Kia Soul Complaints

5,626 consumer complaints on file.

#11183448March 1, 2019
ENGINE
I PURCHASED MY KIA SOUL IN FEBRUARY 2016. I'VE DRIVEN AROUND 45,000 MILES AND REALLY ENJOYED IT UNTIL THE OTHER NIGHT. DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON A MAJOR STREET WHEN A LOUD SCREECH CAME FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR JERKED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO STALL BUT IT DIDN'T. A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES. DROVE ABOUT 1/4 MILE TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. ADDED AROUND 1 QUART OF OIL SINCE I SAW THE OIL LIGHT FLICKER. I THEN DROVE HOME (ABOUT 5 MILES) AND THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES ON THE WAY. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR, THE OIL LIGHT WAS OFF BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. SO, I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (1.5 MILES AT THE MOST) AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. I WAS QUOTED $4,000 TO $6,000 FOR A USED ONE AND FOR A NEW ONE IT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE. I'VE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. SEVERAL OF THE OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT WENT BANKRUPT. I HAVE NO WAY TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THOSE RECEIPTS. ALL I COULD SUPPLY THE DEALERSHIP WAS ONE RECEIPT AND THEY HAD ONE RECEIPT IN THEIR SERVICE RECORDS. THEREFORE, NO COPIES... NO WARRANTY. I CAN'T AFFORD THE COST TO REPAIR IT AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. THE DEALER WILL BUY THE CAR BACK FOR AROUND $4,000 AT BEST. WHY IS IT THAT ONE MINUTE A 3 YEAR OLD CAR IS RUNNING GREAT WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND THE NEXT MINUTE IT'S PARKED AND IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE? SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT ABOUT THAT AND I AM AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO NEXT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183465March 1, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY, SMOKE BILLOWED FROM THE TAIL PIPE, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RALLY KIA (LOCATED AT 438 AUTO VISTA DR, PALMDALE, CA 93551, (661) 349-4639) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A SECONDARY DIAGNOSTIC FOUND A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183480March 1, 2019
ENGINE
BOUGHT A USED 2014 KIA SOUL IN 12/2015 WITH 34,000 AND PUT ON 17,400 MILES TO DATE.APPROX. 12/27/18 HEARD A VERY SLIGHT KNOCKING, TAPPING NOISE (HAD TO TURN THE ACCESSORIES OFF TO HEAR IT) AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL (WHICH WAS FINE-JUST HAD IT CHANGED). NO LOSS OF POWER, NO SMOKING, AND NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE WEATHER WAS COLD (WINTER IN THE NORTHEAST) SO I ASSUMED THE NOISE WAS A COLD ENGINE AND THE NOISE WAS HARDLY AUDIBLE AS THE CAR WARMED UP. IT EVENTUALLY GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER AND GOT FASTER AS I ACCELERATED (STILL NO LOSS OF POWER, ETC. I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR MIDDLE OF JANUARY 2019 AND PARKED IT IN MY DRIVEWAY.(I WAS AFRAID I WOULD DO MORE DAMAGE) AND HAD IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALER TO HAVE THEM ASSESS THE NOISE. ON 1/29/19 THE DEALER CALLED ME AT WORK AND TOLD ME "YOU NEED A NEW ENGINE"....AND ALSO TOLD ME SHE SPOKE TO SERVICE DEPT. AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 5 WEEKS (APPROX.).I'VE SUBMITTED ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO DATE (DONE BY MANUFACTURER'S DATES/ONLY OIL CHANGES/ DID NOT NEED ANY MECHANICAL REPAIRS). I'VE CONTACTED KIA HEADQUARTERS APPROX. 16 TIMES AND NO ONE HAS RETURNED ANY CALLS. LAST TIME I SPOKE TO THEM THEY ARE IN THE 'WAITING STAGE' TO SEE WHAT DECISION CAN BE MADE AS FAR AS ?? REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. THEY WOULD LIKE ME TO PAY FOR IT. (THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT SOMETHING I DID TO THE CAR). MEANWHILE MY VEHICLE IS SITTING ON THE BACK LOT OF THE DEALER. KEEP IN MIND I'VE ONLY PUT ON 17,400 MILES IN 3 YEARS.......PLEASE ADDRESS IF YOU CAN. THANK YOU! (I DO HAVE ALL THE INVOICES, MAINTENANCE RECORDS, BUT CANNOT SCAN AT THIS TIME)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183526March 1, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE AT ABOUT 70 MILES AN HOUR SHE. IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLANKING NOISE. THEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR IMMEDIACY MADE A LOUD POP, LIKE A GUN SHOT AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I WAS STRANDED FOR AWHILE. I DID GET A TOW TO A MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET MY CAR FIXED IN FLORIDA SO I BROUGHT IT BACK TO GEORGIA WHERE I RESIDE. A MECHANIC IN VWRGIA CURRENTLY HAS THE CAR AND AGREES THE MOTOR IS BLOWN. HE REMOVED THE OIL PAN AND THE CAR DOES HAVE OIL. BELIEF IS THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS HAD NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AT ALL AND I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR SINCE PURCHASE IN 2011. AWFULLY STRANGE THAT THE 2012 MODELS ARE UNDER RECALL WITH THE SAME ENGINE SIZE BUT NOT THE 2011. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 21. 2019.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183535March 1, 2019
ENGINE
I JUST READ ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATING AND CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE. MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING UNDER THE RECALL BUT MY CAR IS LOSING OIL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT IS GIVING THE CODE FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MY CAR IS ALSO LOSING POWER AND I CAN HEAR A NOISE UNDER THE HOOD THAT SOUNDS LIKE METAL HITTING METAL. THE RECALL SAYS IT INCLUDES THE 2013 KIA SOUL WITH THE 1.6 ENGINE AND I'M WONDERING IF MINE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183188February 28, 2019
ENGINE
THE ENGINE HAS ISSUES THAT HAVE CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO BE OFF. CAUSEING THE VEHICLE TO NOT WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183202February 28, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN ON AUTO-HEADLIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS DO NOT FLICKER WHEN MANUALLY MOVED TO ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAYS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183242February 28, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING
HI I WAS LOOKING AT RECALLS FOR THE SOUL AFTER I SAW A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD AND ACTUALLY TYPED MY VIN IN AND SAW MY CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A STEERING ISSUE THAT COULD'VE LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND I WAS ACTUALLY IN AN ACCIDENT IN 2017 IN MY 2014 KIA SOUL BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WITH MY STEERING THAT CAUSED ME TO HIT SOMEONE? A WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES AND WHEN I TRIED TO GET OVER IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE WHEEL HAD COMPLETELY LOCKED BUT UP BUT I COULD STILL TURN IT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. THERE WAS A WEIRD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN IT HAPPENED AND SOMETIMES I STILL HESRIT OCCASIONALLY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183247February 28, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR GETS VERY HOT FOR NO REASON . THE DASHBOARD ,RADIO,BY MY GEARSTICK TO NAME A FEW PLACES. I SEEN THE RECALL FOR THE SOULS CATCHING ON FIRE AND READ THAT THE EXHAUST GAS CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE LAST APRIL ONLY A MONTH AFTER BUYING MY CAR. I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE STEPS TO TAKE TO TRY AN GET IT ADDED .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183257February 28, 2019
ENGINE
AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD BANGING SOUND ON START UP. MY MECHANIC HAD THE VEHICLE OVER NIGHT AND THE ENGINE WAS STARTED COLD IN THE MORNING ON A QUIET STREET. I HAD NOTICED THAT WEEK, THAT WHILE IDLING AT RED LIGHTS, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS STALLING. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR FOR TWO FULL DAYS AND WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE BANGING SOUND AND SO COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THE CAR WENT BACK TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WHICH THEY COMPLETED AND AGAIN HAD THE CAR OVER NIGHT. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THEY MENTIONED THAT THE BANGING SOUND HAD CEASED; HOWEVER, HE MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL "MISSING" ON START UP AND WHILE IDLING. GIVEN THE RECENT INCIDENTS WITH KIA MOTORS, AM I JUST WAITING FOR MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS? IT APPEARS THAT ONLY THE 1.6 LITERS TRIM LEVEL IS CURRENTLY INCLUDED (BASE MODEL).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183279February 28, 2019
ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL. OK SO THIS ENGINE RECALL THAT I'M JUST NOW HEARING ABOUT MY CAR ISN'T ON THE LIST. IT STATES BUILT UP GASSES CAUSE ENGINE NOCKING WITCH MINE HAS. AND I WAS WONDERING IF Y'ALL COULD ADD ME TO THE LIST SO I CAN GET MY CAR FIXED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183293February 28, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR IS BURNING OIL, AND LOSING POWER I FEEL. I HAVE TO PUT IN MOTOR OIL ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CHECKED AND SAYING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183066February 28, 2019
STEERING
CLICKING NOISE HEARD WHEN STEERING WHEEL TURNED. PROGRESSED TO CLUNKING IN WHEEL WHILE TURNING AND SHAKING ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES AT ANY SPEED. FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND BALANCE DETERMINED TO BE CORRECT AND TIRES NOT ABNORMALLY WORN. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED BY DEALERSHIP TO BE WORN AND FAILING COUPLER IN STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181530February 21, 2019
STEERING
STEERING IS MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAYS IT IS A COUPLER MUST BE FIXED BEFORE I LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER. I AM AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SINCE IT COULD LOSE STEERING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 31000 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181605February 21, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION BACKING IN MY DRIVEWAY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL DRIVERS HANDLE WHILE LOCK ENGAGED AND DOOR OPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING. ALTHOUGH I PLANNED ON OPENING THE DOOR AS CAR CAME TO A REST I WAS SURPRISED HOW EASY IT WAS TO OPEN WHILE CAR IS MOVING, AND DOOR HAD DONE SO PREMATURELY THEN I EXPECTED. CONCERNED I TESTED WHILE DRIVING FORWARD LIKE 20 MPH & DOOR OPENS WHEN GRABBING ON HANDLE. MY CONCERN IS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ONE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MANUALLY UNLOCK ANY DOOR BEFORE IT OPENS. I ADDRESSED WITH MY KIA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL THAT OPENING HANDLE OVERIDES THE LOCK. THIS WOULD MAKE SENSE TO DO WHEN CAR IS PARKED, NOT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED. I HAVE 2004 SATURN AND MINE DOESNT DO THAT. I UNDERSTAND DOOR/LOCK FEATURES CAN VARY FROM MANUFACTURER TO MANUFACTURER. I CAN SEE A BENEFIT TO THE HANDLE OVERIDE FEATURE THAT PEOPLE COULD BE IN PANIC IN CASE OF FIRE OR OTHER DANGER THAT ALL THEY THINK ABOUT IS THE HANDLE AND STAY TRAPPED BECAUSE THEY FORGET ABOUT THE LOCK. THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DECIDE IF THIS IS A FEATURE THEY WANT ENABLED OR NOT. KIA HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO. I FEEL THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN SINCE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BARELY GRAB HANDLE AND DOOR RELEASES; DONT NEED TO PULL HANDLE ALL THE WAY. IF NOTHING ELSE IT SHOULD RELEASE AFTER 5-10 SECONDS OF CONTINUOUS PRESSURE WHILE HANDLE IS IN MAXED OUT OPENING POSITION TO OPEN DOOR WHILE TRANSMISSION IS IN ANY GEAR OTHER THAN PARK. AND IF NOTHING ELSE, ONLY THE DRIVERS DOOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN WHILE CARS IN MOTION WHILE PULLING ON HANDLE. FRONT PASSENGER DOOR TESTED AND DOES SAME THING. KIA SAYS ONLY THE REAR DOORS SHOULD STAY SECURE WITH CHILD LOCKS, I DISAGREE! HAD ANOTHER TIME WHEN I WAS GONNA BE DROPPED OFF AS A PASSENGER AND PLANNED ON OPENENING DOOR, IT FLEW WIDE-OPEN WHEN TURNING IN DRIVEWAY AND ALMOST DAMAGED 2 CARS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181597February 21, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE KIA BACKUP CAMERA DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN ITS DARK. YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING YOU CANT DISTINGUISH A GARBAGE CAN FROM A PERSON. I WENT TO THE DEALER WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THIS THE WAY THEY ARE. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CHECKED OTHER KIA SOULS AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN IN TOTAL DARKNESS THE PROBLEM GETS EVEN WORST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181712February 21, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING 65 (THE SPEED LIMIT) USING CRUISE CONTROL ON HWY 78. CAR SOUNDED LIKE TRANSMISSION WAS BOGGING DOWN HEARD A POP AND SAW SMOKE. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE LIFTED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES. CALLED 911 AND WATCHED THE CAR BURN UP. NO TIME TO GRAB ANYTHING BUT A POSTAL KEY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181479February 20, 2019
ENGINE, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH NORTH ON HARBOR BLVD AND FIRST ST IN CALIFORNIA SUDENDLY I HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING/CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE & NO ERROR CODES CAME ON PRIOR TO THE NOISE SO I PULLED OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC. UNTIL TODAY MECHANIC HAS UNKNOWN ORIGIN OF PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181148February 19, 2019
STEERING:COLUMN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALOHA KIA (94-169 FARRINGTON HWY, WAIPHAU, HAWAII 96819) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181166February 19, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING. REPLACED BATTERY AND IT KEEPS DYING AFTER A FEW WEEKS. THE DOORS LOCK AND CAN'T BE OPENED WITH THE KEY PROVIDED WHEN THE BATTERY IS DEAD, SO WE ARE LOCKED OUT OF VEHICLE WITHOUT ACCESS TO OPENING THE HOOD TO GET THE CAR JUMPED. THIS IS DANGEROUS. USELESS TO HAVE A KEYHOLE FOR A KEY THAT WON'T WORK WHEN THE BATTERY IS DEAD. THE KEY WORKS ANY OTHER TIME WHEN THE CAR BATTERY IS OK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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