10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,959 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #45

Jun 072023

Soul

  • miles
Owner was driving vehicle coming off of a highway onto sideroad when vehicle suddenly made a loud banging and grinding engine sound and engine quit immediately. Luckily able to drift over to shoulder and call tow truck. Vehicle towed to dealership. Dealership claimed vehicle was made in Mexico and therefore not covered by any recall. No forewarning by any dashboard lights. Owner needed a vehicle immediately for work and bought a brand new seltos the next day, then dealership refused to take soul as a trade in and so it remains unrepaired in the yard. It is able to be seen. I believe it should have been repaired or bought back by dealership. I feel like I was taken advantage of and lied to by the dealership

- Moriarty, NM, USA

problem #44

Mar 122024

Soul

  • 50,045 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. In addition, the contact stated that the oil needed to be added to the engine every 3,000 miles. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that an oil consumption test was performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer every three months, however the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,045.

- Bartlesville, OK, USA

problem #43

Feb 242025

Soul

  • miles
Engine died on the highway. All of the warning light lit up before the car stalled and eventually died.

- Dundalk, MD, USA

problem #42

Aug 092023

Soul

  • miles
I-??ve always had increased oil consumption since I-??ve bought the car new. Pistons have been miss firing for over 2 years. I keep getting a P0020 code Kia had -??replaced-?? catalytic converter, believing that was the issue and it wasn-??t. Now I have a motor that-??s not working properly.

- Leland, NC, USA

problem #41

Sep 262024

Soul

  • miles
My engine through a rod on approximately 9/26/24. I had it towed to Garden Grove Kia. They said they needed to contact Kia Corporate to find out if my car was still under warranty. Corporate acknowledged that there was a recall for the rod bearing that could cause a fire (safety issue). I was also told that there was a class action lawsuit. Corporate informed me that I was notified by mail. Which never happened. And said that it would cost me $500 dollars for them to diagnostic. That my warranty expired at 60,000 miles! They also said had I got the update for that recall that it would have been covered. When I bought the Vehicle on 8/21/22 from Russell Westbrook Hyundai they reassured me that the 2019 Kia Soul had zero recalls. Any paperwork I received about this was given to me after the class action lawsuit. The dates to take action were already expired. I have tried to get my Kia diagnosed by several shops and they can't diagnosis because Kia is not complying with OBD2 readers. I have been told by several mechanics that Kia has there own diagnostic reader. According to the settlement I am entitled to have them diagnos my Kia at no cost to me.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #40

Oct 052022

Soul

  • miles
At 60000 miles the transmission started slipping dealer said it was perfect no problems around 5000 miles later it started using oil I took it to Kia and they kept putting in oil and telling me there is nothing wrong with it I took it to another mechanic and he informed me the oil was leaking into the motor the Kia dealership said that it normal for it to use oil the car was using 2 quarts of oil every time I would fill it with gas it got worse and the mechanic told me the catalytic was clogging up and it wasn-??t going to last too much longer so I had to park it the dealership kept telling me that they needed to do a test and I had to drive it more and kept putting off the test with excuses til I got to the end of the warranty which was 100000 miles it is undrivable now

- Desert Hot Springs, CA, USA

problem #39

Jan 112025

Soul

  • miles
My engine is using excessive oil consumption and want to know if my gas direct injection system is covered under manufacturer or a dealer.

- Georgetown , SC, USA

problem #38

Jan 092025

Soul

  • miles
I am not the original owner but after changing my oil on 10/05/24 I have had to add oil on three different times, twice I myself put oil into my car and oil change at Valvoline instant oil change and other added quart today and all between 98,219 to 99,967 mileage,

- Georgetown , SC, USA

problem #37

Dec 142024

Soul

  • miles
The systems that failed while I was driving in the White Mountains of NH on [XXX] is my Kia Soul 2019 vehicle engine with 124,000 miles currently on my Kia Soul which I purchased brand new 02/2019 from a Kia dealership and some sort of vehicle belt that made my vehicle-??s car swerve on the highway as I used my car brakes. The belt slipped forward and made the vehicle swerve each time I used my brakes while driving. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety, my husband [XXX] -??s and other drivers who drove near our car drive are at significant safety risk. This is a very secluded part of [XXX] that has very little reliable cell phone towers to call road side assistance for help and nearly zero breakdown lanes to safely pull off the highway when my motor vehicle suddenly lost adequate engine power to drive while suddenly experiencing vehicle belt issues that effected my vehicle-??s braking abilities making my car-??s belt slip forward and my car to swerve as I used the vehicle-??s brakes. My vehicles engine is failing and my vehicle-??s brakes are compromised. These two issues put my husband [XXX] and I-??s physical safety at significant risk as well as other individuals physical safety at significant risk as we attempted to drive ourselves to safety on a secluded area of [XXX]. My car was towed by Adler Towing to my house and brought to Hawthorne Automotive in Franklin, NH near my homes address to be evaluated by an independent service center. It has been confirmed to have catastrophic engine failure and belt issues that need replacing. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives or others. My check engine light came on just prior to the failure. Hawthorne put an additive into the gas tank that cleaned a partially clogged catalytic converter shortly beforehand. The check engine light went off at that point. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Franklin, NH, USA

problem #36

Nov 252022

Soul

  • miles
Have been using 2-3 quarts of oil a week also lost power could not get it to run took it to the mechanic again he informed me the catalytic is going bad and as much oil as it is going through it might blow at any time

- Desert Hot Springs , CA, USA

problem #35

Dec 122024

Soul

  • miles
My 2017 KIA Soul failed while going 70 on the highway, almost completely lost power. Pull over to the side of the road to check the issue. Checked the oil, and it was down to less than a quart. There was no indicator light to bring attention to this issue. Brought it into the dealership after returning home. The Soul was completely unsafe to drive due to engine knocks. Despite letting the dealership know of the Oil Lamp issue, they are still refusing to do anything about this issue, even charging me six thousand to only fix the symptoms. I wasn-??t the only person to experience this issue, moving me to make this complaint. In summary: Oil was low due to oil burning, the Soul never indicated as such, no oil pressure, completely lost power at accelerated speeds, and now the bearings in the motor are destroyed with no help from KIA company. Contact the KIA Dealership in Boardman for more information in regards to a detailed list of part failures in regards to the Soul.

- Struthers, OH, USA

problem #34

Nov 272024

Soul

  • miles
My Kia 2019 soul has been giving me several problems with the engine jerking and the light coming on and then goes off and then come on I had it diagnosed several times even when I first got it and they said it was nothing wrong but I can tell it was something wrong it just like revs up or jerk or have these issues when I drive like it didn't want to pull but I kept asking and asking is something wrong with this car when I purchase it at Clay Cooley in Irving Texas they told me no they checked it out gave me a rental now I just bought that car in May of 2021 and they told me it wasn't nothing wrong the person that had it before me only had it a year and I didn't get no report on it about it but I do think it had some engine issues but they didn't give me no history of it they just say you buy it as is but I kept telling him I did not like the way the car was driving I wanted to replace it they ignored me and my calls I wanted to replace the key now I heard it is 2024 the light is still on and everywhere I went they will change my transmission in 2022 now I just got the car 2021 of me and they were saying the transmission burnt out now how can a transmission burnt out when they supposed to have checked the car when I bought it in 21 I wanted to give up this car and I wanted to replace it they never did do that. Now here it is I'm suffering with oxygen sensor and they said the Cadillac converter which wasn't the Cadillac converter cuz they said this is a new car how can it be the Cadillac converter I told him I think it was the sensor everybody saw on the cold day was not the oxygen sensor now here it is it's very bad where now I'm having issues also they was I had it checked another time where the man said I was using a lot of oil and he said the oil must be leaking and he checking it wasn't now it seems like it's leaking oil because I keep have to use six quarts of oil every 2 to 3 days I'm using oil but I don't like this car never did I ain't had it that long and I

- Plano , TX, USA

problem #33

Sep 212024

Soul

  • miles
There is white smoke coming out of the tailpipe. The car is running in distress. We changed the spark plugs because there was oil on the original spark plugs. We took the car to Auto Zone for engine diagnosis. Their tests report Ignition coil failure in the power train system.. They report cylinder 2 misfire detected. They also diagnosed that the left rear vehicle speed sensor failed in the anti-lock brake system.

- Nacogdoches, TX, USA

problem #32

Aug 082024

Soul

  • miles
I was driving home from work on the highway. The check engine light came on. I made a mental note to tell my son, who is a mechanic. The engine stalled out. I had enough momentum to take the exit from the highway and turn onto a side street before the car quit rolling. A helpful dog walker informed me that it wouldn't restart because it was on fire underneath. Luckily, superman drove by and put the fire out before the vehicle or even the engine were fully engulfed. My son & friend (also a mechanic) arrived and peered at the engine... their opinion was that oil on the catalytic converter started the fire. The car has been towed to their shop while I investigate my options.

- Grandview , MO, USA

problem #31

Jun 272024

Soul

  • miles
On [XXX], I was driving home from Tampa bay International Airport and noticed that I get less acceleration and my car shut off while driving and caused me to crash into a guardrail. Before accident, told Kia about my car shutting off and right when warrant ran out, parts would fail. Had to buy a sensor, alternator (70,000 miles). Also catalytic converter (81,000). Six months later after I bought alternator, alternator and battery (1 year old) died at the same time. I am lucky that this accident did not heart me or others. It could of happened in front of a truck. There were no warning lights on dash board. Seatbelt light was on even though I was wearing seatbelt. Brought car to Kia dealership and did least amount of checking. Had two independent mechanics look at it with one saying to be careful of Kias because they are the most in his shop. My insurance look at the vehicle. Vehicle is in Geico site in Sarasota, told me anyone can go and look at the car. Will attach Geico claim; if past maintenance records are needed let me know. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

problem #30

Mar 142024

Soul

  • miles
Catalytic converter to be replaced at 94.000 miles following check engine light.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #29

Nov 242023

Soul

  • 136,779 miles
Last year my car started knocking and there was a smoldering smell. I expected Kia to consider the function of the rod knock sensor which caused P1326code. I advised capitol kia of both knocking noises and a significant burning smell. Per an extended warranty, if the rod bearings go bad, then the engine should be replaced. Capitol Kia avoided the latter and was not fully compliant with maintaining driver's safety. Only the rod knock sensor was replaced replaced, and the sensor shows bad rod bearings over and over and over ( 3 times ) Due to incompetence at Capitol Kia, Steven's Creek Kia checked on the second event and another RBCT was done to justify it's Kia's position that the rod bearings are functional. So Far, have been sent away twice, pending a now 3rd.. The sensor was replaced 3 weeks ago and I only drove the car two weeks before a new P1326 rod bearing code was shown just last week. Well knowing that the Rod Knock senor is designed to place the car into limp mode to circumvent catastrophe, it behooves the company, on behalf of consumer safety; and, integrity to NHTSA safety, to visually inspect the rod bearings to assure consumer confidence. This is especially after multiple rod knock sensor issues. Given that Rod bearing problems can cause catastrophic injury to the driver, the NHTSA needs to mandate the company to visually inspect the bearings and show the consumer pictorial evidence of a clearly unworn rod bearing per incident, after an initial knock sensor change. All evidence as such should be faithfully tracked by Kia and the NHTSA. This is especially as Kia is using a test to indicate normal functioning for bearings assumed to be among a lot of defective bearings. It follows logically that rod bearings which pass a RBCT ( Rod Bearing Clearance Test ), after a code is found, will be functioning just short of causing a catastrophic event. It should be noted that the warranty is to maintain consumer safety not to facilitate new events by default.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #28

Feb 132024

Soul

  • miles
Dct transmission, actuators. Design flaw. Electrical problems.

- Apopka, FL, USA

problem #27

Feb 032024

Soul

  • miles
Driving on the freeway car brakes don-??t work, first oil light blinking a very loud noise like metal scraping and all the lights turned on very dangerous situation was able to pulled over until car stopped. Kia dealer knows about all the problems car still under guaranty and they ignore the problem.

- Indian Trial , NC, USA

problem #26

Feb 132022

Soul

  • miles
UNKNOWN Car accident in 2022 that impacted the front and driver side of the vehicle. Air bags did not deploy as it was a pretty bad accident. The light of the air bag would be on stating that it was not on and then go off completely in different situations. Never once did I receive a letters from the manufacturer stating the recall.

- Lakewood, WA, USA

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