10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 42,589 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.
Engine and brake lights have come on. Engine knocks bad. Vehicles stall when pressing gas. Dangerous driving soecialy going through stop sign. Low power while pressing gas.
- Maxton , NC, USA
Car would not accelerate over 35 mph and started knocking had to pull over to let other vehicles pass. Turned around went back home a 1/2 mile checked alternator current, added 1/2 quart of oil. Started engine knocking continued oil was low again after running engine a few minutes. No smoking from exhaust, no oil in radiator, no dripping or leaking oil.
- Lacey , WA, USA
The car lost power suddenly while I was on highway I had a semi truck almost hit me it's the second time it's happened and I had to replace catalytic converter twice and I just got it back from Kia dealership in hurst tx it's still making the ticking noise I heard after they replaced the catylic converter the first time they also didn't look into finding out why my Kia soul is using so much oil it burns up fast like in three days from an oil change I'm almost out completely I feel like I would like it if you guys could give me a more reliable car I have a child and I can't keep losing all power while on the highway
- Fortworth, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle went into limp mode with reduced speed. The contact stated that while driving approximately 73 MPH the vehicle decelerated to 43 MPH. The vehicle lost power and shut off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where an oil change was performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer; Kia Country of Charleston (2361 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29414, (843)573-2300) where the code was reset. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
- Greensboro, NC, USA
My newly permitted driver was driving when after crossing highway my car all of sudden was halted to an almost complete stop. the motor stalled in the middle of the highway, thankfully no oncoming traffic was coming. I took the vehicle to mechanic and they said i could have a recall on catalytic converter, called dealership and they state that my car was not in the recall. However my car did exactly what the recall states. now i'm looking at anywhere from 2000-3000 to fix my car is only 5 years old with 75,000 miles. I'm a very dissapointed customer as i was looking to purchase the new telluride however I think I will stay clear from all Kia Products. Concerned Customer
- Erath, LA, USA
While sitting in traffic my car began to shake and then stalled and turned off. It was able to restart and then later while driving down the interstate it began to stop accelerating when I pressed the gas. Fortunately I was able to make it to the shoulder from the left lane as car slowed to a stop and the break pedal locked up. The car would not turn on any more. After mechanic inspection, they reported that a piston had melted in the engine and because the oil had dried up, even though the car had its last oil change two months ago.
- Arlington, TX, USA
2016 Kia Soul /w 2.0 liter long block engine. Approximately 85K miles at the time of engine failure due to spontaneous oil loss. Vehicle had been well maintained with regular oil changes. Dealership and Kia corporate refuse to provide any consideration that the failure is due to mfg. Defect despite numerous reported incidents of this exact failure.
- Lawrenceville, GA, USA
I was driving on the freeway at night at about 75 miles an hour on cruise control. I was passing a semi when all the sudden my car down shifted and started losing power. I quickly had to figure out how to deal with this and get off the freeway. I consider myself an experienced driver, but if my kid was driving the car when that happened...
- Waverly, WA, USA
In August of 2020 car was not wanting to accelerate, when making a turn vehicle would start going and then lose momentum followed by a rapid take off in December took vehicle in for software update to trigger a limp mode per Kia, at this time advised them of the car burning 2-3 quarts of oil in between 3000 mile oil changes. January 28th 2021 while driving on freeway the vehicle lost all power and shut completely off. Vehicle came on after a few seconds and advised there was a possible engine condition and to contact Kia. Vehicle came back on and was towed to dealership. Dealership stated there were no codes and after reaching out to Kia the vehicle was released with no changes.
- Warren, MI, USA
When I accelerate my car makes a loud humming noise and will not shift - then when it finally does shift it fluctuates speed and doesn't maintain speed. It's not safe gettin on the expressway or when you change lanes and try to keep up with traffic around you. At first it would be sometimes. Now it is more constant
- Norton, OH, USA
Car burns oil and today lost all power to engineand makes a horrible sound while in motion on town street.
- Sparta, NJ, USA
Driving to work from lunch my car stalled and then completely stopped in the middle of the road. The engine light started flashing and then my car started to move again but it was sluggish and slow. It wont go past 45 miles before slowing all the way down. I had got my car recalled three days before, they said nothing was wrong with the engine/transmission at the time of the recall. Now three day later my cars stuck in limp mode showing a P0326 code.
- Grand Terrace, CA, USA
3/19/2019 vehicle was taken in for loss of power, was told catalytic convertor needed replacing, it was replaced and vehicle was fixed 8/5/2019 vehicle was taken in for loss of power and shifting, was told catalytic convertor needed replacing. There are recalls on 1.6 engine but not 2.0 engine, as I was told, so 4.5 months later I an having to replace the convertor again. Spoke w/Kia seems to be a run around, keep telling me it take 2 - 3 bus days, as of this its been 6 days
- Irving, TX, USA
At first there was a gurgle that started when accelerating. Then the vehicle would stall out when put in drive. Following that, when parked if I turn on and off the A/C the car will accelerate itself, I've only let it reach 4rpm before I shut it off the ignition because it doesn't go down on it's own. I've had it looked at and I was told there was an extreme amount of oil inside my engine and it's just a matter of time till it dies. This problem was recently recalled for engines a year make before mine. But I am having the same issues.
- Rome, GA, USA
On Sunday, May 26th, 2019, our Kia Soul caught fire as we were driving on the interstate highway. My family was in the car when my husband felt the car lose power. We heard a knocking sound between us and under us, forward between our seats and the engine. My husband saw smoke as he pulled over on the side of the highway. A few seconds after we pulled over, we saw flames erupt from the hood of the car. We got our three kids out of the car as fast as we could and ran from the car. We called 911 and the fire department and police came to put out the fire and direct traffic, as at least one lane was closed. In the time it took for the first responders to arrive, our car exploded into a fire ball.
- Bellevue, WA, USA
When I press the gas the voltage is high and amplifier my heart feels as if its going to burst my kids nose bleed and they get sick when air is on the smell is bad in cruise control around certain vehicles is speeds up on its on...I've noticed altered parts and the insurance info is altered my boyfriend [xxx] bought car 11/2019 from Kia of greer only one owner the mileage on papers is wrong and so it is online...I hear someone in and out car at nights boyfriend said leave it alone missing id social birthcertifcates oit dash when running out to see who was at car door was left opened the center of my head burns when driving the vehicle became dizzy 1/2019 almost feel asleep the thing is the vehicle is in his name not mine but insurance has his disabled brother down as primary driver my drivers record is wrong my mother accidents or on mine her phone and breached old email was on the account me and kids are victims of foreign organized crimes... information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Clemson, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. While driving on several occasions, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. On several occasions, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The contact stated that the brakes operated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to cavenaugh Kia (located at 3315 stadium blvd, jonesboro, ar 72404, (870) 802-4451) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code or duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 500.
- Jonesboro, AR, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. While driving various speeds, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. Also, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (spitzer Kia cleveland 3414 brookpark road, cleveland, oh 44134), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The failure occurred randomly. The contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 30. The VIN was not available.
- North Royalton, OH, USA
The accelerator pedal broke in half and somehow stuck on. [xxx] was unable to stop the vehicle and it jumped off a three foot wall, ran through a wooden fence and hit the brick wall of an apartment building. Damage was extensive, but could have been much worse. The 2014 and 2015 models have been recalled for breaking accelerator pedals, however the 2016 has not been included in the recall. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Merriam, KS, USA
- Baton Rouge, LA, USA