10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 7
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 40,941 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
I was driving my 2018 Kia Soul with 89,000 miles on it and engine made a rattle noise immediately followed by a loud clunk noise out of the blue. Driving approximately 50 mph and had been driving for about 20 minutes, after the noise the engine immediately dies. I coast into the shoulder of the road and the engine is lightly smoking at this point. I had the vehicle towed to the Kia dealership where they tell me the engine is blown and needs to be replaced, the shop manager also states that the 2018 Kia Soul should have an engine recall in his opinion because he stated that the engine the 2018 Soul uses is the same engine that is in other Kia vehicles with recalls on their engine. I have religiously performed all recommended maintenance and oil changes at manufactures prescribed time.
- Annapolis, MD, USA
Was driving on a main road and the car just stopped. It gave no warnings or made no notices. It just stopped working. I had to push the vehicle to a safe area and called aaa to come and tow the car to my home. My husband went to start it and said battery wasn't good so we bought a new one, then he states the starter was bad so we replaced it, then we finally got it to start only to hear the car make a loud slapping sound. The car doesn't drive and the engine has failed. I am the second owner so the warranty just ran out. I have only had the car for 18 months. I have taken it to have oil changes and keep it clean. I have taken really great care for the car and I can't understand why it needs a new engine, when it's a 2018 Kia. Engines should last a long time.
- Saint George, UT, USA
The check engine light comes on with engine control systems as the cause of the issue I have had it to the dealer 5 times now. Still on for the 6th time now!!!! I was told that the recall would fix this and it has not
- Buffalo, NY, USA
I was driving my Kia 2018 Soul to my job going around 55 an hour and I heard a loud clink in the engine, the vehicle just got fixed from hitting a deer and pasted inspection. Everything done on it was cometic and was not due for an oil change for another 1,500 miles. It completely broke down was towed back to who repaired it and the engine is completely destroyed and will need to be replace. I only had it a year and it only has 73,000 miles on it. I am now out a vehicle as I cannot afford a new engine and always got an oil change before the recommend time and mileage. This is not an issue a vechile should have in the condition it is in!!!!
- Hornell, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her son was driving 60 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to her son's apartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer Kia of South austin (5306 S ih 35 frontage rd, austin, tx 78745, (512) 444-6635) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
I was driving on the highway for about 5 mins and my Kia Soul made a rattling noise than 200 ft later my car was on the side of the road and the engine is gone according to Kia dealership and gave no warning ⚠️ lights on the dash and engine just cut off
- San Antonio, TX, USA
Mileage 68000 - ticking noise began approximately 5 days before the engine failure. The vehicle was then parked for two days (for the holiday). Two days later, while driving the vehicle, the check engine light came on. Took to mechanic and ran code and performed an oil change. Noise changed immediately to knocking and squeaking and car died while driving home. Towed vehicle to dealership and was informed that the rods either broke, blew, or were going to, and a new motor was necessary. My vehicle has the 2.0L motor that is subject to many other recalls and issues but yet not on the radar of the authorities. I've only had this car for less than 10 months and approximately 20,000 highway miles, and just outside the warranty period.
- Eudora, KS, USA
2018 Kia Soul #3 piston and connecting rod shattered within 1.5 blocks of initial knocking detection when trying to pull into a parking lot off of the street.. the motor seized and caused the vehicle to stop and almost being rear ended by other drivers.
- Lake Elsinore, CA, USA
I was driving my 2018 Kia Soul on madison hwy in valdosta, ga.L saw smoke coming out my hood so I was able to pull into a convenient store ! the people in the store came running out with fire extinguishers and we were able to put out the fire.
- Valdosta, GA, USA
While driving the vehicle to work, vehicle came to a complete stop and would not turn on. At first thought it was the battery but the tow truck charged the battery and when started the rods were knocking. We towed to the dealership, regal Kia and they diagnosed my car for needing a whole new engine. If we were to drive the vehicle any further the engine would blow. Oil change was just a month before at the regal Kia dealership so it wasn't due to low oil. The 2018 Kia Soul had 61,000 miles at it and engine was ruined.
- Mulberry, FL, USA
I got told by a Kia mecanic well at least seen it on my dash cam that I am sol that my ticking problem is an engine defect on Kia's part that is causing engine issues as well as somehow making my enginerev extremely high while starting up and sometimes throughout the day to the point if I don't have my brakes on I will go through a wall. That's a mention something is wrong with the air condition unit/heater that the heater will blow extremely hot so hot that the vents become pliable and the air conditioner and won't come on unless I start messing with buttons off and on often on high and low high and low.I have been in to Kia motors five times for the issue
- Vancouver, WA, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, an abnormal noise was present without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (Kia of muncie 6732 w hometown blvd, muncie, in 47304) where it was diagnosed and determined that that the engine roid failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
- Muncie, IN, USA
On 7/8/20, my car made a very loud noise and shut off on me. No sensors, no lights came on. I had it towed to the Kia in which I purchased it from, and they told me my engine blew. My warranty was suppose to cover the repairs but they are refusing to cover the repair.
- Xenia, OH, USA
My check engine light came on and every time I took it in for service I was told I used bad gas and to change the gas. I was even told the computer on my car needed to be updated and until then the check engine light would come on and may not go out. My car stopped in the middle of the street and wouldn't move.
- Ft Myers, FL, USA
City street. Was test driving this vehicle when it caught fire at the lower back end of the engine.
- Veneta, OR, USA
The car was parked in a public parking lot, with no one around it, when the engine caught fire and destroyed the engine compartment. Fire inspector stated cause of the fire could not be determined.
- Whitakers, NC, USA
From a stop, the vehicle has a significant hesitation pulling away from a stop sign/redlight etc. As you pushing the gas pedal down, it hesitates then accelerates hard. Has 340 miles on it at this time. Dealer and Kia state this is normal for the new transmission/turbo design. Even the service manager was shocked when he drove it saying he would not have bought it. I would think this problem could be resolved with a programming update. My concern for safety is to part: 1st, anticipating the vehicle may go when in fact it hesitated to pull off creates an anticipation event. 2nd, the hard acceleration when it engages could result in rear-ending someone. The attached documents represent the work order and description of the new transmission. This is a bulletin explaining the drivability concerns, however, it does not reflect the hesitation issue.
- Mauldin, SC, USA
- An\Napolis, MD, USA