10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 5 / 51
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 75,426 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
Complete engine failure - 11-5-18 - all lights came on and car died in the middle of a turn. All oil was gone from engine. Car cannot even be manually cranked. Seems to be exact same issue discovered with same year 1.6L engines, but wasn't included in recall as a 2.0L engine for whatever reason. 3 mechanics have quoted me a $10K repair including an entire new engine. No salvage or used engines available anywhere.
- Fate, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. While driving at 50 mph, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted. The vehicle failed to accelerate over 20 mph with all warning lights illuminating. The contact was able to pull to the side of the roadway, turned the engine off, restarted after several minutes and was able to resume driving normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose or repair the failure but was able to locate failure codes from the vehicle's computer. The contact was unaware of the failure codes. The vehicle was then taken to difeo Kia (1320 ocean ave, lakewood, NJ 08701 (833) 842-8290) where the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired at the dealer due to the independent mechanic had removed the codes out of the vehicle's computer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 9,541.
- Brownsmills, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. While driving approximately 10-15 mph, the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. Additionally, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there were several failures that included the camshaft sensor and the downstream oxygen sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.
- Griffin, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. Shortly after the vehicle was purchased, it randomly stalled. The engine was hesitant and the check engine indicator illuminated. Riverchase Kia (2200 us-31, pelham, al 35124, (205) 987-6518) was notified of the failure. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 19V120000 (engine and engine cooling) and 17V608000 (steering). The contact scheduled an appointment, but the dealer did not provide the repairs within the timeframe that they indicated. The dealer did not offer a loaner vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was not available.
- Billingsley, AL, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V120000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that Kia new braunfels (3363 interstate 35 frontage rd, new braunfels, tx 78132, (830) 214-7280) failed to provide the remedy for the recall campaign by only upgrading the cop ECU logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter and the engine assembly. The dealer had not provided an in-depth inspection of the parts. The contact felt that the manufacturer and dealer failed to comply with the repair guidelines as the manufacturer refused to replace the parts. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure.
- New Braunfels, TX, USA
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Soul. While driving 45 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise under the hood of the vehicle. The contact pulled the vehicle over, lifted the hood, and noticed flames. The contact extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled and towed to the contact's insurance company. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 45,000.
- Belleville, IL, USA
My engine blew a piston and my motor exploded while I was driving 65 on the interstate. I was driving and all of a sudden my steering wheel locked up, my brakes locked up, my engine was smoking. I had to coast to the side of the road with my 4 year old in the back seat.
- Ellijay, GA, USA
Driving on the highway and the engine just stopped. All lights went on and the car stalled. I had to pull to the shoulder. I was told there is a hole in the engine block and its 6000 to fix!!! I couldve died!!!
- Round Lake, IL, USA
I was driving down the road doing about 45 miles per hour and out of nowhere my vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. I had to act fast and get off the road so I wouldn't get hit by the oncoming traffic. I had the vehicle towed and come to find out my 2.0 engine had seized. The tow truck driver from Kia international roadside stated that they have been towing Kia Souls all month for bad engine problems. I have 65000 miles on my vehicle. My next oil change wasn't until another 1000 miles. No low oil pressure light came on not even the engine light, it just shut off out of nowhere. All the oil was sucked out of the engine, on top of that I have to pay $8,000 to get a new engine. A recall need to be put up about no warning lights on the dashboard.
- Chicago, IL, USA
Only has 104000 miles with regular documented oil change. Blown engine rod. At traffic light and when I accelerated large knocking was heard
- Upperco, MD, USA
Was driving down city street when vehicle started to stall and make a knocking noise from the engine. Pulled over checked and added a little oil, and when went to start the car it was slow to start and engine light is on and remained on. Oil is fine.
- Stewart, OH, USA
The vehicle is well maintained and at 69441 miles on the 2.0 liter engine, the engine seized while driving in heavy traffic on an interstate highway. I had to get out and push it to a safe area off the highway. I had it towed to a certified mechanic and the diagnosis was a seized engine. I contacted a local Kia dealer and they would not cover it under any warranty. They only offered a very high estimate to replace the engine. I opted for my mechanic to install a used replacement engine from an auto recycling company. Invoice for the replacement engine is attached to this report. Since the replacement engine came out of the same year and model Kia Soul with slightly lower miles on it, I am concerned that the same thing will happen with the metal chip in the engine defect issue recently reported, since I drive mostly highway speeds. It is extremely dangerous to get out and have to push the car off a busy highway!
- Madison, CT, USA
When driving, it started to make a loud knocking noise out of no where had 2 shops confirm they have to get into the engine to see exactly what was inside. This car was well maintained. No reason the engine should have gone out. Car was 4 feet down my street when it started knocking really loudly. Was not even running for a minute.
- Ukiah, CA, USA
Engine loses power at times for a split second. Acceleration sometimes causes a lunging motion. Also has difficulty maintaining speed while climbing small hills. Oil runs dry within a week of refill.
- Trabuco Canyon, CA, USA
I noticed a strange clicking or sputtering of my motor and then the engine completely cut off while driving down a city street. Fortunately, I was on a street, turning right at a stop light...and not the freeway! found out that the engine blew and that all the oil was sucked up out of my car. My next oil change wasn't due for another 1000 miles. I had no warning lights! no nothing other than non-functioning car. Researched engine failure and found out about the recall on 1.6 L engines (I have a 2L) but same issue. My mechanic said that he sees this at least once every 2 months in Kia's. the 2L needs to be added to the recall! apparently, after research on this site, many people are complaining about the same issue. People could get hurt! what if I was on the freeway"?? or, my engine caught fire??" I'm so grateful I'm alive right now.
- Laguna Hills, CA, USA
Vehicle in motion, driving in a parking lot at approximately 12mph when the engine stalled. Engine failed to restart after several attempts. Initial diagnosis and repair from Kia dealership said internal damage to fuel pump. Less than one hour after picking vehicle up noted noise from engine during acceleration and check engine light came on. Took the car back to the dealership and dtc code indicated an issue with catalytic converter.
- Garden Grove, CA, USA
My motor exploded just like the 1.6 motors that are being recalled but mine is a 2.0 motor.
- Ellijay, GA, USA
3/10/19 vehicle showed fluttering engine light while driving on residential street (35 mph). Checked, found was 3 qts low on oil at 1 week after oil change when vehicle has shown no noticeable oil consumption previously. Maintenance records show on schedule or better since purchase. Dealer states internal engine damage @84,526 miles - symptoms match recall 19V-120, including obdii code & catalytic conv, but is denied by manufacturer until the possibility of legal action & media coverage is brought up. Is now being 'reviewed' by manufacturer, while no usual dealer assistance - most especially 'loaner' vehicle - is provided. Important: As stated in the NHTSA safety report, Kia does not produce vins sequentially, thus the usual manufacturer's VIN database method appears ineffective - a VIN search turns up no recall for this vehicle, including previous ones it has been serviced for, a result reported by other Kia owners spoken to while waiting at the dealer's service center. This may be the reason for the widespread issues with recall denial.
- Columbus, OH, USA
Recently filed a complaint regarding my 2014 Kia Soul engine failure, my engine is a 2.0 it makes no sense that a 1.6 liter engine is being recalled
- Santa Ana, CA, USA
- Lexington, KY, USA