10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 51
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 1
Average Mileage:
75,426 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #271

Nov 252020

Soul

  • 67,500 miles
November 25th on my way to work I started hearing a rattle while driving on hwy 30. About a mile from my house. The noise didn't seam to be present while RPM was under 3,000rpm so I decided to be cautious of RPM and not push my car too much that morning. As I pulled into the parking lot the engine stopped, and the oil light flickered. I started the car and parked it. After work the car started fine but as I pulled into the road I heard the rattle again so I went to the nearest place I could to buy oil. Before checking I purchased a quart and found out I had enough oil in the car. The rattle was still present so I purchased oil, filter and decided no harm would come from refreshing the oil in the car. I kept my RPM under 3,000 on my way home and experienced some sudden speed shifts while using cruise control, but kept a slow and steady pace. At the top of a hill near my home the engine made some louder noises and stopped that is the first time the check engine light came on. I bumped the car into neutral and costed into my driveway. I later towed my car to it's parking spot, not wanting to make a potential issues worse. After consulting with a mechanic, he. Suggested an oil change may be the first action to fix the issues. I changed the oil in place and recorded my attempts to start the vehicle after. Mechanic consultant said the first attempt after oil change sounded like a knock that he did not think would be a long term issue. But the second attempt started into a lower rod knock and advised to not attempt to start the car again until it's in a shop with proper diagnostic equipment.

- Beaverdam, UT, USA

problem #270

Jul 102020

Soul

  • 120,000 miles
While driving at 55mph, white smoke began pouring from rear of vehicle from under car and exhaust. All warning lights came on we got the car to the side of the highway and it stalled and would not restart, was told by local dealer a new engine was needed. All of these symptoms are covered under the recall and service bulletins, please help this is our only vehicle and we can't afford the new engine that should be covered, thank you.

- Arenzville, IL, USA

problem #269

Jun 122019

Soul

  • 104,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light and attempting to drive off there was a knocking sound coming from under the hood of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

- Upperco, MD, USA

problem #268

Feb 072020

Soul

  • miles
My car has been burning oil in an abnormal rate. It begin at the beginning of 2020. I always took my car for recommend maintenance to the Kia of carson in California. Now about every month I have to top off the oil. An estimate of less than 600 miles per month. Sometimes when I am at a light the car will shake a bit. Also if I use the ac the car will shake a bit as well it did not do that before. If am driving I don't feel that shakes. The first time that I noticed something was going on I was at stop light and my car shaked and felt like it was going to turn off. After that it shakes if am too long at a light but not too hard.

- Compton, CA, USA

problem #267

Nov 252020

Soul

  • miles
In May 2019 I had a repair done due to a recall on the catalytic converter in October 2020 barely 1 1/2 years later the catalytic converter went out again. As it was out of warranty 1yr it wasn't covered. I had it replaced at my cost a part that should have lasted 10plus years only to have my car stall as I was driving to work not even a month later. I had it towed directly to Kia dealership where it is still currently. They said the engine is bad and needs to be replaced. Kia states that good will doesn't extend the engine replacement due to the fact that the catalytic converter was out of warranty. This vehicle stopped in the middle of the highway with lights flashing and a rumbling of the car; thankfully I was able to restart it and move over so that we weren't hit as my daughter was in the vehicle with me. I have had to change coils, spark plugs have multiple cans of oil available as it burned through oil in between oil changes as though there was a leak. No light ever indicated that it was low we just had to continuously check it for oil and it would usually be more than 1 quart low. These problems all stared after the supposed fix in May 2019. This vehicle is a safety hazard and should be recalled completely.

- Rosenberg, TX, USA

problem #266

Aug 122020

Soul

  • 115,000 miles
I've taken my car to the dealership a couple times and I would like to see if the car can be fixed back to the way the car original was in perfect condition besides normal wear and tear. I am capable of fixing my car if it's my fault but I would really like to have a second hand specialist assist in this matter.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #265

Oct 212020

Soul

  • 130,000 miles
Loses acceleration going uphill. Knocks and rattles when car is turned on. Previous car was a sorento and did the same. Shut off on me in the middle of the freeway with my children and myself in it. Felt like the engine fell out from underneath the vehicle. I seeing the beginning phases of the same issue with my Soul. Im scared that this car will not only shut off on me while driving on the freeway but that it may cost me my life if someone were to rearend me when my car loses power to an issue no one seems to know what the problem may be. There should be a recall on all Kia engines and is poor manufacturing. Major issues with this brand of car is the electrical, engine and that it sucks up so much oil without warning.

- Cypress, TX, USA

problem #264

Sep 192020

Soul

  • 126,000 miles
Rod bearing failure causing the engine to seize. Happened with no warning signs, after getting the vehicle's oil/engine changed or filtered an unusual amount of times. Seems to be happening between 80K-120K miles on average. When engine seized the Soul drove as normal, began making a knocking noise and seconds later it shut off.

- Griffin, GA, USA

problem #263

Mar 222019

Soul

  • 111,949 miles
While driving on hwy engine failure:(bearing rod knocking, thrown rod, engine seizure) loud engine knocking caused by bearing rod knocking then a loud sound (rod getting thrown) engine failure.thrown rod came through engine block and hit starter. The engine seized while on the hwy.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

problem #262

Mar 012020

Soul

  • 134,400 miles
Driving down the highway and vehicle engine started to lose power and make a loud noise. Was able to pull over before it stopped. Had it towed to a shop and the mechanic said engine failure with metal shavings in the oil. Oil had been changed approximately 6 weeks prior to failure.

- Maypearl, TX, USA

problem #261

Oct 282020

Soul

  • 113,000 miles
My fiance and I were driving we pulled onto the busy highway in joplin Missouri the car just stalled out and died out of nowhere..no check engine lights no warnings just died would not start back up my fiance finally got it to start back up it made it two miles then stalled again in the middle of a busy intersection!! I had my two girls with me it was pouring rain we had to push the vehicle to safety!! stuck with tow fees shop fees now only to find out a week after this happened that a recall has been put out for the same thing that happened to us!! we called Kia immediately they refuse to do anything and want us to pay again to have the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership so their mechanic can install a software then diagnose it themselves!! damage already done and theyre not going to do anything about their screw up!! they should be sued!

- Pittsburg, KS, USA

problem #260

Mar 212019

Soul

  • miles
This is an update to what I previously reported. There is currently only a recall for the base model of the Kia Soul but this is affecting the + and ! models of this vehicle as well and 19V120000 recall definitely needs to be extended to cover all engines in all models of this vehicle, the 2.0L gdi. As previously mentioned in my prior complaint, my vehicle was well maintained and while driving my car made a loud noise and lost power and began to slow down. No warning lights displayed on my vehicle. It was discovered that the rod had pierced through the engine block causing the oil to leak. This is urgent that this recall is extended to the 2.0L engine.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

problem #259

Oct 072020

Soul

  • 104,500 miles
The engine blew, leaking oil. Apparently a lifter was making a tapping noise, we were told the engine was unrepairable.

- Cottonwood, AZ, USA

problem #258

Oct 292020

Soul

  • 0 miles
Vehicle turns off when in motion at speed off 55 mph all power, lights, and control of vehicle stop working this can cause a major accident. This has happen 3 times this must be added on a recall list

- Citrus Springs, FL, USA

problem #257

Oct 292020

Soul

  • 104,000 miles
When I was driving today down the highway, the car started to jerk while I pushing on the accelerator. The engine light began to blink continuously. I get home safely and the car is still shaking. So I take it for an engine testing and come to find out cylinder 3 is misfiring and now the car won't even pull the hill.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #256

Oct 192020

Soul

  • 122,000 miles
I was driving. I came to a red light. The light turned green. The car in front of me went. I pushed on gas. The person N front of me hit brakes. I hit my brakes, felt a huge jolt. Car accelerated and was not braking. I slammed into the back of vehicle. I was wearing a seltbelt, but my knees slammed into dashboard. Air bags did not go off which everyone was surprised by this. I ended at hospital with a concussion, injuries to my knees, right ankle..etc my 2014 Kia Soul has been determined to be totalled. I have contacted you previously stating my vehicle had issues that were a safety hazard. I was told to keep checking for my VIN to get added to a recall list. Now this has happened. I was admitted to hospital as well.

- Davie, FL, USA

problem #255

Sep 232020

Soul

  • 75,486 miles
Took my vehicle into my local Kia dealer for a letter titled "product improvement campaign" sent from "corporate headquarters" to perform a "software update on 2014-2016 gasoline direct injection (gdi) engine to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. Upon picking it up from the dealership, the cel (check engine light) immediately began flashing within a few miles of driving off the dealership. In taking it to the dealership, and with their collaboration with the corporate headquarters, Kia is unable to fix my car. I have had a rental car for 30 days now. Kia has offered 2 cash amounts for compensation, both of which will not cover replacing the engine. The car worked perfect before all this began and I have records to prove that. Vehicle was meticulously dealer only maintained. I have requested a new engine from a non-problematic 2017 or newer Kia Soul or a 2017or newer Kia Soul replacement vehicle. I have not heard back from Kia corporate headquarters as of yet. Was told I would hear from someone by 10/30/2020.

- Mcalpin, FL, USA

problem #254

Sep 072020

Soul

  • 125,000 miles
In July 2020 I was helping the national guard in the covid-19 response and on my way to the unit, I drove for about 3 minutes on the highway and then my car stalled. I was going 63 mph and then 40 mph. I had to pull over and was a little stunned as it was very dangerous to do so. I eventually was able to pull over safely. I towed my car to Firestone and they said the exhaust manifold had to be changed. I paid over $800 for this. On September 7, 2020, my car stalled again. I was driving on the masspike on cruise control at 65 mph and when tried to increase my speed to switch lanes, the car did not accelerate. I then, let go of the pedal and tried to press it again, except this time, my car accelerated but the car was shaking. My engine light was blinking and then when I got to a point to stop, my car shut off on me. In both scenarios, I got my oil changed right before the issues. In July I did the oil change and three days later my car stalled. In August I got my oil changed and my car stalled two weeks later on Sept. 7th. Now my entire engine has to be replaced and that costs over $8000! this is ridiculous and I will never buy a Kia again. They wont even tell me how it happened because they don't know how it happened. So the cause is unknown. I cannot believe this happened. I bought the car used in 2018 at 35,000 miles and now it is at 125,000 miles. It looks like the only option is to fork out $8,000 or to throw out the car! Kia will not cover anything wrong with it and they say it has nothing to do with the recall but the symptoms of the car are an exact replica of what is happening with the recall. Maybe they just do not want to admit that the engines are defective. I have seen so many complaints about this and nothing good happens. Kia, you should be ashamed of yourselves for allowing this to go on for so long.

- Palmer, MA, USA

problem #253

Sep 242020

Soul

  • 111,751 miles
On September 24, 2020, I was driving on the freeway going home when my Kia Soul started making a loud noise coming from the engine no lights came on and no warning. The vehicle lost power and I had pull on the shoulder of the freeway and had to towed it home. The next day, I towed it to Kia car pros it's been there since. After two weeks, I was advised that it has a blown engine. These vehicles have a recall that cause the engine to blow up. I have requested for a diagnostic report as of today they have not provided me with one. Your assistance to this urgent matter is greatly appreciated. Michael naranjo

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #252

Aug 232020

Soul

  • 107,000 miles
We were on a 2 lane highway going home. We started up a hill and the car lost power but was fine again after the hill, went up another hill and the car lost power again but this time it started making a clanging noise in the motor. We immediately pulled over. No warning lights at all. My husband who was in another vehicle ahead of us checked everything and found the oil was a little low but it wasn't time for an oil change it had only been a little over 3000 miles and it is always changed before or at 5000 miles. He added oil but the noise was still there. We had the vehicle towed to our mechanic. The mechanic did an inspection and he heard the noise coming from cylinder #3 and he did a compression test and it lost compression. His diagnosis is that the rod in cylinder #3 has broke and we need a new motor. After getting a hold of Kia they want us to take it to a Kia dealer and pay to have it diagnosed but it will cost us almost $300 and we already paid one certified mechanic, for that which we don't have. The car was bought in September of 2019 with a little over 90,000 miles and just had a little over 100,000 on it. This happened in August of 2020 and the vehicle is just sitting as we make payments on something we can't even drive. We still owe $7700 on the car and a motor will cost almost that amount. After reading all the recalls Kia and other vehicles with the same motors have done we are at a loss on why Kia isn't replacing the same motor in our vehicle. The representative on the phone even said if we took it to Kia and had it diagnosed they still wouldn't guarantee that they would do anything to help. We have taken good care of this vehicle since we bought it and always had the oil changed. We don't know what to do and do not have the money to replace the motor. Please help.

- Fayetteville, AR, USA

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