10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 46
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 81,365 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
My son was coming to a stop due to a car in front of him making a left turn and was at about 5 mph on a 2 lane highway when suddenly the dash lit up like a christmas tree and the car started clicking and knocking and shut off. The oil pressure warning light did not illuminate until every warning light on the dash lit up. Now the bearings are shot. The car has never leaked oil the engine compartment is as clean as it can be. I am glad it did not throw a rod through the block and start a fire.
- Sherrills Ford, NC, USA
I was driving, slowing down before a turn, when there was a screeching noise and then the engine shut off. The car has not cranked since. I have tried to jump start it but the battery is not the problem.
- Bonneau, SC, USA
On 10/22/2018, while driving my 2014 Kia 2.0L gid Soul, at or under 60 mph on a paved highway, moving in a straight line, I heard a clunk and the engine died at 128,048 miles. This vehicle was purchased new. All maintenance was conducted at only 2 Kia dealerships while under warranty. The vehicle was towed to the primary dealership but had to towed to storage several days until I returned. It was subsequently towed back to the dealership- now under new ownership. I requested a diagnosis of the engine failure but it was not done, reason unknown, so I ordered an engine replacement. The vehicle was in the shop April 10 to June 25, 2019, at which time I turned in my rental car and paid for the engine- again, not receiving a report as to why the engine failed in a catastrophic manner. Between 5/22/2019 and 7/30/2019, I attempted to communicate with Kia usa by phone and emails to Consumer Affairs. On 7/30/2019, during a phone conversation, representative brandon offered a reimbursement of $750 for rental and towing fees in lieu of discussing something reasonable to the costs totaling $8,193.43. He was to call me back on or about 8/02/2019 but has not. Today, 8/10/2019, I went to add a message to (Kia) case number 13186735, only to learn that "this case has already been closed..." I believe that Kia is attempting to avid reimbursing me for a loss not my fault. Records and correspondence are available. (-end-)
- Soap Lake, WA, USA
I went to the Kia dealership and they did the recall on my engine. The cuyler dealership told me that they would need to replace the cop ECU logic and the catalytic converter. They told me that the engine doesn't need to be replaced. I got the recall done on a Friday., and the next day my check engine light was back on and my oil light keeps coming on. I believe I need a whole new engine. I'm just really disappointed in how it turned out. My check engine light should not be on!
- Schererville, IN, USA
The contacts significant other owned a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated while he was driving at approximately 35 mph, the vehicle began to lose power. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated so they pulled over the vehicle to check the engine. Upon opening the hood, it was discovered that the engine compartment was on fire. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire using 5 gallons of water and two fire extinguishers but was unable to subdue the fire. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire with their chemical hoses however the vehicle was burnt down to its framing. A fire report was pending being filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was now considered hazardous material and was towed to an independent lot. There were no injuries reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
- White Thorne, CA, USA
Vehicle has had a lack of power was told it was due to a clogged converter.... performed recall Kia SC176. They replaced the converter and did an ECU upgrade. Car has serious lack of power now and when trying to drive down the highway the vehicle dont know which gear to be in so it constantly hunts for a gear. Gas mileage also has decreased from about 30-32 to 26-28. The car is a safety risk because sometimes it cant get out of the way of big trucks
- Candler, NC, USA
I have been trying to get my car fix since February. It keep stalling without warning no lights will come on. I need someone to look at this situation I would like to get my car fix. I am paying my car note on time every month. Please help me.
- Laurel, MS, USA
Driving my 2014 Kia Soul on July 4th on the highway at 75 miles per hour, engine revved up to 5 RPM's for no apparent reason, and engine light came on. Went back down to proper RPM's after about 10 seconds, then about 15 seconds later revved up to 7 RPM's, battery light came on and car stalled in the middle of the highway. Called Kia corporate on July 8th, they created a case for me, I had a contact there that was working my case, and they had it towed it to midwest Kia in wichita, ks., because there was an active recall on the car. They had it for 2 weeks, refused to fix it because they couldn't get the car to start to throw the code for the recall, but they repeatedly told me they would do nothing to get it to throw the code because they might pay to fix something they shouldn't. a man at corporate told me on July 22nd that they were not going to honor the recall nor the warranty that is still on my car, and I had my car towed back to my house. When I got it back, I looked under the hood and the service center had torn my engine apart and left it in pieces under my hood, where it sits now awaiting permission on what I can do so I do not ruin any chances I have of them fixing what they should anyway.
- Hutchinson, KS, USA
While making a right turn onto the highway, vehicle made an insanely loud screeching, metal on metal noise followed by violent shaking. The engine light started flickering, as well as the oil light, then started to stall out. While pulling over, car continued to make grinding and clunking noise coming from what sounded like the engine. Attempted to restart the car, loud clunking and grinding noise. Checked the oil dipstick- metal shards and shavings on dipstick. Took to courtesy Kia brandon. Who confirmed engine required a rebuild or replacement. I was told that this was not covered by recent recall of...all Kia Soul's with 1.6lt engines made from July 8, 2011 thru Aug 1, 2016 are being recalled..." for engine problems. I am now unexpectedly immobilized with a $8K+ repair for a rebuilt engine with 67K+ miles as my option?
- Ruskin, FL, USA
My car has been stalling for the last 6 months it had a recall on the catalytic converter due to overheating, resulting in abnormal engine conbusion and damage to the engine pistons. I have taken it to the Kia shop for an upgrade and that did not work.
- Laurel, MS, USA
Engine blew we took it to avon, in Kia dealer. They checked it out and said it was a blown engine. The shop manager also informed us that this year had inferior parts put in it. Than they told us it was not covered under any recall and that our warranty had expired. We had call Kia Corp and they had given us a case number than they turned around and said they would not cover it either. The vehicle was on a highway when this happen heard a lot of metal on metal and knocking sound. Had the vehicle towed from that point.
- Danville, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the engine was in the process of being rebuilt at her expense after shutting down on the highway. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19V120000 (engine, engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was taken to cowboy Kia (443 N interstate 45 S, conroe, tx 77301, (936) 494-0600) where it was confirmed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the manufacturer's Consumer Affairs office had not communicated with the dealer. As a result, the vehicle had not been repaired and had been at the dealer since the end of April. The dealer provided a loaner vehicle. The contact felt that the Consumer Affairs office was ignoring her. The failure mileage was 70,000.
- Conroe, TX, USA
The floor board is always warm. The car seems to drive fine for about 20 -30 mins and then the car seems to lose power and will barely go uphill...check engine light has been on for a catalytic converter in the past but went back out. Car has been at Kia now since June 18th... have a case with Kia America. Dealer told me the cat was clogged. Now worried about engine damage because of clogged cat. Vehicle is under recall SC176 via Kia
- Candler, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. While driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. Also, the power steering and brakes lost power. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to stevenson Kia of jacksonville (located at 500 w fairway rd, jacksonville, nc 28546, (910) 938-0555) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
- Jacksonville, NC, USA
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving a highway rate of speed from another state, there had been other drivers on the roadway honking horns to alert the contact that the vehicle was smoking. There was an abnormal noise progressing from the engine assembly. Upon further inspecting from the rear view mirror and noticed smoke coming from the vehicle then the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, the contact exited the vehicle as the engine bursts into flames. The vehicle was towed to a facility by the insurance company who indicated the vehicle was a total loss. The dealer (janesville Kia, 3419 ryan rd, janesville, wi 53545, (608) 743-9600) was called and informed of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, indicated that they would follow up in three business days, provided a case number but had not yet responded to the contact. The approximate failure mileage was not available.
- Belvidere, IL, USA
The engine caught on fire! while I was driving along the highway at a normal 55 miles per hour. I hear a poof and the next thing saw smoke and pulled right to side of road, lifted the hood and discovered the engine was in flames. I grabbed a sheet from inside the car and attempted to beat the flames back, along with a a can of pepsi the only liquid I had. But a good samaritan stopped with a fire extinguisher and put the fire out.
- Smyrna, DE, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, stopped at a red light, attempted to brake, but the brake pedal traveled all the way to the floor. The contact stopped at a parking lot, engaged in park, turned off the vehicle, walked away from it. The vehicle engulfed in a fire, flames started to emerge from the under the hood. The police was present and the fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was categorized by the insurance company as destroyed. The vehicle was towed to the insurance lot. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact also stated receiving a recall for NHTSA number: 19V120000 ( engine and engine cooling ), but an appointment was not scheduled to have the vehicle diagnosed. The dealer lehighton Kia, 1502 blakeslee blvd, leighton, pa 18235, was an hour and a half away from the residence. Te approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
- Bethlehem, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. When the contact took the vehicle to darcars Kia of frederick (5826 urbana pike, frederick, md 21704, (301) 696-1200) to be repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 19V120000 (engine and engine cooling), the check engine indicator was illuminated. The dealer re-flashed the ECU, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer and they opened a tech case and waited for a decision from the manufacturer. The manufacturer decided not to repair the vehicle because it needed a new motor and the contact did not want to replace the catalytic converter. The dealer stated that the repair would cost over $5,000. The failure mileage was 155,760.
- Inwood, WV, USA
Engine started making noise then engine rod went through engine block while on highway traveling approx 60mph. Car stopped and coasted to side of the road while smoke poured from engine. Oil all over road and engine. Towed to dealership. Dealership says it's not related to recall #19V120. Contacted Kia customer service. Case rep says it should be covered and they have to contact the district service rep in the area. Dealership refuses to help and keeps trying to sell new engine. District service rep won't give Kia customer service any info. They've requested info twice with no response. I keep getting passed to voicemails with no return calls from Kia customer service, I've tried email as well.
- Parrish, FL, USA
- Wilmington, DE, USA