Kia Soul Complaints

5,626 consumer complaints on file.

#11435917October 7, 2021
ENGINE
The component that has failed on this vehicle is the catalytic converter. Two weeks before taking the vehicle in, I noticed that the check engine indicator light was on. As of this writing, the vehicle was taken into Car town Kia ( Oct. 6, 2021) for inspection and computer upgrade but vehicle was not fixed to solve the problem. There was a recall for this particular item but the vehicle still was not fixed. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion, damage to the engine's pistons, and possible piston connecting rod failure but yet, the vehicle has not been fixed. I am afraid that this vehicle will probably catch fire while I am driving it while family members are in the vehicle. I believe my safety as well as the general public can/could be jeopardized if the vehicle were to catch fire. I have no actual confirmation that the vehicle was actually inspected. Kia service managers take no responsibility for the matter and I have been told to resolve the complaint with KIA general management. This issue is a safety hazard and there have been many instances of these vehicles electrical/engine components catching fire while someone is driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435929October 7, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) on 9/21/2021. The contact called multiple local dealers and was informed the closest appointment was on 11/8/2021 to have recall repairs. The contact stated on 9/24/2021 while his daughter was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle began to decelerate its speed and the brakes pedal was hard when depressing. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver stated she saw smoke exiting under the hood and then the vehicle accelerated independently while depressing on the brake pedal. The driver was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The contact towed the vehicle to local dealer on 9/37/2021, where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The dealer informed he had a salvage title and Kia manufacturer declined to complete recall repairs. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435654October 6, 2021
ENGINE
I purchased a new 2015 Kia Soul in the summer of 2015. Since then I have had to replace the engine TWICE and the catalytic converter at my expense. Now the engine has failed again! I asked the mechanic at the dealership why this keeps happening with a brand new vehicle. He shrugged his shoulders and responded that Kia had problems with that particular engine. Never in all this time did the dealership EVER mention this and now that the third engine needs to be replaced, they are refusing to cover it under the warranty or recall because it is at 152,000 miles and the warranty extension was up to 150,000 miles. Never mind that they should have replaced the first two engines because it was under the 150k... or that the third engine itself doesn't have 150k miles on it. They also never made me aware of the recall on the catalytic converter when it failed and I paid to replace it. The first time the engine seized was approx August of 2019, the second time was March 2020, and the third was June 2021. I've contacted Kia Customer Service - they tell me to contact the dealership. I've had it inspected by an independent third party mechanic and he is convinced that this should be covered by the recall/extended warranty
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435745October 6, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate. The contact stated that the battery and the oil warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer and was informed that since she did not have an extended warranty, they would not service NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) that was associated with the VIN. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435607October 5, 2021
FIRERELATED
The contact owned a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 25 - 30 mph, there was smoke coming from the engine. The contact's daughter pulled over and exited the vehicle. The vehicle then caught on fire. The police and fire department was called, and the fire department extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. No medical attention was received. No injury was sustained. The vehicle remained at the scene of the failure and was not towed. The insurance company had not deemed the vehicle totaled. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435370October 4, 2021
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
My soul is having same problems as others with catalytic converter and engine. Had to replace throttle body that showed bad code to pass inspection. Turned out to be a needed software update to computer not bad throttle body. I'm out $600. Now getting p0420 code. Car stall out around 9/22/21. Another software update given on 10/2/21. Reset, still getting code. Car is also losing oil with no sign of leak. Possibly causing code. Damage may already be done to engine. Telling me I have to pay for repairs if needed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435381October 4, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Unknown, issue is the vehicle will not accelerate or change gears properly on an incline. On level roads the acceleration is still very slow.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435396October 4, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to coast the roadside as the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined the failure as complete engine failure. The mechanic advised of an open recall. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the recall was confirmed however, the contact was advised that the repairs would not be covered under the recall. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (ENGINE). The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The manufacturer confirmed that the recall repair was not covered. The contact stated that the recall repair was denied by the manufacturer as the vehicle was not brought to a dealer for repair in a timely manner. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. Vehicle has been diagnosed by Pep Boys.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435411October 4, 2021
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started sputtering then loss motive power. The check engine and oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was leaking oil onto the ground. The contact inspected the engine and saw that the rod had pierced the engine block. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which associated with the VIN. However, the contact had not received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN and to pay for the vehicle to be towed to a dealer, and if deemed that the VIN was associated with the recall, then the cost for the repair would be covered. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435302October 3, 2021
ENGINE
SOMETHING IS CAUSING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO CLOG AND OVERHEAT, REDUCING GREATLY, THE POWER OF THE VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY WHEN TRAVELING UPHILL. I FEAR IT WILL BECOME HOT ENOUGH TO START A FIRE AND/OR DAMAGE THE PISTONS/ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435143October 1, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle loss power without warning and failed to restart. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (Engine) and 17V608000 (Steering) after the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the starter and battery. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The repairs were declined due to a previous update not being performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact stated he only had possession of the vehicle for a year and was unaware of the needed update. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was 134,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435144October 1, 2021
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 25-55 MPH, the vehicle started making an abnormal ticking sound. The check engine warning light and the oil pressure warning light were illuminated. The contact stated he was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as a rod knock. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the recall repair was not completed as the dealer refused to replace the engine. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would follow up with the dealer on the diagnostic result. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435091October 1, 2021
ENGINE
When trying to accelerate the engine does not go into the next gear causing the speed to stay below 60 mph.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434989September 30, 2021
ENGINE
Was told by my dealership where I bought the car new. That there have been issues with them burning oil. I checked the oil dip stick and showed no oil and called them and that's what they told me. I was never told or received any kind of notice about this issue
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434994September 30, 2021
STEERING
I have a clicking noise in the steering wheel when I’m driving. Turning the wheel to left or right it clicks. This is not safe
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435071September 30, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle was equipped with a major default making the vehicle extremely easy to steel. Because of this flaw, my car, along with thousands of other Kias in my neighborhood, are being stolen at an alarming rate. The financial burden this is creating is out of control. Kia and Hyundai must be held responsible and find a way to fix this defect. There is not enough manpower in the police stations to keep up with the 2,500% increase in thefts so far this year. Nor are there enough mechanics and parts to fix these damaged cars. It is out of control and needs to be addressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434928September 29, 2021
ENGINE
Bought the car from a used car dealership with just under 100k miles, were not made aware of the recall on the vehicle and within 7k miles car engine seized and was found to be 4 quarts short of oil with no leaks. No prior knocking or engine lights appeared, and car stalled on the highway. Luckily, no one was injured and all we did was lose $10K.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434652September 28, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the engine started knocking and the vehicle independently shifted into limp mode. The contact also stated that the check engine and tire pressure warning lights started flashing on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where they initially informed her that her vehicle needed an oil change; however, metal shavings were found in the oil reservoir. The contact then called the dealer where she had NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) repair performed. The service advisor linked the failure to the recall. The service manager could not help with the repair and referred her to the manufacturer. The manufacturer has notified of the failure and the contact was informed that she would receive a callback. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the mechanic. The failure mileage was 151,112.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434669September 28, 2021
ENGINE
Engine locked up on the highway at high speed. We had to get the car off the road very quickly. Our mechanic diagnosis was lower bearing failure resulting in a seized engine. No symptoms were noticed before seizing up.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434701September 28, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vibration was felt throughout the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer performed a vibration test. The vehicle failed the vibration test and the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed a new engine, which could take 2 - 6 months to repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Soul