10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 54
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 9 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 59,533 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
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. While driving 60 mph, the contact heard a loud abnormal noise and the vehicle stalled. In addition, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over and had it towed to taylor Kia of boardman (7870 market St, youngstown, oh 44512, (330) 886-4942). The dealer diagnosed that the engine needed to be repaired. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
- Warren, OH, USA
My engine light comes on and go off. My oil is always low.
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
Engine oil is disappearing. No leaks to be found. Exhaust clean, no oil burn smoke. While driving engine made tapping noise. Checked oil dipstick an found no oil showing. Added 2 qts.... I change oil every 5, ooo miles. I changed oil and filter and checked the oil after 2K miles and had to add another quart. Car has 119K miles now. I have worked on engines of all sorts for 50yrs, and this puzzles me. I see no evidence of why or how the oil is disappearing.
- Walland, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle started to vibrate abnormally, smoke billowed from the tail pipe, and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to rally Kia (located at 438 auto vista dr, palmdale, ca 93551, (661) 349-4639) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. A secondary diagnostic found a hole in the engine block. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.
- Lancaster, CA, USA
Need engine replaced. Using at least 1qt of oil or more every few hundred miles. Having to replace coil packs. Smell burning periodically. Have been told by lou Saab Kia that Kia quit replacing engines a few months ago. That tells me they have a major problem with the engines. Know others who are having to replace coil packs & are burning oil also.
- Auburn, GA, USA
Takata recall the engine knocks after 60K. It started like a fan hitting a piece of plastic, but after a week- especially when I run the heat or air, it gets extremely loud). Now it's loud all of the time. I get my oil changed regularly and they couldn't even figure it out. My engine gets hot sometimes I was wondering if you get a lot of complaints about that. Even though I got the overheating under control, the fan still blows several minutes after being parked like it's hot. Takata recall
- Russellville, AR, USA
Making knocking noises it had backfired while driving down the highway still making knocking noise and vibrating noises while driving down the road and in park knocking is getting worse and louder and no check engine light
- Ridgecrest, CA, USA
On 11/19/18 our 2015 Kia Soul was parked in driveway at approx 4:30 pm after arriving home from work, 4 hours later in evening while watching tv at approx 8:33pm we heard a loud pop outside, we both ran to front door to see the Kia Soul front end ingulfed in flames rising so high hitting roof of our garage. I called 911 while backing our other car out of driveway away from flames, while my husband tried to put out fire with extinguser and water hose. The firemen arrived and finished putting out fire but Kia Soul was totaled. Kia dealership in sarasota fl has not offered any help or answers. We went online and see we are not the only ones that have experienced these Kia bursting into flames...the manufacturer has to take responsibility! this is unacceptable! damage to our home was also done melting stucco, charing garage door and cement driveway where car burned. Our home is only 1-1/2 years old!
- Rotonda West, FL, USA
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Soul. While driving at an unknown speed on the highway, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and noticed flames under the hood. The contact exited the vehicle and, within two to three minutes, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was totaled and towed to an unknown lot. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and started an investigation. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
- Warren, TX, USA
Had the transmission serviced after having vehicle in multiple times for the engine vibration on 8/18/2018. Car continued to vibrate. Took car to another dealership to have it looked at. The recommended fuel injection and oil change. I had this work performed in September 2018. Drove vehicle and my oil light came on. Pulled over and noticed car was extremely low on oil. Added oil and drove to find a parts store to have put on a machine and never made it. Car started hesitating and squealing and I pulled over and had it towed. Service mechanic said no way should it be that low on oil after just having serviced a month ago and that oil was very black even after he added some indicating work the last dealership said they did had not been performed. Now needs new motor and unsure where the oil that was in the vehicle went to. Left me on side of road with children and no help yet from Kia other than you need to figure out how to get it to a dealership per their Consumer Affairs person jacob! this was on highway 74 East right outside of sylva,
- Franklin, NC, USA
My car started making a 'bubbling' noise from under the hood when I accelerated. I took it to the Kia dealership they connected it to the computer no codes thrown. Told me nothings wrong. On Wednesday 11/7/18 the bubbling noise was vety loud, then a check engine light came on. Took it to Kia dealership they didn't have time to look at it. Took it to autozone they connected it, it was throwing P0014. I told Kia what code it was throwing they told me it was okay to keep driving it till Friday when they could look at it. Thursday 11/8/18 morning I drove 6.2 miles before the check engine light shut off and the loud knocking in the engine started. Trailered Soul into dealership they told me it dropped a valve but the head was fine. They said it was throwing the P0014 code with no check engine light on, but the ocv was working per Kia mechanic.
- Rowena, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle began to sputter, vibrate, and a knocking noise was present coming from the engine compartment. In addition, the check oil indicator flashed on and off. The contact stopped the vehicle to check the oil and discovered that the oil level was low and the oil was very dark. After adding oil to the engine, the failure continued and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to ed voyles Kia (2145 cobb pkwy SE, smyrna, ga) where it was diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.
- Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Engine idles more rough then when we first bought it, our Kia Soul does now have 30,000 miles but it just seems to idle differently when we first start it in the morning when it is cold the way it starts though and is idling makes the car shake in away that it didn't when we first got
- Bremerton, WA, USA
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Soul. While driving approximately 25 mph, flames appeared within the engine compartment. The contact pulled the vehicle over and exited as flames quickly spread throughout the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The fire was extinguished by the fire department and the police arrived, but no reports were filed. There were no injuries. The contact called boniface hiers Kia at 321-951-9595 (located at 880 S apollo blvd, melbourne, fl 32901) and was informed to call the insurance company. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the failure would be investigated. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
- Palm Bay, FL, USA
I was driving at a slow speed and I noticed a strange noise. I was going up a hill and experienced a loss of power and the noise got worse. I pulled over and saw the oil light flickering below 1500 RPM so I shut it down. I waited a few minutes and checked the oil. The oil was full. I had it towed to a shop to diagnose and they told me an internal engine component has failed and that I would need a new engine. I had it towed to a Kia dealership to confirm. I received the same diagnosis. The car has 65K miles on it and requires a new engine. The car has been maintained and was not neglected. I reached out to Kia for assistance and they are unwilling to assist. They have also discontinued the long block engine replacement so the repair costs more now. There seems to be a shortage of the 2.0L engine so it isn't available from rebuild shops or junkyards. I suspect that the high rate of failure of the 2.0L engine is to blame for the shortage.
- Freedom, PA, USA
Engine started making knocking noise at 79,000 miles. Took it in to dealership and they said I need a new engine. Since I was the second owner, it in not covered under the warranty. Dozens of people are having the same problem with this engine. This recall is long overdue
- Irmo, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle lost power and smoke appeared from the engine compartment. There were no warning indicators illuminated. A police report was not filed. A citizen extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to jim bone Kia (1255 santa rosa ave, santa rosa, ca 95404, 707-545-7050) where it was diagnosed that the engine failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number to the contact. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The VIN was unknown.
- Windsor, CA, USA
8/31/18 my oil light started flickering, acceleration slowed down, almost chugging on interstate 65 North. A 35 minute drive took me a hour and a half because there is no other way to get home but the interstate. 9/1/18 I started the car, drove it a couple miles, going to the dealer, it started knocking, almost stalling, oil light flickering and then died in the middle of the road. Had it towed to Kia of rivergate. 9/5/18 they ask for all my oil change receipts, which I don't have because I get them where ever I have a coupon for.(I am currently trying to back track and get the records) mac, at the dealership) tells me there is "sludge" and this only happens when the maintenance was not done. There was never any problems with the car, when oil changes were done everything checked out every time, no indications about oil, no check engine light, nothing and then this happens without warning. Help!!
- White House, TN, USA
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Soul. While the contact's son was driving 60 mph, smoke appeared from the front of the vehicle, the vehicle stalled, and an abnormal noise was heard. The contact's son exited the vehicle and observed that the bottom of the engine was on fire. Within a matter of minutes, the entire vehicle caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and indicated that the vehicle was a total loss. The vehicle was towed. The cause of the fire was unknown. There were no injuries and no police report was filed. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
- Jonesboro, GA, USA
- North Kingstown, RI, USA