5.3

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
31,200 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
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problem #3

Feb 252020

Soul + 2.0L Gdi Dohc

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,500 miles

Bought this car used in August of 2018 with 28k miles. Loved the car for about a year or so. Almost every time I start my car in the morning when it's cold outside (usually under 40 degrees F), the engine idles roughly (sounds like marbles in a blender) and then starts knocking. It's a faint knock, like a quickened tap-tap-tap-tap and then it gets louder and louder as the car heats up. The knocking persists for 10-15 minutes depending on how long the car's been sitting for.

I took it to the dealership on the 1st occurrence and they couldn't replicate it but said it was most likely a piston slap. The service guy offered to keep the car at the dealership overnight and then start it up in the morning. Uh, no. I need a car in the morning as I need to take my family members to their appointments. He then said if they DO determine that I need a new engine, it will not be covered under warranty because the warranty only applies to the 1.6 GDI engines. Are you f*cking kidding me?! The car isn't even that old (4.5 years) and the mileage is fairly low. I don't really know what to do at this point, because I don't have $5,000 laying around to replace the engine.

I've read about these Kia/Hyundai engines leaving the factory with defective engines, and mine is one of those. Won't be buying another Korean car because they're so poorly manufactured. Corporate hasn't done squat about it. People work hard for their money and don't deserve to get ripped off by these companies. NOT COOL!!!!

- Cameron B., Bremerton, WA, US

problem #2

Oct 252016

Soul LX 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles

My car has had a rough idle for years, and I keep calling the dealer (different dealers) and they all tell me the same thing, that it is just the engine. It is a small engine and that's how it is.

One of my friends just told me about the engine failure on these cars and now I'm even more freaked out.

- Darcy F., Hillsborough, US

problem #1

Jan 052016

Soul

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,000 miles

I don't get good gas mileage at all...to make things worse, at idle the engine is rough, and to accelerate is too sluggish. Dealership says it is normal and expected....not normal to me and at the cost of the vehicle, not expected!

- Josie S., West Palm Beach, FL, US