Kia Soul Complaints

406 consumer complaints on file.

#11686390September 10, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. Additionally, the contact stated that the low oil pressure warning light failed to illuminate while the engine oil level was significantly low. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed. The contact stated that on the first test, the vehicle had consumed 1.1 quart of oil after 1,946 miles. The contact stated that on the second test, the vehicle had consumed 1/2 quart of oil after 1,047 miles. The dealer informed the contact the oil consumption test met the manufacturer's guidelines, and the contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11686327September 10, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am reporting a recurring safety issue with my Kia vehicle that began around Labor Day 2025. The vehicle has abruptly shut down multiple times while I was driving on public roads in Hillsborough County, Florida. These shutdowns occurred without any dashboard warning lights, including while stopped at red lights and while in motion, creating dangerous traffic situations. Despite having a scheduled service appointment on September 5, 2025, I took the vehicle to the dealership a day earlier—on September 4—due to the increasing frequency and severity of the issue. Upon reviewing my service history (dating back to 2022), I found no documentation that the battery had ever been tested, despite regular multi-point inspections performed at the dealership. A battery test performed during the September 4, 2025, visit revealed that the battery was failing. I was required to replace it at a cost of nearly $400. The service team confirmed that the battery was draining and likely the cause of the vehicle shutting down. This issue could have resulted in a serious accident. I believe the failure to identify the battery problem earlier represents a potential safety oversight.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685634September 8, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle shuddered, and there was an abnormal rumbling and clunking sound coming from the engine. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software was installed; however, the failure recurred and progressively worsened. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road and restart the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the vehicle could not be restarted. Additionally, the vehicle experienced excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the starter was replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The dealer diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to the recall, but the dealer informed the contact that the repair could not be covered under the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure several times, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685471September 6, 2025
ENGINE
New updated testing for recall regarding Piston Oil Rings seems to be faulty. My engine failed with previous testing, which is consistent with the issues my engine is having. However, the new testing claims that my engine has passed even though it is evident that my engine is not in good standing and should have failed. Extreme oil consumption is the number one sign of the faulty piston oil rings, which my car does. I have to add oil every couple of weeks.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685031September 4, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Sunroof failure, spontaneously exploded. Fortunately I was not driving the car when it happened or could have caused an accident. Went to my car one morning and the sunroof looked like an earthquake for no reason. No damage, car was parked my driveway and was definitely not vandalism. Dealer said to contact Kia directly and report the incident to them because they would get nowhere with the factory and I should contact them. I also had a left front drivers door glass break that I originally thought was vandalism but nothing penetrated the glass, no rock or anything found and 2-3 video cameras I reviewed many time and not see anyone breaking the window. Makes me think it is the same problem with some kind of defective glass.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684951September 4, 2025
ENGINE
Open [XXX] SK3 Horn Warranty Extension for Replacement 17/02/2025 ~ 31/12/9999 Open [ZZZ] [Recall] Nu ATK (SK3, SP2, BD) Engine Inspection & Replacement 01/01/2025 ~ 31/12/9999 3 other are at 2 other are at safety risk The problem is confirmed by [XXX] that is a independent service center The vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturers or anyone else. There are currently no warning lamps. 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
#11684608September 2, 2025
ENGINE
In November 2024, I was having issues with oil consumption and my car stalling while driving. I took it into Bob Sight Kia and explained that I'm constantly having to change or add oil to my car. They ran diagnostics and "fixed" the issue without any requests of maintenance records. The very next day after I picked it up, my oil light came on. I changed my oil November 2024, January 2025, March 2025, April 2025, May 2025. On May 10, 2025, while driving back from a family emergency, my transmission went out. I had it towed to Bob Sight Kia and was told the transmission would need replaced and it is under warranty, they did not request maintenance records then either. The transimission was replaced and I picked up my vehicle on June 5, 2025. My car started stalling again July 2025 and August 2025, I changed the oil each time. I took it back to Bob Sight Kia and was told I needed to provide maintenance records this time. I provided receipts of the above dates I changed my oil but was told my claim is being denied due to not having maintenance records from 2022 and 2023. I have called Kia Consumer Affairs and Bob Sight Kia. The general manager at Bob Sight Kia told me my car had been misdiagnosed in November 2024. I have explained to Kia Consumer Affairs exactly what I have been told by the dealership but they still refuse to replace the engine. My car currently has 73k miles and I am having to change my oil every 1500 miles. I believe my vehicle is under the engine recall and Kia will not honor it
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11682478August 22, 2025
ENGINE
We are experiencing problems consistent with the issues identified in recall SC336, which pertains to defective piston rings potentially leading to increased oil consumption and engine damage. Specifically, for an extended period of time we have encountered significant oil consumption, the check engine light turning on repeatedly, engine overheating, and abnormal temperature gauge readings. Additionally, our vehicle has stalled multiple times while driving, lost power, and exhibited jerky acceleration, along with strange noises from the engine. These stalling incidents, in particular, were extremely frightening and created unsafe conditions on the road for our traveling family. We previously contacted members of Kia’s corporate office in early April 2025 (we can forward email), but unfortunately, we initially never received a response from Kia with respect to our email. We brought our vehicle to Wesley Chapel Kia for the recall service on June 9th; however, no repairs were made. Our engine was not replaced. We were told our vehicle passed the vibration test, which we find insufficient. The check engine light returned shortly after the visit to address the recall. We are aware that Kia changed the procedure for the recall inspection after the initial recall was announced. We have read accounts online from other Kia owners whose vehicles originally failed the recall inspection and were due for engine replacement—only to pass under the new testing protocol. This shift in procedure was never explained to us during our recall appointment, and we have serious concerns about the effectiveness of the updated remedy program. The lack of transparency and the unresolved issues with our vehicle leave us deeply dissatisfied and looking for answers. We are seeking assistance in understanding what steps we can take to ensure the safety and reliability of our vehicle and to hold the manufacturer accountable for following through on their recall commitments.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11682267August 21, 2025
ENGINE
In May 2025, my 2021 kia soul engine suddenly seized while I was driving close to my home. I took it to my local Kia dealership to have it inspected in which they said my engine needed to be replaced but did not identify exactly what caused my engine to fail. I have not had any issues with my car before this happened and kept up with oil changes, etc.I also told the service department about the recent recall on my vehicle regarding faulty piston rings leading to engine failure. Due to not having an extended warranty, I was told the replacement would be around $10,000. I reached out to them Kia Customer care to see if they could provide assistance considering this was something I did no t expect to happen. I decided to have it towed to a mechanic my family knows and he had my engine rebuilt for lower cost. Today (8/21/2025), we picked up the car which started out good initially but still demonstrated the same issue with the engine failing after driving it one time. My VIN is not in the recall list but I am not understanding how my vehicle which was performing perfectly, all of sudden seized on me. Prior to my engine failing, there were no dashboard indicators that anything needed to be inspected. They appeared after the engine seized. Fortunately, when my engine seized, I just turned into my neighborhood but I'm sure if I was a couple seconds or minutes late, my safety would have been at risk considering I live off a busy highway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11681584August 19, 2025
ENGINE
Engine stalls with white smoke with auto start stop on
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680977August 15, 2025
ENGINE
My vehicle was originally diagnosed (after recall) with a defective engine and I was to be notified when the replacement engine arrived. On a subsequent visit to the dealer to repair an additional check engine light episode I was informed that the replacement engine was no longer needed and that Kia was installing software to monitor the condition of the piston rings. On [XXX] (third incident) while operating my vehicle in heavy traffic the check engine light went on and the vehicle immediately started to lose power and developed an engine noise which continued as i immediately drove to the Kia dealership and when I arrived there was a burning smell when I got out of the vehicle and I was told it would be two weeks before they would diagnose the incident. The vehicle continues to sit at International Kia of Orland Hills, Il 60462. 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
#11680881August 15, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine while driving at various speeds and while the engine was idling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under the recall. The dealer informed the contact that the failure appeared to be related to the oil pressure throughout the engine. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the recall test could not be performed because the vehicle had failed to start; however, the contact stated that the vehicle was operable at the time it was taken to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced out the out-of-pocket. The contact related the engine replacement to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 77,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680756August 14, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and repaired under the recall; however, the failure occurred. The contact stated that soon after the recall repair, the failure occurred while driving at an undisclosed speed and accelerating. The contact stated that the engine sputtered and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the recall repair had already been performed on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,073.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680691August 14, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while receiving an oil change, the contact was informed that there was no oil in the engine. The contact stated that oil was being added to the vehicle more often than normal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The engine oil was topped off however, two days later, oil needed to be added again. The contact stated that one quart of oil needed to be added after several days. Additionally, the low oil level warning light was inoperable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680526August 13, 2025
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
When the car was originally going out, the check engine light came on and the engine was making a funny sound, then after we filled up on gas like 10-15 miles later, the engine shut off and stopped accelerating but all of the electronics were still coming on, the battery and oil pressure light came on as well, we pulled it over and when trying to start, it was cranking but not coming on, but the electronics and everything was still working just fine, radio worked and my phone was charging, eventually when we tried cranking again, the engine started rattling and grinding . Towed it to Kia. KIA said they did every test possible on the car and are about 90% sure that the car needs a new ecu, but that kia doesn't manufacture that part anymore and that if they made it, it could take 2 weeks to 4 months, they're saying that it's not apart of the warranty so it would be expensive. They said that the best bet would be to trade in the car. Then they asked for all receipts for oil changes. Then they said it's the camshaft. "Wanted to reach out to let you know we need to replace the Cam shaft, the camshaft phaser and valve cover gasket before we can do the test for the recall this will cost about $1530". He said this after already saying they tested it. They are refusing to repair the recall. This is the Kia dealership in Gettysburg PA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680309August 13, 2025
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I had this car go to the garage back in February under the 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul engine recall. The engine was fine but the check engine light is has been on since MARCH. I personally believe this was software related as I had MULTIPLE technicians verify the sensor and wiring is still in top shape. My OBD2 Reader shows the engine is pulling a large amount of retarded timing and it only happens under acceleration.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680163August 12, 2025
ENGINE, STEERING, POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a transmission failure, and the transmission was replaced by the dealer. The contact stated that the dealer also replaced the rack and pinion due to an abnormal clunking sound coming from the steering wheel. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing abnormal oil consumption. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed. The contact returned to the dealer after driving for 1,000 miles on three occasions. The dealer determined that the vehicle was not experiencing excessive oil consumption. The dealer replaced the motor mounts. The contact related the abnormal oil consumption to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine), which was previously performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,815.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11679917August 11, 2025
ENGINE
My 2022 Kia Soul was recalled due to an engine defect involving piston oil rings. The recall repair was supposed to include a specific engine vibration test and possibly an engine replacement if the test failed. Initially, the dealership performed the test incorrectly and said it failed. They redid the test and said it passed, but instead of replacing or fully inspecting the engine, they only installed an oil ring sensor. I am worried the sensor-only fix does not address the root issue, especially since the sensor’s effectiveness is currently being audited. This could pose a safety risk because the engine defect can cause failure, loss of power, or fire. In addition, I have experienced the warning light—a triangle with an exclamation point—that comes on intermittently. When it does, the message says to “check upper rear brake light.” This warning light has appeared multiple times, which adds to my concern about the vehicle’s condition. No other warning lights related to the engine have appeared yet, but I’m concerned about the incomplete recall fix and the possibility of future engine problems. The problem has not been fully confirmed or resolved by the manufacturer or an independent service center.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11679665August 10, 2025
ENGINE
My kia soul had no warning lights until last week when it shut down completely while pulling into an intersection, I have just purchased it 6 months ago. The engine light came on along with the oil lamp, battery light and master warning light. The car shut down and after a few minutes came back on. It has been doing this randomly for a week now so its barely been driven. It had a p000a code so I took it to a kia dealership for repairs after having it checked elsewhere and being told it needs a new engine. The repairs they quoted me at are over 4k and included the intake cam and intake and exhaust cam phasers. There is not much of a guarantee that this could not happen again if I spend it. I was told its unsafe to drive so its parked and may have to be defaulted on. I've seen others with similar issues while researching.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11679623August 10, 2025
ENGINE
Originally, my CE light came on the first week of July 2025 and threw a Historical P0011 code for my intake Camshaft Variable Timing Solenoid. Light went off, and I took it to my local KIA dealership within a couple of days for a diag. They didn't catch a code, but said that sometimes the P0011 code will throw if there is any oil build-up, so they just recommended a 60k mile maintenance about 9k miles early and that it "should clear the code" with a flush. I couldn't afford a $1400 total service so I took it to a service shop nearby for an engine flush and an oil change on 08/08/25. The service shop also got a code for my variable Timing Solenoid and they cleared it after service. After one drive cycle, the CE light came back on, and this time threw a pending code for a Cylinder 2 misfire. The employee at the Auto Parts store said that Cylinder 2 could have a faulty coil and suggested a replacement, which we did. After another drive cycle, the CE light came on once again and threw a code(of unknown status) for a Cylinder 2 and 4 misfire. They advised us that due to the misfires after an oil change, that the Solenoid sounded like the problem afterall. I replaced my Solenoid, and not only did my CE light come on again, but I also experienced misfire, along with white smoke from my exhaust and rough idle. I got one last diag on 08/09/25 and they were able to do a scan, where they found oil had reached my spark plugs, and had noted the walls of my pistons were worn from the pistons knocking the walls. We also noticed that we burned through the entirety of the oil added to my vehicle during my oil change. With all of that information, the mechanic advised me that his best opinion without looking at my internal motor that my Piston Rings are likely worn, causing my misfires, oil consumption, burnt oil, and oil rising past the Piston Rings. We discussed the current recall on 2022 Kia Souls due to faulty Piston Rings and that it could coincide
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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