10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 8
- Average Mileage:
- 12,391 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.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shaking, vibrating and a loss of motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced but the failure persisted. The contact stated that later while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine) however, the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who informed the contact that the DC-to-DC converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,000.
- O'fallon, MO, USA
My vehicle was stolen.. They broke out window. The problem of kia-??s being stolen has increased to the point local officials have filed a lawsuit against kia. The problem of these cars being easily stolen has been all over the news recently. People are getting killed because of reckless driving by the persons stealing the vehicles. I had no idea my car was vulnerable to this and was told when my engine was replaced, all updates had been made. I am not rich, i have no car and even though i have insurance doesn't mean they will pay off my vehicle. Stolen vehicle report has been made to the police. I have tried to file a clain on the kia claims website but it says theres no recall for my vehicle. It is a 2020 kia soul and has been a nightmare since i bought it.
- Louisville, KY, USA
I purchased this car (Used) on 8/1/2023 and on 8/7/23 I called Kia and stated that the car started shaking while driving and I took the car to the dealership on 8/10 and they stated they could not find any problem, they would have if they had taken it out for a drive. After waiting all day from 9:30 until 4pm they found nothing. I saw my car just sitting there and no one doing any work or anything on my car. My car still shakes so bad while driving that even the steering wheel is shaking and now when I stop at a red light the car takes a few minutes before it will move. I have had this car for a month and 2 weeks and they will not return my calls to setup an appointment. Kia Corporate can't even get them to respond. What can I do to get help with this. I am even afraid to drive this car (2020 Kia Soul). I need some advice on what I need to do. HELP
- Tallahassee, FL, USA
I recently purchased this 2020 Kia Soul at the end of April 2023. About 2 weeks ago while I was stopped for a red light in a busy intersection and the "restart" feature was engaged as I had the brake pedal pressed but then as the light turns green and I move my foot from brake to gas (that step is supposed to restart the engine) it did not start immediatley as it should have, Which left me in the lane of traffic vulnerable to possible accidents until it restarted. It finally started after what seemed to be forever and embarassment caused by the restart failure. This event could have had a different outcome if the car wouldn't have restarted. I am taking the car to the dealer tomorrow to have it inspected. I wasn't that there was even a problem until this happened there were no warning lights. I also recieved a "voucher" in the mail to take with me to the dealer stating that my car is a high risk potential pre existing conditions with mechanical or electrical issues. I have only had this car less than 2 months and am already having issues with it. I think I'm regretting this purchase. There is also a sluggish gear shift in the transmission it does'nt seem to be working properly also an engine knock that wasn't there previously. It's not even due for the first oil change since purchase. Kia shoulkd get it together and stop duping unsuspecting naive first time car buyers like myself.
- Ravenna, OH, USA
On 8/18/22 I had 5 recalls done one being SC209 the pistionoil ring, that was causing it to stall out/die in traffic after the recall it worked fine for a few days then it progressive gotten worse and started using oil, and the oil light no longer worked. Also after a oil change the "alert for due oil change " did not reset I took it back to Kia of chattanooga, (2/22/23) and they proceeded to tell me every other thing that was wrong and did not address the oil leak or the stalling out. They were dismissive of my concerns and told me the engine was full of gunk and it was from improper upkeep which is untrue I tried to explain that the oil change I had done wasnt registering, but I was ignored and so I took my Kia to Goodyear(2/24/23) and had the $800+ in repairs done. Which still did not repair the stalling out. I took it back to Kia on 6/1/23 and they refused to do anything to it saying my warranty was void so I took it back to Goodyear on 6/2/23 had $250+ of more work done and it still did not fix my car. It is now sitting in my parking lot undrivable beccause it will not stay cranked and the engine no longer shifts gears on its on. This is a engine issues and they will not address it because there are not any recalls.
- Fort Oglethorpe, GA, USA
Car subject to theft SEE NHSTA press release Feb. 14, 2003 The press release announced a fix had already been achieved (EMPHASIS ADDED): Hyundai and Kia HAVE developed theft deterrent software for millions of their vehicles that lack an immobilizer and will provide it FREE of charge to vehicle owners Unless your PIO totally muffed, this has been an EXTREMELY SLOW ROLLOUT. Two local dealers deny having any information about by vehicle from Kia. The Kia consumer line is jammed and I have not received any callbacks. Now I have gotten a a threatening letter from my insurer. Get on Kia's ass. This is a safety issue. See "Eight fatalities" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tiktok-hyundai-kia-challenge-car-thefts-security/ Feb. 14 2023
- East Hartford, CT, USA
The car has rebooted (like a computer) three times in the last month as I am driving the car. Not in Park, not just starting the car. I am in drive and the car just reboots. Today, I received a warning about my forward collision system and all the lights on the dashboard lit up.
- Delray Beach, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while reversing the vehicle and depressing the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was rigid and failed to stop the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the brake pedal operated as needed. The contact stated while the vehicle was in park(P), the message to shift to park(P) was displayed. Additionally, the oil pressure and charging warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that the front windshield wipers failed to work intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure persisted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Staten Island, NY, USA
The vehicle stalls and turns off while stopped. The vehicle turns off quickly with all dash light sensors turned on with a front collision warning. The vehicle can only be restarted when is boosted. The battery was checked and is in good working condition.
- Deltona, FL, USA
Recently I noticed when I stop and the stop-start system feature and the Blind-spot sensors are turned on the car will either shut completely off or stall once I step on the gas.
- Hampton , VA, USA
My Kia Soul 2020, the engine lights came up, the parking lights, the right headlights, the rear back right signal lights, the fuel system and the breaks system all of them malfunctioned. The dealer charged for the repairs.
- Rochester, NY, USA
I stopped at stop sign and the car shut off and made a ding sound but radio never disconnected. Not the usual shut off this was different. Then it started but it made an unusual ding sound. Plus, sounds like the transmission is dragging it was a recall and I took the car back for maintenance and now it's doing same thing again plus this time it was whining for about 10 seconds while I was driving.
- Rock Hill, SC, USA
Bought car new in October of 2019 in March 2020 car turned off as I was driving I put it in park turned back on with a loud noise called the shop they said it was low on oil but they just changed the oil 3 weeks prior so they added more oil told me to come back in 30 days and a month later it shut off on me again so I brought it back to the dealership and they determined I needed a new engine so they ordered a new engine and something was wrong with the new engine so they had to order another engine I finally after about 2 months maybe more I got my car back on June 4th I picked up my car and on Monday June 8th I turned on my car and a message about the tire pressure system needed to be checked and the auto shut off light was blinking the ABS light the emergency break light engine light and others were flashing and the steering wheel felt loose and the speedometer was reading 0 while I was driving I left it running and after a while they all shut off and speedometer worked and steering wheel felt fine well yesterday in Friday June 12th I turned the car on at 8am and all the lights were flashing again including the auto of light the speedometer read 0 while I was driving and the steering wheel felt loose again and the tire pressure light and system message came on again I took a video this time brought it back to bev smith Kia and had no car all day until I finally asked about a loaner at 4:30pm was told to go to the dealership to get a loaner waited there for an hour for the loaner but at this point I don't even want the Soul back.
- Fort Pierce, FL, USA
My auto start is defective. It comes on when it wants to and it turns off when it wants to. The manual clearly states this is defective but Kia sent me home saying they could not replicate the problem. Although when I left their service area, within 1 mile it was doing it again. This also causes a delay on the restart. The engine is hesitant to start when it does work. This all started occurring at 21,632 miles after my transmission was replaced. The breaks also now grind or something grinds near the wheels which Kia was not able to replicate either. It is going back in this week at 25,502 miles.
- Saint Clair Shores, MI, USA
My car was purchased brand new off the lot with 28 miles on it. I now have approximately 15614 miles on my 2020 Kia Soul. I just wanted to report that the horn, a major safety feature, intermittently stops working. When the horn stops working it includes the steering wheel depress and the key fob 'locked' signal. Please investigate this as a horn can be the last resort notification someone needs between life or death.
- Galion, OH, USA
- Iowa, LA, USA