10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 54
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,533 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #329

Jul 072021

Soul

  • miles
I purchased my car in March of 2020. A month after I had my car the brake pads wore out with NO indication and the calipers broke. I called Kia and explained what the issue was. They tried to blame my mechanic. I told them that their technicians had to have known the brake pads were low if they did a thorough inspection. I was laughed at. I told the man that I was going to report them to the Better Business Bureau. He then told me to bring it to Kia. I told him it was at my mechanics and I no longer trusted their technicians to do the work on my car. Had my breaks failed I could've had a very serious accident. June 24, 2021. I had my intake gasket repaired by my mechanic. My car drove fine until I was exiting the highway. It started to lose power. I barely made it off the highway when it stopped. I contacted my mechanic and they were able to get it started to get it back to the shop. After he took a further look at it, he advised me to contact Kia to run a diagnostic which I did. They charged me $80. They then confirmed what my mechanic stated the issue was. Kia wanted to charge me over $1000 for the work. I don't trust them to do the work as well as not having the money. My mechanic repaired the vehicle but it was still doing the same thing. He spent hours trying to figure out what the issue was. He told me Kia needed to find the issue. I contacted Kia on July 7th and spoke to Jack in their service department. I asked him to have his technicians call my mechanic so they could figure it out. Jack took my information and my mechanic's information and said he would have them call. No one called. I called back that same day around 3:45pm. First Jack told me they were busy. I told him so was my mechanic. He then said they don't normally have technicians speak to mechanics. I told Jack he should've told me that when I spoke to him previously. By that point i was very angry. I told him they need to fix my car and i wasn't paying for it and i won't.

- Duluth, MN, USA

problem #328

Mar 012021

Soul

  • 91,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 KIA Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming a quart of engine oil for every 1,000 miles, without warning. The contact also stated that the coolant would evaporate without warning soon after refilling the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the oil consumption issue. The mechanic referred her to a dealer. The contact took the vehicle to an unknown dealer where an oil change was performed, and she was instructed to return every 1,000 miles to check the oil level. Upon checking the oil level after 1,000 miles, the contact became aware that the oil level had not changed. The contact was concerned that the dealer had overfilled the engine oil. After another 1,000 miles, she noticed that the vehicle had consumed another quart of oil. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

- Feasterville-Trevose, PA, USA

problem #327

Jun 282021

Soul

  • miles
My 2015 Kia Soul had a recall for the Catalytic Converter, which I was Never informed of. My check engine light came on and I took it to get checked, they told me the trouble, my husband was a mechanic so he checked id there were recalls and to find out there was one on the catalytic converter, I took it to the dealership of March in 2021, they fix the catalytic converter and changed it. Only to find out that my entire engine was ruined because of the damage from the catalytic converter. My car stalled on the freeway going 65 miles an hour with my daughter in the car. We were almost hit by a semi truck, I took it back down to the dealership after the check engine light came on told them it was stalling. They charge me for a fuel sensor and said that was the problem. I took a back down to the dealership because it was continuing to Saul after that, call the recall Center for Kia and I was told by a representative that I would be getting a new engine. When I went down to the dealership to get the new engine they told me that was incorrect and I have still not gotten my car back after two days. The dealership has yet to call me either to tell me what exactly is the issue with my car

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #326

Jun 222021

Soul

  • miles
The connecting rod bearing failed resulting in the engine failing. The engine is still in the car at the dealership awaiting approval from KIA to replace it (they are currently refusing). The engine failing while the vehicle was being operated placed me and other motorist in danger had I not been able to get it off the road immediately. The connecting rod bearing failure was confirmed by the dealership. No, the vehicle has not been inspected by anyone else besides the service techs at the dealership. It is unknown if any warning lamps or messages appeared before the failure.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #325

Jun 272021

Soul

  • miles
My car started making a loud noise and the car would not accelerate as I was returning home on the highway. I was driving home on I-75 South when my car started to slow down and it was very hard to accelerate and was making a loud noise. I made it to the next exit off Sharonville Rd and made it into a gas station. I opened the hood to check the oil and it was extremely hot and smoking. I had to wait until it cooled off and put in some oil to try to make it on home. The check oil light was not lit which didn't even provide any indication that my car was out of oil during the 1/2 hour drive. I do not feel safe to drive this car, since this incident. I took it for auto repair immediately the next day. Please help with assistance with this issue.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #324

Jun 102021

Soul

  • miles
I was driving and check engine light went on, drove to Pride Kia where this car was purchased. Before check engine light went on car started to decrease in acceleration. And some smoke could be seen once or twice upon acceleration. Car has been at Pride Kia for 15 days and have not been told what the problem is. This 2015 Kia Soul was was taken in at Pride Kia for a product improvement on December 2020. And on February 2021, there was a recall SC200, to check engine. Currently there are two recalls for a 2015 Kia Soul. One is for a catalytic converter 19V120000. The problems described in this recall are very similar to the problems of the Kia Soul I drive. Also, recall 20V750000, is similar to the engine problems of my Kia Soul. Upon inquiring about the Kia Soul engine problems, I was informed that it seems likely it could be catalytic problem Since the check engine light is blinking, this demonstrates a catalytic problem and not a sensor problem. The stalling of the engine also has taken place when the ISG feature Is on. I asked the Pride Kia dealer service department and they said keep driving it nothing. Thank you, Al DiCenso

- Lynn, MA, USA

problem #323

Mar 012020

Soul

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to have the recall repairs completed. The contact stated on March 5, 2021 while driving 30 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed but failed to accelerate. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed both front and rear catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated on April 29, 2021 while driving 80 mph, the vehicle seized. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to glide on neutral to a stop. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed the engine was needing to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer for diagnosis and repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

- North Hollywood, CA, USA

problem #322

Jun 142021

Soul

  • 101,027 miles
The contact's daughter owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 45 mph when she heard abnormal noise and saw smoke exiting from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated multiple warning lights were illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The driver called the local dealer and was referred to the manufacturer. The VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (ENGINE). The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and they would not honor the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 101,027.

- Lahaina, HI, USA

problem #321

Mar 312021

Soul

  • miles
I received a recall notice from Kia. The notice said the engine may catch fire because of oil leaks and a Kia dealer would inspect the engine. The Kia dealer mechanic said there was no oil leak, though he noted oil on the valve cover (3-31-21). He also said one ignition coil spring was damaged. When I took the car to my mechanic, he said all the coil springs were soaked with oil due to a defective valve cover gasket. He replaced the gasket and the coils. I submitted documentation for all the claims in this note to the Kia Consumer Assistance department. They said I would have to wait 2 months for a response. I waited 2 months and have received no response. Sincerely, Joe Saccaro. What component malfunctioned" Valve cover gasket. Available for inspection upon request? Yes, I have all the parts. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Engine fire. The NHTSA required the recall. Has the problem confirmed" Yes, by a certified mechanic. (Document included, ) Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the dealer. Yes, the dealer mechanic confirmed the leak (attached) but did not say the valve cover gasket needed replacement. Were there any symptoms of the problem prior to the failure? Yes, oil on the engine cover, as noted by the Kia Mechanic. (attached)

- Menomonee Falls, WI, USA

problem #320

Jan 312019

Soul

  • miles
2015 Kia Soul engine failure with approximately 71k miles, Jan 1029. This particular VIN was not part of a prior recall. A recall was issued after this date to request owners of these particular vehicles to bring their cars in to the dealership to have them checked and a possible software update to prevent engine failures. What recourse do I have as there is not a recall for my particular VIN to replace a failed engine and since the engine has already failed and modifications to software abviously is not a solution at this point" How does a consumer get protection from a clearly known failure mode for these particular engines" Please Help!!!

- Flintville, TN, USA

problem #319

May 152021

Soul

  • miles
approximately 9 months ago (approximately 65,000 miles) the vehicle was operating oddly and there was a low level noise. Took it to a repair shop and they told me there was no oil showing on the dip stick. The references a NHTSA warning for this vehicle/engine that after 60K miles it begins to rapidly consume oil, something having to do with leaking valves and he oil burning up faster. The obvious problem is that the engine could seize up if this got worse. From that point forward I was putting in about a quart of oil every 2 weeks (500 miles or so). Made repeated calls to KIA and filed a report. They promised to look into it and have a decision at a regional level to repair. No response ever received. I took the vehicle to the local dealer about 2 months ago. They had nothing to report regarding my issue, treated another unrelated recall. Returned again as oil consumption was getting worse. they conducted a formal oil consumption test which showed dramatic increase in just the 2,500 miles the car was tested and at the last one said the oil was very bad and the engine was failing now, not just consuming a lot of oil. Today I was informed that any support from KIA has been denied and that my vehicle was damaged, needing over $5,000 in repair and basically worthless.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #318

Dec 092020

Soul

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate. An unknown dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the engine failed due to the catalytic converter and a burnt valve inside of the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the previous vehicle owner had received a recall notification on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 160,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #317

May 142021

Soul

  • 93,050 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, there was a knocking sound then a loud boom heard. The contact and her passengers detected a smoke odor and saw that there was smoke coming from the hood. The vehicle would not accelerate so the contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The contact then tried to turn on the vehicle but the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was a hole in the engine. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer and diagnosed that there was a hole in the engine which caused the oil to leak. The dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure however, the manufacturer informed the dealer that they were not responsible for the repair since the contact had not gotten the recall repair for the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software update. The contact stated that she received the recall notification six days before the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 93,050.

- Novi, MI, USA

problem #316

May 242021

Soul 4-cyl

  • miles
2015 Kia Soul's oil has been changed every 3K miles and has been well maintained. Check engine light came on on 4/7/21, and burning smell and vehicle was taken to service. Code showed Catalytic Converter but no open recalls for anything else. Service did not show that a Product Improvement Notice was open nor was my daughter notified in writing of that open Notice. Last night the vehicle lost all oil, threw a rod and the engine blew up with no explosion, fortunately. Kia says that will not cover the engine replacement yet it appears that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated that there is a recall for this issue with a number of vehicles actually catching fire. The vehicle is now at a dealership in Nashville, TN but they say the replacement is not covered. Request NHTSA involvement in helping resolve this with Kia. Please contact me [XXX] and/or [XXX] as soon as possible. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #315

Dec 012020

Soul

  • miles
Leasing a 2015 Kia Soul + from Weston Kia in Portland, Or. on 9/1/20 with 94,191 miles on it. I-??ve had routine oil changes done on 12/14/20 @ 99,961 miles & again on 3/8/21 @ 104,432. Now from about 1-2 months after leasing my Kia, the MIL would turn on for some time then go off just to turn back on again. I had an ASE certified mechanic where I work run a diagnostic Check on it with a code of P0014. Called Weston Kia service department about it and I was told that I would have to bring it in to them, charge me $139 to run their diagnostic check to see what-??s up! Now On 1/25/21 I received a letter from Kia about a safety recall, #20V750 for my Kia, after 3 months I was finally able to get it in for the recall service. I-??ve looked up my vin number again to find out that nothing was done with my car however, now both my MIL & EOPWL, only at idle, is flashing, and I-??ve had to add oil to my engine 2 times between oil changes, occasionally during acceleration my car hesitates from lack of power! Now I-??m scheduled today, 5/25/21, to go back to the dealership service center to again have my car looked at. Now after reading all 459 complaints from other Kia owners with similar issues, that my first high interest rate, leased car that I still owe 10k on, is either going to cost even more to get fixed or it-??s just going to die because I can-??t afford to get KIA-??s faulty engine problems fixed nor keep going back to have a diagnostic test done @$139 just to tell me it-??s nothing! 459 similar complaints is telling me that I just dug myself into a hole.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #314

May 122021

Soul

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 65 mph, the vehicle loss motive power. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to the local dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was 82,000.

- Branson West, MO, USA

problem #313

May 102021

Soul

  • miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the dealer and manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Canyon Country, CA, USA

problem #312

Apr 032021

Soul

  • 131,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was a knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there were no open recalls associated with the VIN. The state attorney general referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.

- Fillmore, NY, USA

problem #311

May 102021

Soul

  • 63,200 miles
Engine seized. Just had oil changed at summit place Kia of grand rapids 2000 miles ago. Engine light never came on. No knocking. Call stalled, dash lights blinking and would not start. Towed,

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #310

Dec 062020

Soul

  • miles
Contract 100K miles/10 years. Current mileage 92388. Still within warranty contract. While driving, 12/6/2020, my car stopped running after a brief warning on the dash. Check engine and oil light came on. Within a few minutes, I heard a noise, and the engine shut down. There were no oil leaks or any fluids under the car. I towed the car home. I towed to ray brandt Kia in harvey la 12/7/20. A month later, I was told the engine failed. By 1/4/21, I was asked for permission to tear down the engine for inspection. 1/8/21 brian murray, svc mgr. Said valve cover to be removed for inspection. Fidelity warranty/ray brandt Kia approved repairs re: RO101874. Per vicky, the inspector directed the timing belt replacement. On 1/13/21, test runs done to see if it fixed the problem but no compression. No action taken on recall 20V750. Per vicky, ray brandt recommended replacing the engine. Used engine found for replacement with approx. 42K miles. Per vicky at ray brandt svc dept. I received recall letter dated 1/25/21 by mail. Called vicky about recall. She confirmed it on her computer. Ray brandt called days later to say fidelity denied my claim. They stopped all repairs. Told I had to call fidelity for documentation. Called but no response. After sending a certified letter 3/9 to legal. Nancy beausejour called. She sent a reply dated 4/7. first two inspections reveal oil and other fluids are good and no sludge in the engine. This was prior to two more inspections with different conclusions. Final inspection show engine warped. Due to ignoring the recall, no action on service department recommendations and test runs without repairs, the engine warped. Before this failure, I had no engine overheating. Since 4/22/21, after 5 calls to Kia consumer assistance ctr.,called. May 12, 2021

- New Orleans, LA, USA

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