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 #371

Dec 292021

Soul

  • miles
This vehicle has been a nightmare for half of the time that I-??ve had it. I first took it back to the Kia dealership in 2019 because of the check engine light and told them it was pulling a 420 code I knew that was a catalytic converter which had been recalled. After a few hours of having my car they told me that no repairs were needed so they marked the recall as complete. I had to continue to drive with a check engine light on for several months. I brought it back again because I needed it to be fixed in order to pass the state inspection for registration renewal. At that point they did put on a new catalytic converter. Ever since then it has been leaking or burning oil. I-??m not sure how it-??s gone through so much oil but the oil light has stayed on more than it-??s turned off despite putting a quart in every couple of days. For the last month I-??ve been doing 2 quarts at a time. Two nights ago my engine light started flashing on the highway. My car was shaking violently. When I got to my destination my engine completely died and the car started rolling backwards in the street as I went to put it in park. I have since towed my vehicle twice to different auto shops. Currently they-??re saying that it needs a new engine because of the oil problem and are quoting me $7800. I believe that this was part of the recall and that I should-??ve received a new engine two years ago. Instead I have easily spent more than $1000 this year on oil alone. And I cannot afford an engine that is worth twice as much as the car itself. I am very lucky that I wasn-??t stranded on the interstate and even luckier that my car didn-??t catch on fire. For that I don-??t credit the car I credit the fact that I slowed down well below the speed limit to finish my route.

- Huntersville, NC, USA

problem #370

Sep 302021

Soul

  • miles
The engine on my Kia Soul blew about 3 months ago. My husband was driving on the highway when the car started acting funny. It lost the power to accelerate and steer. He was able to make it to a gas station where he checked all the fluids. He found there to be NO oil!! There was no indication light or warning! As a matter of fact, we had the oil changed about a month prior to the incident. We also had the car into the dealership for a recall about the knock sensor detection system, maybe 3 weeks before this happened. I'm very upset, Kia will not work with me because the car has a little over 100,000 miles. I just don't understand how the engine could have been bone dry with absolutely no indication of it. There were no oil puddles in the driveway, no smell of burning oil, and above all else NO warning lights!!! Nobody was hurt, but they absolutely could have been!

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #369

Nov 262021

Soul

  • miles
Vehicle is a 2014 Kia Soul with the 1.6L GDI engine. While traveling at highway speeds the engine began to run rough and the vehicle lost power. The check engine light did not illuminate. We pulled off the highway to a Kia dealership in Greensboro, NC with the engine continuing to run & idle roughly. The dealership replaced the spark plugs & coils believing it was a misfire issue, however the engine continued to run poorly. A compression test showed 30 psi in one cylinder with 130 psi in the others. The engine would require replacement at only 72k miles. The vehicle was maintained per the maintenance schedule, and fluids were kept at the proper level. Without any warning this could have caused an accident on the highway.

- Hurt, VA, USA

problem #368

Nov 222021

Soul

  • miles
Engine consuming so much oil it caused several breakdowns while driving, including total loss of acceleration and very bad engine knocking/shaking. Constantly refilling oil to avoid these breakdowns. Integral engine parts failed including catalytic converter and cam shaft sensors. Parts replaced but issue is not resolved. Engine still miss fires and needed 3 oil changes in 3 months, in addition to constant extra oil being added in the meantime. Car isn-??t safe to drive because breakdowns and miss fires happen without warning, without an engine light or oil light.

- Elgin, IL, USA

problem #367

Dec 022021

Soul

  • miles
2914 Kia Soul with 49,405 miles. Malfunction Indicator Lamp illuminated-No drivability issues were noted outside of a rapid idle at startup. Dealer scan indicated fault code P050A and performed ECU upgrade for $186.51.

- Reading, PA, USA

problem #366

Nov 232021

Soul

  • miles
The front of the car started to smoke (black smoke coming from under the hood) while driving on a highway and caught fire within one minute. The safety of the driver was at risk. He barely had enough time to get out of the car before the whole front of the car burst into flames. The driver had to call 911. The FDNY put the fire out with NYPD present. The fire was so big that there was nothing left to inspect after FDNY put the fire out. This was a total loss and insurance accepted the photos without physically inspecting the car. The car began to sound like it was running on diesel and lost power shortly before the smoke. No other obvious warnings or signs were noted.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #365

Nov 262021

Soul

  • miles
Unknown.

- Anniston , AL, USA

problem #364

Nov 272021

Soul

  • miles
My check engine light goes on and off and its reading catalytic converter there is a recall for that as well on kia souls

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #363

Oct 242021

Soul

  • miles
Catalytic converter was replaced on 10/27/21 as well as Logic update. After driving the car 53 miles it got hot and started smoking and now the head gasket is blown. No warning lights came on except the temp went to Hot. Dealer says they won-??t replace the engine.

- West Jordan, UT, USA

problem #362

Oct 152021

Soul

  • 164,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his wife was at a stop light, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The power train warning light was illuminated. Additionally, while driving the vehicle was shuddering. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the vehicle was misfiring and that the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to local dealer and was diagnosed with loss of pressure on cylinder #3. The PSI pressure was five. There was an indication of the vehicle leaking and burning engine oil. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that the failure was not related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 164,000.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #361

Oct 272021

Soul

  • miles
I took my 2014 Kia Soul into the dealer to have them do the 2 open recalls on the car, the one to update the knock sensor logic detection system and they also replaced the catalytic converter. 2 days later after picking up the car & only driving it 50 miles, the engine blew (head gasket blew) and it overheated all the way & there was white smoke coming out and the oil was milky. The dealer said that I would not be getting a new engine (like the recall said) and that I could have the had the head gasket replaced for around $1500 or that I could pay from $5000 to 8000 for a replacement engine. I feel really let down because it seems like the dealer acted in bad faith and didn't even contact Kia about providing me with a new engine. Before the engine blew, the KSLD system did nothing to alert us (because I think the engine was already messed up) Any help you can provide would be great. Thank you

- West Jordan, UT, USA

problem #360

Sep 152021

Soul

  • miles
Engine making knocking noise, car turns off while driving, it won't start sometimes, hard hesitates when gears change, I'm mostly concerned about it turning off while driving in a high way it happened three times already to me!

- Kendallville, IN, USA

problem #359

Aug 262021

Soul

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted and would not go past 45 MPH. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, however, the vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the knock sensors needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.

- Greenville, MI, USA

problem #358

Sep 212021

Soul 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,400 miles
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.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #357

Sep 302021

Soul

  • miles
When trying to accelerate the engine does not go into the next gear causing the speed to stay below 60 mph.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #356

Sep 012021

Soul

  • miles
Started experiencing engine issues around 100,000 miles/6 years with Kia Soul, including very sluggish acceleration, not shifting gears properly or when needed on Highway. A couple of different technicians/dealers looked at car and couldn-??t figure it out. In June 2020 at 108,151 miles a Kia dealer/servicer determined the catalytic converter was the issue and needed replacement. Kia refused to provide a new one, as it was just outside the 6 year/100,000 mile warranty. Now in September 2021 the car is having the same problems and a Kia dealer/servicer determined the catalytic converter needs to be replaced AGAIN. Kia refused to replace, as they only give a 1 year warranty on the new one they put in June 2020 (doesn-??t EPA require a 5 year warranty on new aftermarket catalytic converters?). Contacted Kia Consumer Affairs and have pending escalated claim for them to provide the catalytic converter this time. There is clearly something wrong with the engine that it is causing the catalytic converters to fail so soon. Seems very similar to the vehicles that were included in the $760 million Kia engine settlement.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #355

Aug 142021

Soul

  • 111,436 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while at a stoplight, the vehicle stalled with an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact was uncertain if the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel prior to failure. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) which he linked to the failure. The dealer was notified, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. After a week, the contact was informed that because the software update was not performed on the vehicle, the manufacturer would not approve the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was 111,436.

- Lynnwood, WA, USA

problem #354

Aug 012021

Soul

  • miles
The engine started overheating when the vehicle reached over 150,000 miles. The oil in the car is burning rapidly. I have to check the engine oil daily and when on the freeway every hour because the oil is burning rapidly. When there is no oil the engine shuts down. The engine is overheating and I am afraid of an engine fire. I am constantly putting oil in the car because it is burning out rapidly. I am not sure why. There is a recall but I am not sure if I can get it because of the mileage on my car.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #353

Aug 142021

Soul

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated her daughter's boyfriend was driving approximately 70 MPH with her daughter in the passenger-??s seat, when they noticed smoke in the rearview mirror. The driver checked around to see if the smoke was coming from another vehicle and determined that the smoke was coming the vehicle he was driving. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the driver pulled over to the side of the road and exited the vehicle and noticed fire coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire was extinguished with the assistance of the Fire Department. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle had been taken to the local dealer and repaired under an unknown recall. After retrieving the vehicle, the contact stated occasionally the low oil level warning light would illuminate. There were no injuries sustained. The contact did not know whether a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, then it was towed to the dealer per the manufacturer's instructions. The nearest dealer declined to offer the any repairs or service on the vehicle since the vehicle was severely burned. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

- North English, IA, USA

problem #352

Aug 172021

Soul

  • miles
Kia engine seized while driving. Check engine and check oil lights both flashed immediately before car engine failed. Car would not turn over but battery was still fully functional. It was immediately brought to a local repair shop where oil was cleared as a non factor in engine problems. I was also informed that the engine was completely seized and non operational. I contacted Kia Pride regarding engine issue and was informed that an inspection would need to be completed and would take 5-6weeks as they are having company wide issues with Kia engines.

- Salem, MA, USA

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