2012 Kia Soul

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 514 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 514

Of the 2012 reports, 25 involved a crash and 23 involved a fire. 25 people were injured and 2 people died.

Primary concernEngine209 reports · 41% of complaints
Owner complaints514Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship3 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine209
  2. Steering166
  3. Service brakes46
  4. Other or unspecified39
  5. Electrical system38
  6. Hydraulic34
  7. Engine and engine cooling32
  8. Fuel/propulsion system21

Recalls and investigations

  1. Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

    An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

    Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. EngineFeb 22, 2019

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.

    Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.

    Campaign 19V120000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Structure, body, roof and pillarsDec 29, 2014

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.

    A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.

    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC112.

    Campaign 14V822000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: engine

220 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Engine and engine cooling, Engine, May 17, 2021

    THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS EXCESSIVELY CONSUMING ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER AND STALL WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD THE SPARK PLUGS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD PLACE A REQUEST WITH THE LOCAL DEALER TO PERFORM A FREE OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER DECLINED TO HONOR THE REQUEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

  2. Engine, May 11, 2021

    I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER THAT WAS DATED ON APRIL 6,2021 FROM KIA THAT MY CAR NEEDED TO COME IN FOR UPDATE TO THE ENGINE TO PROTECT FROM EXCESSIVE ROD BEARING DAMAGE. UPON GETTING THE CAR FROM THE COLLEGE CAMPUS AND ON THE WAY TO BRING IT BACK INTO THE AREA TO GET THE WORK DONE, IT BLEW THE ENGINE. KIA IS NOW STATING THAT THEY WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE I WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE CAR THERE TO HAVE THE WORK DONE BEFORE THE DAMAGE HAPPENED. THE ENGINE BLEW ON MAY 1,2021 LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THEIR LETTER WAS DRAFTED. THIS IS A CAR THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEPT UP ON ITS REPAIRS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF THE CAR AND JUST SAID THAT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT MAKING IT IN TO THE SHOP, EVEN THROUGH THAT'S WHERE I WAS GETTING IT TO. THEY IN THEIR LETTER STATE THAT HAD I BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN IT WOULD HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 150,000 MILES, THE CAR ONLY HAS 107,000 ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. EVEN THROUGH THEY SENT A LETTER STATING THAT THEY SOLD ME A CAR WITH FAULTY PARTS NOW THEY WON'T COVER THE DAMAGE. DAMAGE THAT LUCKILY DIDN'T END IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT BUT DID TOTAL MY CAR. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ROD BROKE OFF AND WENT THRU THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE.

  3. Engine, May 5, 2021

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A RATTLING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH SHE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

  4. Steering, Engine, May 3, 2021

    THE ENGINE IS MAKING A TICKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS CLICKING WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO HAD 3 OPEN RECALLS. TOOK IT TO ALL STAR KIA IN SAN BERNARDINO FOR 3 RECALLS AND THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT COMFORTABLE WORKING ON THE CAR, THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE TICKING SOUND WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT DUE TO CATALYTIC COVERTER OVERHEATING IT COULD CAUSE ROD KNOCK. I EVEN TOLD THEM THE RECALL WAS SC176.

  5. Engine, Apr 28, 2021

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE AND LOSE FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 40 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO SOUTHWEST KIA - DALLAS (39650 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY, DALLAS, TX 75237, (972) 283-9797) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CONNECTING ROD FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

  6. Engine, Apr 12, 2021

    VECHICLE STALLED AT A STOP LIGHT ON A BUSY STREET WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR ANY INDICATION ANYTHING WAS HAPPENING. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT GO BY GIVING IT SOME GAS BUT IT WAS STILL SUPER SCARY.

  7. Engine, Apr 7, 2021

    MY VEHICLE'S MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND IT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER OFF AND ON GOING DOWN THE TURNPIKE. SINCE THEN, IT SOMETIMES WON'T START EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO. IT CONTINUES TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL WAS HOOKED UP TO IT, IT BROUGHT UP THE FOLLOWING CODES: P0420 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD), P0336 (CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR "A" CIRCUIT RANGE/PERFORMANCE. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE RELATED TO RECALL #19V120000.

  8. Engine, Mar 30, 2021

    TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON LEVEL HIGHWAY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING STARTED TO SLOW DOWN LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY SPARKS COMING OUT FROM UNDER VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER AND GOT PULLED OVER BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO OIL AND SPARKS UNDER ENGINE COMPARTMENT KIA SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT

  9. Engine, Mar 19, 2021

    AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET, THE CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. ANOTHER MOTORIST HELPED PUSH CAR TO SAFETY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START WITHOUT A JUMP, AND WHEN IT WAS RUNNING, THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND BLINKING. THERE WAS A SMELL COMING FROM THE EXHAUST.

  10. Engine, Mar 12, 2021

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER WERNER KIA (2755 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304, (850) 632-4044) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.*DT*JB

  11. Engine, Mar 10, 2021, fire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE AS AN UNKNOWN COLOR SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE. AS THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD, FLAMES BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE AS TWO FELLOW MOTORISTS ASSISTED HER WITH THROWING A BLANKET OVER THE FLAMES TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND THE AUTHORITIES WERE NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO TOM DOLAN'S RENO KIA(9455 S VIRGINIA ST, RENO, NV 89511) WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT AN ENGINE ROD HAD BLOWN THREW AN ENGINE BLOCK. THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH ENGINE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,402.

  12. Engine, Feb 24, 2021

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. DESPITE THE NOISE, HIS DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL DRIVING AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN HEARING THE KNOCKING NOISE FOR HIMSELF AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED KIA OF GREER (14345 E WADE HAMPTON BLVD, GREER, SC 29651) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT NO REPAIRS COULD BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER APPROVED OF THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.

  13. Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 4, 2021

    WITHIN TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR, IT STALLS WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, ETC., GEARED IN DRIVE AND LOW IDLE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN RESTARTED IT PROCEEDS AT A SLOW CRAWL AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE OR WILL ACCELERATE NORMALLY IN 15 TO 30 SECONDS. HAD OIL, OIL FILTER AND ENGINE AIR FILTER REPLACED BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT STALLS. AFTER SIX TIMES OF DYING AND NOT ACCELERATING, IT IS NOW PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND FEAR IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN ONE WEEK WITH NO PRIOR OPERATION ISSUES. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE FROM OTHER KIA SOUL OWNERS BUT NO RESOLVES, JUST ASTRONOMICAL REPAIR BILLS WITH NO FIXES AND NO HELP FROM KIA, DEALERSHIPS OR THE GOVERNMENT.

  14. Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 30, 2021

    IN 2018 I KNOWN MY 2012 SOUL 1.6L CONSUME TOO MUCH ENGINE OIL ABOUT 1QT FOR 1,000 MILES. I TOLD IT THE KIA ENGINEER. BUT THE ENGINEER SAID, IT IS CAUSED BY MILEAGE OVER 140,000. I HAD ADDED ENGINE OIL PRETTY OFTEN. I VISITED THE KIA A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER FOR ENGINE STALLING AND AND EXTRA OIL CONSUMING. I ASKED FOR RECALL 19V120000. BUT THEY SAID IT IS NOT FOR MY CAR. THEY TOLD OTHER REPAIR ABOUT $ 400 INSTEAD.

  15. Engine, Jan 27, 2021, fire

    THE ENGINE MADE A POPPING SOUND AND BURST INTO FLAMES.

  16. Electrical system, Engine, Jan 7, 2021

    UPON MY LAST SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME MY OIL WAS LOW. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME EVER HAVING TO ADD OIL. I CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE ISSUE. LAST WEEK WE DROVE THE CAR APPROX 50 MILES HOME. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE ENGINE IS GONE. THE CAR HAS 97,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED MYSELF FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS USING SYNTHETIC OIL.

  17. Engine, Dec 12, 2020

    ON NOV 30TH 2020 MY 2012 KIA SOUL BROKE DOWN AT ABOUT 8:00 PM ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY HEADED SOUTH ON 16 TOWARDS TACOMA. I HAD TO HAVE AAA TOW IT TO MY EX HUSBAND'S HOUSE. IM NOT FAMILIAR WITH CARS BUT HAD JUST PUT OIL IN IT AND GET REGULAR CHECK UPS BUT TO ME IT SOUNDED LIKE MY ENGINE BLEW. I COULD BARELY GET OFF THE HIGHWAY ENOUGH SO I WASN'T HIT BY PASSING TRUCKS. I WASN'T TURNING BUT I WAS GOING 60 MPH WHICH WAS THE SPEED LIMIT. I HAVR DOCUMENTATION OF AAA PICKING IT UP BUT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I'VE BEEN FINDING RIDES TO WORK SINCE THIS HAPPENED

  18. Engine, Dec 9, 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AND THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER TROPHY KIA OF CARSON LOCATED AT 22020 RECREATION RD, CARSON, CA 90745, WHO RESET THE ENGINE SOFTWARE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE ENGINE LATER EXPERIENCED A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

  19. Engine, Nov 9, 2020, fire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL TICKING SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED ALSO WITHOUT WARNING. UPON RESTART OF THE ENGINE, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS ALERTED BY A FELLOW MOTORIST THAT HER VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE(FIRE ORIGIN UNKNOWN). THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE CONTACT'S MOTHER BELIEVED THAT A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED BUT WAS NOT CERTAIN; NO INJURIES WERE SUFFERED DUE TO THE FIRE. DUE TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AT THE SCENE AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

  20. Engine, Oct 6, 2020

    MY KIA SOUL 2012 HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEM A WITH OVER THE LIMIT OIL CONSUMPTION THAT STARTED IN 2015. IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IN CROWN KIA WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR SAID THAT I CAN CHANGE OIL ON EVERY 5000 MILES. OVER TIME IT STARTED BURNING MORE AND MORE OIL THAT IT WAS NEEDED TO ADD AND CHANGE OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. REPUTABLE MECHANIC IN THE AREA TOLD ME KIA SOUL HAVE THAT DEFECT OF BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL AND IT WAS DUE TO DEFECTED VALVE GUIDES AND PISTON RINGS.

  21. Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 17, 2020

    WHILE DRIVING CAR IS RANDOMLY STALLING . VISITED SEVERAL SERVICE INCLUDE KIA SERVICE AS WELL NOBODY KNOWS WHATS WRONG. IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN DURING DRIVING THE CAR JUST STALLS ALL OF THE SUDDEN.

  22. Engine, Sep 10, 2020

    ON OR ABOUT JUNE 27, 2013, I HAD ABOUT 58,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND WHILE ON THE FREEWAY I NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION AND THEN A LIGHT KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I HAD THE CODE READ AND IT IDICATED THAT THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS BAD. I HAD IT REPLACED AND STILL HAD THE KNOCKING NIOSE AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. HAD THE CODE READ AGAIN AND IT IDICATED THAT IT WAS THE KNOCK SENSOR, SO I REPLACED IT AGAIN. ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT BUT THE KNOCKING CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THEN IT STARTED STALLING AT STOPS, ALSO ENGINE WAS RUNNING ODD AND NOT HAVING POWER. ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THIS TIME THE CODE INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE CRANK SENSOR. I REPLACED IT AND THE ODD RUNNING STOPPED. THE ENGINE STILL STALLS ON OCCASION IT STALLS EVEN WHILE DRIVING. I'VE HAD BOTH RECALLS COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE, AND WAS TOLD BY: ARAPAHOE KIA, (9701 E ARAPAHOE RD, CENTENNIAL, CO 80112) AFTER THE CATALITIC CONVERTER RECALL WAS COMPLETED, THAT I SHOULD GET THE ENGINE FLUSHED AND IF IT STILL CONTINUED, I HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED AT MY COST. TO SAY THE LEAST, THAT AFTER 241,436 MILES, IT IS STILL KNOCKING, USING OIL. I THINK THE CATALITIC CONVERTER HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT YOU KNOW HOW DEALERSHIPS TREAT CUSTOMERS, LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. I'M A MECHICAL ENGINEER INSPECTOR, SO GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR KIA SOULS, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL 1.6L ENGINES.

  23. Engine, Aug 17, 2020

    7/22/20 - CAR DRIVEN TO FIRESTONE STORE #005738, NEWPORT, KY TO PURCHASE 2 NEW TIRES AND AN ENGINE COURTESY CHECK WAS PERFORMED - FIRESTONE ID #7046930 - NO ENGINE LIGHTS, NO SAFETY WARNINGS, MILEAGE 77,071 MILES ON CAR. 7/27/20 - THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN - CAR WAS TOWED TO FIRESTONE, MASON, OH. 7/29/20 - THEY EXAMINED THE CAR, MILEAGE 77,398. THE ENGINE HAD A ROD BLOW THROUGH THE OIL PAN CAUSING ALL OF THE OIL TO DRAIN FROM THE CAR. THEY ALSO RAN A DIAGNOSITC ON THE CAR AND THE MECHANIC GOT A READING OF CODES: P0300 - RANDOM MULTIPLE PISTONS MIS FIRE, P0303 - CYLANDER #3 MIS FIRING. THIS IS SIMILAR TO A CURRENT RECALL ON 2012-2016 KIA SOULS - RECALL #19V120000. [VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.6LGASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION (GDI) ENGINES. HIGH EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURES MAY DAMAGE CALYTIC CONVERTER POSSIBLY RESUTLING IN ABNORMAL ENGINE COMBUSTION AND DAMAGE TO ONE OR MORE OF THE ENGINE'S PISTONS AND POSSIBLE PISTON CONNECTING ROD FAILURE.] PER KIA, CONSEQUENCES OF THIS POSSIBLE CONVERTER FAILURE CAN CAUSE THE ROD TO PUNCTURE THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE OIL TO DRAIN OUT. WE CHECKED WITH THE RECALL SITE TO VERIFY IF THE VEHICLE VIN# WAS LISTED FOR THE RECALL. THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY BECUASE THE P0420 CODE DID NOT DISPLAY. THEY DID NOT VISUALLY INSPECT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR COULD NOT RUN A HEAT TEST ON THE ENGINE SINCE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RUN. WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THIS VEHICLE BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE RECALL BECUASE WHAT HAPPEND TO OUR VEHICLE IS THE SAME AS WHAT HAPPENS TO VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE RECALL.

  24. Engine, Aug 11, 2020

    I DISCOVERED THIS RECALL (SC176) (19V120) ONLINE AND WAS NEVER CONTACTED BY THE MANUFACTURE. THE ENGINE THROUGH A PISTON ROD JUST AS THE RECALL STATES THAT COULD HAPPEN AND IT DID. WE REGULARLY CHANGED THE OIL AND KIA IS NOT GOING TO HONOR THIS RECALL.

  25. Steering, Engine, Aug 3, 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVE AND WHEN MAKING TURNS AND GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.