VERY LOW WEEKS AFTER REPLACING THE OIL AND THE OIL APPEARED TO BE DARK. ALSO, A VALVE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICART KIA (4255 S. HAMILTON RD, GROVE, OH), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13409487. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290145December 19, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLANKING NOISE UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. HIGH COUNTRY KIA (4004 E. MAIN ST, FARMINGTON, NM) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11289946December 18, 2019
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCHES ARE INACCESSIBLE AS THEY ARE BURIED IN TIGHT UPHOLSTERY. I CAN'T ALWAYS SUCCESSFULLY LATCH THE CAR SEATS INTO THE CAR AND WHEN I SUCCEED IT IS ONLY WITH THE HELP OF SOMEONE VERY EXPERIENCED AND TAKES UPWARDS OF HALF AN HOUR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO KIA AND WAS ADVISED THEY WILL TAKE NO ACTION UNTIL THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY PROFESSIONAL REVIEWERS: HTTPS://WWW.CARS.COM/ARTICLES/HOW-DO-CAR-SEATS-FIT-IN-A-2020-KIA-SOUL-GT-403604. "SOME MUSCLE" IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US FOUR TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS STATIONARY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11289669December 17, 2019
ENGINE
HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY I FIRST WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SUGGESTED THAT I CLEAN IT IT WAS DONE TWICE AS OF TODAY THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLING AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IN MY YEARS OF OWNING A VEHICLE I HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH A THROTTLE BODY I FIGURE THE WAY THIS CAR IDLING GOES IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A STICK SHIFT BUT DRIVES LIKE ONE ALSO THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE SERVICE AND IT'S HAPPENING AFTER THE WARRANTY WHICH OR SHOULD I BE SURPRISED BUT OVERALL I THINK THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND EXAMINED TO MAKE THIS CAR MORE BETTER (YES MORE BETTER) WHEN THE CAR IS STARING FOR THE FIRST TIME IT ISLES UP VERY LOUD THEN CALMS DOWN AFTER EACH START AFTERWARDS IT DRIVES SLOWER AND THE PERFORMANCE CHANGES NOW IT SEEMED SO STRANGE CAUSE OUT OF ALL THE VEHICLES I'VE OWNED I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEMS PLUS IT'S NOT A HOT ROD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11289730December 17, 2019
ENGINE
I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN FEB 2019. IN NOV/DEC IT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL SHOPS AND IT WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS A CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE ENGINE IS THE 2.0 GDI. IT SEEMS THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION TO ADD THE 2.0 ENGINES TO THE 1.6 ENGINE RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11289735December 17, 2019
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LOST POWER, AND THE POWER ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WESELOH KIA CARLSBAD (5331 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008, (760) 208-2237) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10162049. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: (XXX), BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100. *LN*JB *LN CONSUMER STATED CLUTCH SYSTEM WAS SLIPPING AND WAS REPLACED. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.*JB *LN MANUFACTURER CASE NUMBER (XXX) ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB *LN*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11289279December 16, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PALMEN KIA OF KENOSHA (5301 75TH ST, KENOSHA, WI 53142, (262) 671-1877) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED ADDITIONAL REPAIRS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11289206December 15, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR HAS STARTED TO FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH I NEED TO DRIVE ON DAILY. THE ENGINE IS SLUGGISH AND GETS NO POWER PAST 3000 RPMS. I HAVE GOTTEN REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR AND FEEL THAT A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOT SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE TO BUY WHEN I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 90990 MILES OR SO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11288793December 13, 2019
ENGINE
KIA SOUL ALL OF SUDDEN HAD ENGINE LIGHT ON AND ACCELERATION STARTED TO DECREASE FOR 5 MINUTES. CAR THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL BUT ENGINE HAD KLANKING SOUND. AFTER SLOWING DOWN OFF HIGHWAY, CLACKING SOUND WAS LOUDER AND ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND STALL OUT. WHEN CAR TURNED ON IT ENGINE HAD LOUD CLANGS. ONCE TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER SAID METAL SHAVINGS WAS FOUND IN OIL FILTER AND REQUIRED A NEW ENGINE BE INSTALLED FOR 12K. THIS HAPPENED AT 115,000 MILES JUST OUTSIDE THE POWERTRAIN WARRENTY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11288798December 13, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
BEEN GETTING REGULAR OIL CHANGES ON TRACK. AND ON TIME. LAST 2 OIL CHANGES I BEEN NOTICING OIL LEVELS DROPPING LOW AFTER 1000 TO 1500 MILES DRIVEN. NO LEAKS NO BURNING SMELL. ENGINE WOULD BE BURNING THE OIL. TWICE KIA NEVER NOTICED ANYTHING WRONG. NOW DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HEARD KLACKING AOUND AND SLOWED DOWN. CAR LOST ACCELERATION FOR 5 MINUTES. AFTER PULLING OUT THE HIGHWAY IT STARTED SPUTTERING ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT LIKE IT HAD LOW OIL. AGAIN IT WAS LOW. ADDED OIL. THIS WAS AFTER 800 MILES DRIVING. STILL NO LEAKS. TOWED IT TO KIA GARDEN GROVE CALIFORNIA. THEY SAID I NEEDED NEW ENGINE. OIL FILTER HAD METAL SHAVINGS SAID IT SOULD BE ALREADY IN ENGINE. QUOTED ME 12K. CAR IS 2014 AND HAS 115K MILES. IT'S WORTH 6K. LOOKING AT EVERYONE'S ELSE CO PLAINED YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE AN OIL ENGINE PROBLEM THAT MIGHT PRODUCE FIRES OR ENGINE BREAKING. POSSIBLE LUBRICATION ISSUE AROUND 75K MILES AND ON. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE ENGINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11288842December 13, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR LATE AT NIGHT HEADING HOME FROM A CONCERT WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE HOOD. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 25MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NO SOONER THAN. I COULD GET MY DOOR OPEN, IT BURST INTO FLAMES. I HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11288855December 13, 2019
ENGINE
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR AND MAKE OF KIA (REFERENCE NUMBER SC176) AND I WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11288563December 12, 2019
ENGINE
BOUGHT A 2012 KIA SOUL FROM GRAHAM'S DEALERSHIP IN ONTARIO, OHIO IN 2016, I STARTED GETTING A KNOCKING SOUND FROM MY MOTOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO AND TOOK IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT FOR A RECALLAND SAID THERE WAS NO ISSUES AND GAVE ME A TIRE ROTATION AND OIL CHANGE WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT I ASKED. THE SYSTEMS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AS I WAS BUYING FOUR QUARTS A WEEK FOR A 1.7 LITER ENGINE SO I GOT IT IN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MOTOR WAS BAD ENOUGH FOR THEM TO BELIEVE CONSIDERING IT IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE SOUNDING SO GRAHAM'S CALLS KIA AND THEY SAY THEY'D REPLACE IT WITH A NEW MOTOR (THIS WAS SAID ON 12/11/20). BRIAN AT GRAHAM'S AUTO MALL SAID HE WOULD CALL IN THE MORNING WITH THE DATE FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. I GET THE CALL THE NEXT DAY AND THEY SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT GOING TO DO THE RECALL EVEN THO I WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO BE DONE AND THAN CHANGED THE NEXT DAY. BRIAN SAID THEY'RE WAS BASICALLY NOTHING TO BE DONE WHICH I BELIEVE IS A COMPLETE LIE. I'VE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER PAYING OVER 16,000$ THROUGH THREE YEARS JUST FOR THEM TO NOT TAKE THE RECALL AND REPLACE MY MOTOR. I AM VERY UPSET OVER THIS AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11288583December 12, 2019
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING MY 2020 KIA SOUL GT, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND NOT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHERE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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