10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 51
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 1
Average Mileage:
74,840 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #295

Jan 182021

Soul

  • 120,000 miles
The oil warning light flashed on and of mostly at intersections. We took it in for service. There was coolant/water in the oil. Also, they said it had extremely low oil pressure at idle. The repair shop stated that there was a possibility the car could catch on fire and also the possibility of engine failure.

- Santa Maria, CA, USA

problem #294

Dec 012020

Soul

  • 124,496 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, when she heard an abnormal noise and the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to her residence. The contact stated while inspecting under the hood, she stated there was no oil on the dipstick. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer university Kia of durham (5105 durham-chapel hill blvd, durham, nc 27707, (919) 842-5103) where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (engine) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,496.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #293

Jan 262021

Soul

  • miles
Three weeks after I got a oil change I had to take it back to the dealership so they can put more oil in my car and assess the situation. My car was put on the machine and the mechanic said all I needed was oil everything looks good I got a print out of what they look at and everything look good. A few months later I couldn't accelerate when I was driving to work in my low oil indicator appeared on the message board so I took it to Kia to have them take another look at it this time they said I have sludge buildup in my engine and there's nothing they can do at this about the third time I took her to keep an on a previous times they did not tell me anything about any slides or anything was wrong with my engine.

- Stone Mtn, GA, USA

problem #292

Jan 152021

Soul

  • 106,000 miles
2014 Kia Soul plus with 106,000 miles. Regular service and maintenance provided by the local Kia dealer with no previous issues and all recalls addressed. I was driving to a job location and was about 45 miles from home going 70 mph on a four lane highway. Engine started clicking and shortly thereafter threw a rod. I was able to safely pull to the side of the road and call roadside assistance. I was towed the 40+ miles to the dealer with excess mileage costs. Dealer has quoted engine replacement at ~$7,000 with an option to sell to the dealer at a salvage price of $350. I suspect the rod bearing issue that many other Kia Soul owners have suffered.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

problem #291

Dec 102020

Soul

  • 150,000 miles
I have had to replace my catalytic converter twice within the last year due to engine failure which is causing the catalytic converter to become clogged. The second time this happened, I was driving on the freeway and my vehicle began to lose power on an uphill portion of a bridge. The vehicle then stalled, forcing me to pull over on a narrow shoulder. After being towed to safety by the chp, I had the vehicle towed to my mechanic who informed me that the engine is burning huge amounts of oil which in turn is causing the catalytic converter to become clogged. My mechanic informed me that I would need to replace the engine to solve the underlying problem, as there is clearly engine damage causing the exhaust to contain large amounts of soot and unburned oil. I have maintained this vehicle fastidiously, and the vehicle has just under 150,000 miles on the odometer.

- Davis, CA, USA

problem #290

Apr 012020

Soul

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle would stall at various speeds. The contact stated she had to wait approximately a minute before regaining normal functionality. The instrument panel would display D for drive for a moment however, the drive indicator would suddenly disappear as the vehicle stalled. The drive display would return once the vehicle regained function. The contact stated the vehicle made an excessive rattling or banging sound when starting the vehicle. The contact stated that oil had to be added to the vehicle approximately every two weeks. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who repaired the catalytic converter twice. The mechanic stated that the pressure from one of the cylinders within the vehicle was causing oil to leak internally. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Centerville, OH, USA

problem #289

Nov 052020

Soul

  • 80,000 miles
I was approximately driving 65 mph when suddenly the motor developed a ticking noise. Then suddenly turned into a knocking/clattering noise. My oil light illuminated as well as my engine light. I then proceeded down the high way to the next exit to pull off and check my oil. Before I made it to my exit. The motor had loss of power. When I'd try to accelerate, it would bog down. Right as I was about to take a turn onto my exit the motor stopped and died so I coasted as far as a could and had to push it out of the road. When I examined my oil it was metallic. My vehicle only has 80,000 miles on it. With about 1500 miles on my oil change.(5-20W full synthetic).

- Longmont, CO, USA

problem #288

Jan 052021

Soul

  • 24,000 miles
I was driving with my child in the car out of town, when they wheels locked up and the engine made a horrible sound and died. I had to walk to a car rental place to rent. Car. I had my car towed to a local repair shop. I got home and the next day the mechanic called and said I would need a new engine that it blew a head gasket valve. He recommended contacting Kia as there have been recalls on this car for this problem. I immediately contacted Kia and they said there was a recall on my car and they would pay to have it towed to a local Kia dealership. It is still a good two hours from where I live. But they assured me if would be covered as the issue it with head gaskets. It is recal number 2002B. The dealership contacted me and said it isn't covered. I asked why and the service advisor, justin stated the recall had nothing to do with it. No told him what Kia headquarters told me. He stated he would print off the recall and speak with his manager and get back with me. The car has 124,000 miles on it. I have done strick maintenance. As a matter of fact I just had the oil changed. My biggest concern is the safety of myself and my daughter when the wheels locked up. Had I need on the interstate I don't know how we would have avoided an accident. Luckily I had taken back roads home and was entering a small town of winder and was only doing 25 miles an hour at the time. No warning lights were on at all. After the engine failed the oil pan light came on and was intermittently going on and off.

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

problem #287

Dec 212020

Soul

  • 154,000 miles
December 2020 while driving on the freeway my 2014 Kia Soul started stalling and threatening to lose power, and then, without warning the engine light appeared. My car jerked and threatened to turn off-acceleration was decreased-it was very alarming and very sudden. The engine light stayed on for a few seconds then it started flashing off and on. I took my Soul to a nearby mechanic and was informed that I needed motor. In September 2020 the same thing happened, my Kia Soul started stalling and jerking, engine light came on, I had decreased acceleration-started losing power. I was close to a Kia dealership service center, at that time, and Kia diagnosed my Kia Soul-and per the invoice there was a 'cylinder 3 misfire detected. Cylinder 3 coil has open circuit'. I paid $500+ in repairs. Three months later December 2020-same symptoms but worse, and now there is a much larger problem. I reached out to the Kia dealership who performed the repair in September 2020, and informed them of the problem, and shared what the mechanic informed me of, and was told to bring it in for a diagnosis which would cost approximately $200, so that the Kia service center could determine whether or not my Soul needed a motor. I'm sorry, but I just paid $500+ for repairs in September 2020, and I had to pay $79+, to the mechanic who diagnosed my Soul, I did not, and still do not, have $200 extra dollars for Kia to run a diagnostic and give me the same diagnosis. Nor did I, or do I have, the extra money to tow my Soul to Kia. I had one tow, and I made the decision to have my Kia Soul towed to my residence where she sits today. Sadly in the cold weather, and during a pandemic, I have to seek a ride or take the bus to and from work, and the grocers etc.. this is not good for me or my family at this time.

- Grand Prairie, TX, USA

problem #286

Jan 042021

Soul

  • 95,600 miles
I was driving my car when I started hearing a ticking noise, the car started shaking, and acted like it did not want to accelerate. The check engine light came on and was flashing. I had it hauled it to a Kia dealership where they told me that I would have to have the motor replaced due to rod damage.

- Riceville, TN, USA

problem #285

Feb 022020

Soul

  • 1,600 miles
At acceleration suddenly bogged out. Turns out to be the 02 sensor and catalytic converter over heated, burnt out newly replaced spark plugs. This is the second set of O2 sensors replaced. Master mechanic says all due over heating from exhaust.

- Lexington, TX, USA

problem #284

Dec 252020

Soul

  • 153,476 miles
I was driving my 2014 Kia Soul in the freeway when the car started to shake and lacked on acceleration and dropped speed from 70 mph to 40 mph, check engine light turn on so I pulled to side of the road and got the car towed to my house. The next day I took the car to the dealership and found that it's an engine issue and need to be replace.

- Winchester, CA, USA

problem #283

Dec 112020

Soul

  • 136 miles
One day it was fine, drove to louisville ky from lexington ky and noticed sporadic, weird shifting which seemed very off, shifting at the wrong time I had grown accustomed to for the previous 6 years on the way back home car would not go over 55-60 mph and to try and force it to downshift only made the engine rev extremely high and noisy with no forward motion, car acted as though it wanted to just quit altogether, and from that point on its been bogging down like a giant sat on the hood upon pushing the accelerator to get more speed, and upon backing off 9F the accelerator pedal the loud revving noise eased up and car seemed to recover somewhat until the next acceleration...the car has hesitated, engine idle is, for the most part, ok, but 55-60 is as fast as it will go unless going downhill, then I can 65 mph until the next time it needs to go up an incline then it shows to 40-45 with obvious stress trying to maintain a certain speed.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #282

Nov 112020

Soul

  • miles
There is a 1.6 ltr engine in this vehicle, 2014 Kia Soul. I find this vehicle using.5qt of oil between 1000 and 1500 miles. Is this normal" I am not the only person complaining about Kia engines using oil. By comparison I also have a Hyundai 2008 Hyundai accent with a 1.6lt engine both vehicles have about the same mileage the accent doesn't use any oil in 3000 miles, what gives" seems like an awful lot of oil usage for a 1.6ltr.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

problem #281

Dec 172020

Soul

  • 102,000 miles
Traveling down the interstate at 75 mph...had cruise control on and started to hear a loud rattling noise then a pop resulting in vehicle becoming immobilized with oil all over the ground. Vehicle towed home. Engine had throw a rod resulting in hole in the engine block and drain pan - has 102,000 miles well maintained

- Searcy, AR, USA

problem #280

Oct 172020

Soul

  • 126,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that there was black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle was burning excessive amounts of engine oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to an authorized dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

- Ringgold, GA, USA

problem #279

Dec 152020

Soul

  • 3 miles
Since first oil change done with delray Florida Kia I complauof kicking sounds in engine loss of power oil burning smells occasionally. I was told each time they put on computer N nothing wrong. I bought new at 11/2014 now oil lights engine lights flashing on irrationally car consuming oil no leaks just eating iol now 2-3 qts in 2 months knocking getting louder but quiets some after oil change but loss of power and knocking persists. Oil is scary how much it's consumes I have been complains of this issue for first oil change. Was told by dealer no need to change oil more than 2X per year but I still do regularly 3-4,000 or 3 months. I feel damage has been done to car and I am seeking new engine replacement. Dealers never did identify issue said no codes going off. But I noticed it from beginning. Once this year oil was changed I took to get oil done and they said oil was almost empty. I never got oil light. Then nor engine light. The engine light when on the day I took in for oil change. They said the engine could have ceased. I strongly feel I have kept up w maintenance but I feel I got a bad car from the start only to be dismissed each time I complained to dealer. Also there seems to be an electrical issue blows light bulbs constantly and had motor in window replace w stater under warranty most driving is local but many hwy

- Wheeling, IL, USA

problem #278

Dec 152020

Soul

  • 54,025 miles
On Tuesday, December 15, 2020, while driving on a highway, we experienced a sudden leakage of engine oil and significant smoking from the vehicle. Over 3 qts of oil had leaked for the engine into the pan underlying the engine for no apparent reason. Kia has just issued a recall on this vehicle presumably because of this well known engine fire issue and related class actions, however will not do anything to address the issue until thy send letters out in over 60 days.

- Lewisberry, PA, USA

problem #277

Apr 012020

Soul 4-cyl

  • miles
2014 Kia Soul. Consumer writes in regards to engine failure. The consumer stated the catalytic converter was replaced. After that, the vehicle began losing power and felt as if it was misfiring upon acceleration. The dealer advised the catalytic conveter needed to E replaced as well as the spark plugs. The spark plugs were replaced but, the converter was not. Eventually, the engine failed. The engine was replaced. The consumer referenced recall 19V12000 and stated 2014 model year vehicles should be apart of the recall. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the repair.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #276

Dec 112020

Soul

  • 50,000 miles
Complete oil lose, diagnostic indicates engine failure. Vehicle was in motion on a busy interstate 93 in New Hampshire.. oil light began to flash and power lose developed. Navigating the vehicle became difficult and collision was narrowly avoided as the vehicle came to rest in the breakdown lane

- Milford, NH, USA

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