10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 53
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,396 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #376

Dec 162021

Soul

  • miles
My concern is probably a concern with all Kia owners with Gamma and Nu engines. I first noticed this issue after a CEL came up on the dash and then my car went into a Safety "Limp" Mode condition. I returned home and tried to diagnose why the car went into Limp Mode (acceleration limited to <2000RPM). I turned off the vehicle and restarted and restarted it to see if that would clear the CEL. That did not clear the issue. I then checked the engine oil and found that the oil level was below dipstick level. That was very odd as it had only been 3,100 miles since the last dealer oil change for the vehicle. That was when I began to read issues with the Kia engines and the excessive oil burning issues of the engines in question. For my current issue, I refilled the oil level and brought my vehicle to my mechanic who read the CEL as P1326 Knock Sensor Detection System which was brough on by the lack of engine oil. I was told by my Extended Warranty company that the engine was therefore in need of replacement. It was then that I brought my vehicle to a Kia dealership because this is an issue that has been brought up with Kia with other owners. The dealership could not replicate the issue. This I believe is due to the fact that I have been monitoring the oil level constantly and not letting the level fall below the minimum indicator. This though is not a solution Kia must admit the fault in their engines and come up with a solution to mitigate this fiasco. Having the purchaser continually add oil is not the solution.

- Eastvale, CA, USA

problem #375

Jan 102022

Soul

  • 107,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to examine the vehicle due to the large volume of vehicles that were also in for service for the same failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but had not yet responded to or rendered a decision to the dealer regarding the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

- Eatonton, GA, USA

problem #374

Jan 252022

Soul

  • miles
My vehicle started losing power and was making a loud whomping sound. The check engine light came on and was blinking continuously. I believe the engine blew up. I was at safety risk because these vehicles have a history of starting on fire and also it was below zero. The manufacturer is aware of the history of engine failure and this is a new motor installed from the last one failing

- Iron River, WI, USA

problem #373

Jan 292022

Soul

  • 109,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH. The vehicle then stalled without warning and was parked on the side of the roadway. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #372

Oct 012021

Soul

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the engine hesitated and emitted smoke from the tailpipe. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was not diagnosed. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #371

Jan 162022

Soul

  • miles
Now when I just went to check my engine oil it smelled of gas and was starting to get pretty low. I just checked it 2 weeks ago and it Was fine. No one has ever inspected the vehicle and yes it is very available for inspection. Still my fuel consumption is terrible and now my oil is low low with a gas smell to it. No warning lights have ever came on and it seems to drive fine.

- Twin Falls, ID, USA

problem #370

Jan 102022

Soul

  • miles
After reading in my instructions Manuel about what might be causing my fuel consumption to be way to high I learned that the gas cap was suppose to click which it has not since we got the vehicle in December of 2021so I went and bought a gas cap and now it clicks like it-??s suppose to. My fuel consumption is way to high right now I have filled this car up with gas so many more times then any other vehicle I have owned. When I put fuel in you can smell the fuel for the next two days and every now and again you get a whiff of engine coolant smell and a burning smell I-??m not sure what the burning smell is because I-??ve never smelled it before. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection. No one has inspected it still since my last complaint. And no there has been not a single warning light.

- Twin Falls, ID, USA

problem #369

Jan 032022

Soul 4-cyl

  • miles
FROM: [XXX]January 12, 2022 [XXX] Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration www.safecar.gov Re: 2015 KIA SOUL Recall Consumer Complaint Recall Did Nothing to Remedy Oil Burning Problem Recall Letter Dated 1/25/21 Recall Number - 20V750 VIN - [XXX] Dealership Handling Recall on 1/3/22: Smail Kia 5094 US-30 Greensburg, PA 15601 724-471-5045 BACKGROUND: Car problems can be very devastating to senior citizens like us so it's a harsher impact on us when a dealership serves simply as a protective agent of the corporation it serves. As such, at KIA of Greensburg, PA we recently experienced, firsthand, the dealership protecting the corporation ahead of responsible consumers like us who have spent much money over the years diligently maintaining our 2015 KIA SOUL automobile to preserve it as long as possible. Despite timely oil changes throughout its life, the vehicle is now consuming oil. PROBLEM: [XXX] noticed a knocking sound in the engine of our 2015 KIA SOUL about 150 miles before our next scheduled oil change of December, 2021 at 111,000 miles. We have diligently changed our oil every 3,000 miles since the day we bought our 2015 KIA Soul brand new at Fette Ford of Clifton, NJ in December, 2014. Also, we have been diligently using quality synthetic oil for the past two years changing the oil whenever due. Our mechanic checked the knocking noise that [XXX] recently noticed in the engine before our scheduled oil change in December, 2021 and he discovered, for the very first time that he ever serviced our vehicle in over two years, that the engine was down two quarts of oil! He then did a very thorough inspection for oil leaks. None were detected. This oil consumption problem went unnoticed because it never manifested itself previously until December 2021. At the end of the last week in December of 2021, I contacted th INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Ruffs Dale, PA, USA

problem #368

Dec 202021

Soul

  • miles
On December 20th I had a Cylinder 2 & 4 misfire. I had to get my vehicle towed to the KIA dealership where they kept my car for a week. I called to get an update and I was told that my engine was a total lost and I went over the 100,000 mile warranty so I would have to pay $5500 out of pick to replace my engine. I was given a phone number to call the KIA customer service. Once I reached an operator I learned that there was an engine recall 12-01-2020 and I was not notified of this recall and I also learned that there was a system update April 2021 that I was notified about either. I am a single mom of 3 with a full time job, I can-??t just got out and buy a car. This is just ridiculous had I been notified maybe I would still have my car.

- Athens, GA, USA

problem #367

Jan 012021

Soul

  • miles
In the past year my 2015 Kia Soul has been loosing power, burning oil not leaking and if you have to drive more then 2 hours you have to put oil in it. The engine shakes we took it for a recall but the issue was never fixed.

- Ooltewah, TN, USA

problem #366

Dec 232021

Soul

  • miles
Engine smells funny like something burning and has oil consumption, it has been took in for all recalls and still continues to smell like it does and burn oil.

- Morristown, TN, USA

problem #365

Dec 252021

Soul

  • miles
Acceleration system/ on highway at high speeds It stay accelerating at very high rpms as it shifts into the next gear and it is consuming a very large amount of fuel at the same time. It is available for an inspection. It has not been inspected by anyone. While driving on the highway at high speeds I felt it was putting my family and myself at risk of crash or engine failure or being stuck on the side of the highway.

- Twin Falls, ID, USA

problem #364

Dec 222021

Soul

  • miles
engine light started blinking and engine runs rough, as in limp mode. dealer has failed to schedule an appointment to address this recall in the past after several attempts.

- Atlanta , GA, USA

problem #363

Jul 122021

Soul 4-cyl

  • 99,600 miles
The contact's daughter owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at 30 MPH, the engine oil warning light illuminated, and she heard abnormal sounds coming from the engine. The contact stated that as the vehicle began to stall, his daughter veered to the side of the road and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle but did not inform the contact of the diagnostic result. The dealer advised the contact that they could not repair the vehicle as he had failed to complete the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine, and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would follow up with the dealer and assist with the repair of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer since July 12th. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 99,600. Parts distribution disconnect. Car is still at the dealer hickory hollow Kia in Tennessee as of March 15 it will have been there for 8 months Kia says parts still on back order.

- Oldsmar, FL, USA

problem #362

Jul 212021

Soul

  • miles
Excessive oil consumption burning a quart of oil every thousand miles, have taken it in to Buchanan Kia 119 Railroad ave. Westminster Maryland 21157 for them to run test and it has a recall for this issue and has not been fixed, they tell us that it is normal for a car to use a quart of oil every thousand miles, being taken in on 7/21/21,9/09/21,10/04/21, for them to run test and they say it is normal. we have been complaining about this issue back at 60k. They do not fix the issue and there is a recall for this.

- Mount Airy, MD, USA

problem #361

Dec 012019

Soul

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was blinking on and off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that an engine replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified but, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

problem #360

Dec 082021

Soul

  • miles
Wed Dec 8,2021 - I was driving home after picking up take out when vehicle loses power upon acceleration. Check engine light begins blinking and vehicle monitoring system specifies an issue with the Engine Control Management System. I am able to limp home, turn off the car then turn it on again. Still have the blinking CEL and same message from vehicle monitoring system. I check the engine oil as it was making a clacking sound during driving but I did not think it was the engine oil because the car had just had a dealer oil change and inspection at 90,000 miles and I was at 93,100. The engine oil level was non-existent, so I refilled the oil to the working level on the dip stick. I start the vehicle again but the CEL was still flashing and acceleration did not go above 2,500 rpms. Fri Dec 10, 2021 - I bring it to my auto shop and have them diagnose the issue and am informed that the engine in my Kia is prone to excessive engine oil consumption. TSB-222 Excessive Oil Consumption -Nu/Gamma Engines. This I was unaware of and never brought to my attention by the Kia dealership that serviced my car, Citrus Kia in Ontario, CA and Riverside Kia in Riverside, CA. I had always brought my car in at 7,500-mile intervals for its oil change as specified in the owner's manual. I am then informed that because of the lack of adequate oil, some engine components are on the verge of failing, that I will need to replace my engine. This should be addressed by Kia and they should be responsible for this failure.

- Eastvale, CA, USA

problem #359

Nov 182021

Soul

  • miles
Engine failure on freeway 2 times in last 9 months. Engine rattles as if coming apart and almost complete loss of power. Had spark plugs replaced after both incidents for temporary fix. Mechanics informed me that 2015 KIA Soul engine have problems/issues. Engine is also burning oil. KIA dealer said it is "normal" for engine to burn oil with high mileage. (130,000 miles)

- Trabuco Cyn, CA, USA

problem #358

Mar 012021

Soul 4-cyl

  • miles
I recieved a notification of an engine recall for my Kia Soul. Took it to the nearest dealership an was told the issue was resolved. This was roughly March 1 2021. My check engine light appeared and was diagnosed as a catalytic converter/engine issue. Had vehicle towed to the dealership and after a week or who was told the issue was related to the recall and good to go Roughly 4-6 weeks later check engine light reappered with the same malfunction code. Vehicle has been towed to the dealer to diagnose and fix. The kia dealerships in my area are quoting serviced appointments months out, with no courtesy cars offered. Some dealerships have refused service altogether, .

- Smyrna, GA, USA

problem #357

Oct 292021

Soul 4-cyl

  • miles
Unknown Consumer stated car broke down on October 29th, car was driven less than a mile, when consumer heard a noise coming from the car. In trying to pull over, car screeched and came to a stop. There was a loud metal knocking. Consumer noticed that the sound was louder when I stepped on the accelerator or started the car. No lights illuminated on the dashboard. Consumer decided that it was not safe to drive and towed it instead. Vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis. KIA Customer Care was contacted to assist with the issue. Consumer was notified that there were 3 recalls on the car. SC-200, SC-155, and PI-2002. At that point, dealer towed consumer's car to a dealership to complete the recalls since it was believed that the car malfunction was due to one of these issues, but no diagnostics were run by the dealership to confirm. On November 2nd, consumer's case was closed without notice. Consumer reached out to KIA customer care and was told that there was nothing they could do to complete the recalls and was not covered under any warranty.

- Corona, CA, USA

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