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.
Of the 2012 reports, 25 involved a crash and 23 involved a fire. 25 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
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
Engine, Nov 23, 2019
I BOUGHT A USED CAR A MONTH AGO. THE CAR IS THE 2012 KIA SOUL. PERSONALLY, I LOVE THIS CAR. THE DESIGN IS PRETTY AND I LIKE IT SO MUCH. BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE CAR'S ENGINE IS A 1.6 GDI ENGINE. THIS IS A CAR MADE IN A KOREAN FACTORY. IT RAN 119,800 MILES. ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE IS VERY SERIOUS. THE KNOCKING SOUND WAS VERY LOUD. I CHANGED THE ENGINE OIL ABOUT 50 DAYS AGO. AND I RAN ABOUT 1,000 MILES. I CHECKED THE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL TODAY. ENGINE OIL HAS BEEN REDUCED BY ABOUT 1 LITER. I WAS SURPRISED. IF I HADN'T CHECKED, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. I SAW A LOT OF NEWS ABOUT THE ENGINE OF THIS CAR IN KOREA. ALREADY, THE MINISTRY OF LAND, INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT OF THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT HAS DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND TESTING ON THE ENGINE OF THE CAR. THEY FOUND THAT ENGINE OIL DECREASED A LOT, AND KIA MOTORS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS. I'M AFRAID THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY STOP ON THE STREET DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. I WANT MY FAMILY TO BE SAFE. I CONTACTED AMERICAN KIA MOTORS. THEY ONLY SAY THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IF SO, SHOULD I JUST CONTINUE TO RIDE THIS CAR AT RISK? AND I LIVE IN HAWAII. BY THE WAY, THE KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER TELLS ME TO GO TO ANOTHER ISLAND, HONOLULU, FOR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, I HAVE TO SHIP THIS CAR AND I HAVE TO TAKE A PLANE. BUT WHAT IF THE VEHICLE TAKES SEVERAL DAYS TO INSPECT? I THINK KIA SHOULD RESPOND WISELY AND QUICKLY.
Engine, Nov 21, 2019
IT'S ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD, BUT IT LEAKS ENGINE OIL AND A VERY LARGE METAL BUMP AND KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT CAN BE HEARD VERY LOUD EVEN OUTSIDE THE CAR. I'M VERY WORRIED IF THE ENGINE IS ON FIRE OR IF IT STOPS SUDDENLY. IN KOREA, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. I WANT TO BE SOLVED WELL IN THE U.S.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 7, 2019, crash
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, AND ALL THE LIGHTS LINING THE FREEWAY WERE OUT. IT WAS PITCH BLACK, AND A COW HAD MADE ITS WAY INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SENT INTO THE AIR, AND FLEW RIGHT INTO MY CAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ONE OF ADOT'S FENCES WERE DOWN THAT WAS CONTAINING CATTLE. I WAS IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS, ALONG WITH MULTIPLE OTHER VEHICLES. I FILED A POLICE REPORT AND HAVE THAT CASE NUMBER AS WELL. I HAVE PHOTO AND VIDEO EVIDENCE PROOF.
Engine, Nov 3, 2019
IN MARCH 2019, VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING NOISE AND WAS BROUGHT IN TO KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT . WAS TOLD THAT OIL WAS UNEXPECTEDLY LOW DESPITE LAST OIL CHANGE IN NOVEMBER 2018 AND MILEAGE/USE OF VEHICLE WAS MUCH LOWER THAN NORMAL DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. IN OCTOBER 2019, VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING SAME NOISE AND BEFORE IT COULD BE TAKEN IN, VEHICLE STOPPED FUNCTIONING MID-TRAFFIC DURING LEFT HAND TURN ON TO A SIDE ROAD FROM A 45 MPH STATE HIGHWAY. BROUGHT AGAIN TO SAME KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. TECHNICIAN REPORTED ON DIAGNOSIS REPORT THAT "OIL LEVEL SEEMED LOW (ADDED 1 QUART)" AND VERBALLY REPORTED BY PHONE THAT ENGINE HAS UNREPAIRABLE DAMAGE AND ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE QUOTED $6,000-$7,000 BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE ENGINE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY UNUSABLE AFTER BEING AN EXTREMELY RELIABLE VEHICLE REQUIRING ONLY REGULAR AND USUAL MAINTENANCE UNTIL MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
Engine, Oct 23, 2019, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED RUSTY WALLACE KIA OF KNOXVILLE (701 CALLAHAN DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37912, (865) 688-8886) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MISSED THE APPOINTMENT. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE HER HUSBAND AND SON NOTICED A HOLE IN PISTON NUMBER TWO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STILL REMAINED AT THE SAME DEALER WHERE THEY FAILED TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13379468. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.
Engine, Oct 21, 2019
BEFORE TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL IT WAS BURNING OIL. IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY EMPTY AFTER JUST 2000 MILES OF GETTING MY OIL CHANGE. I TOOK IT IN TO GET THE RECALL FIXED. THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER AS WELL AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT STILL CONTINUES TO BURN THE OIL THE SAME AS IT DID BEFORE. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ESPECIALLY SINCE IT HAS 123000 MILES NOW.
Engine, Oct 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,633.
Electrical system, Engine, Oct 6, 2019
CAR IS JERKING/BUCKING AND MISFIRING WHILE IDLE AND WHEN DRIVING IT JERKS. CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY TURNS ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN.
Engine, Sep 16, 2019
WHILE DRIVING TO A FAMILY FUNCTION IN KENTUCKY OUR 2012 KIA SOUL STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD CLACKING NOISE AS IT TRIED TO MAINTAIN THE 55MPH SPEED LIMIT WHILE GOING UPHILL. WHEN WE PULLED OFF WE CHECKED OIL LEVELS AND CHECKED THE NOISE, IT WAS MUCH LOUDER THAN THE LIFTER NOISES AND SEEMED TO BE A POSSIBLE ROD ISSUE. AFTER PAYING FOR A TOW WE CONTACTED THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN PIKEVILLE AND WAS TOLD THAT OUR KIA SOUL WAS NOT UNDER THEIR RECALL. IF THE 1.6L GDI ENGINE IS RECALLED FOR ANY MODEL IN THIS MODEL YEAR SHOULD IT NOT BE APPLIED TO ALL MODELS? KIA DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO HELP IN ANY WAY.
Engine, Sep 4, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT'S COMPANY OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY BE PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE COMPANY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPANY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR COST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE THREE OTHER KIA SOULS WITH THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FULLY REPLACED THE ENGINE IN ANOTHER KIA SOUL AT NO CHARGE, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ENGINES IN THE OTHER THREE VEHICLES PER THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Engine, Sep 3, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE BURNING FUEL EXCESSIVELY ONCE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND RECEIVED VARIOUS ESTIMATES ON THE REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED KEARNY MESA KIA (7303 CLAIREMONT MESA BLVD, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111, 858-223-3131), BUT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Engine, Aug 10, 2019
I TOOK THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL NUMBER 19V120 THEY DID AN EUC UPGRADE IN JUNE 2019. AFTER THAT THE CAR DEVELOPED KNOCKING NOISE FROM ENGINE AND STARTED CONSUMING MORE OIL THEN PREVIOUSLY 1 QT. PER 700 MILES. ON AUGUST 9, 2019 THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER BARELY MAKING IT UP THE HILL AT A STOP IDLE WAS ROUGH ENOUGH TO SHAKE THE CAR. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED NEED NEW ENGINE OIL ON SPARK PLUG 3&4 COMPRESSION ON 3&4 AT 90 AND 70.
Engine, Aug 9, 2019
I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE REC ALL INDICATED THAT IF YOU HEAR A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE THE NEEDED TO CHECK ENGINE TO SEE IF IT WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I TOOK VEHICLE TO 2 KIA DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH REFUSED TO LOOK AT ENGINE BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS MAKING KNOCKING NOISE
Engine, Aug 9, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WAS A STRANGE, HOT ODOR EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF PUYALLUP (111 VALLEY AVE NE, PUYALLUP, WA 98372, 833-217-6008) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BLOWN ROD AND METAL DEBRIS WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THE TIME. ON APRIL 12, 2019, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE), WHICH LISTED THE FAILURES THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARS PROS KIA TACOMA (7230 TACOMA WAY, TACOMA, WA 98409, 877-879-7067) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ENGINE WERE DAMAGED. THE DEALER ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A CATALYTIC OVERHEATING PROTECTION ENGINE CONTROL UNIT LOGIC UPDATE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, BUT NOT THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13184439 AND A WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF THE REMEDY, WHICH STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND/OR THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Engine, Aug 8, 2019, fire
MY 2012 KIA SOUL'S ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE WITH NO WARNING WHILE MY 19 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING HOME ONLY TWO MILES ON A 35 MPH ROAD! THE FLAMES WHERE SO HOT BUT LUCKILY WE LIVE BY A FIRE DEPARTMENT WHICH WAS THERE WITHIN MINUTES AND PUT IT OUT. WAITING ON KIA TO MAKE RIGHT!
Engine, Aug 5, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE AT 5 MPH, IT COMPLETELY STALLED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF ANY WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOLSOM LAKE KIA (12751 FOLSOM BLVD, FOLSOM, CA 95630, (916) 846-9825) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS PROVIDED WITH CASE NUMBER: 13236089. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO COVER $2,000 TOWARDS THE REPAIR, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE CONTACT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REMAINING $3,700. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Power train, Engine, Jul 25, 2019
VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE AWAITING LIGHT CHANGE. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START VEHICLE, OVER COURSE OF AN HOUR, VEHICLE SPIT OUT CLOUD OF BLACK SMUT BEFORE CUTTING OFF AGAIN.VEHICE WAS TOLLED FOLLOWING DAY. THE NEXT DAY I WAS INFORMED KIA WOULD NOT HONOR RECALL.
Engine, Jul 18, 2019
WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM KIA, RECALL NUMBER 19V120. THE MORITZ DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE COP ECU LOGIC. WITHIN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID WE NEED A NEW ENGINE, BUT HAVE REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER RECALL 19V120. WHICH STATES THAT THE ENGINE MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. THE KIA SOUL HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE FOR JUST STOPPING IN THE ROAD. PUTTING MY DAUGHTERS IN DANGER EVERY TIME. ANY HELP I CAN GET GETTING THIS RESOLVED WITH KIA WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY CUSTOMERS ARE NOT GETTING THIS RECALL HONORED, BUT KIA SHOULD WANT THEIR CUSTOMERS TO BE SAFE DRIVING THEIR VEHICLES.
Engine, Jul 17, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED BLACK SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ALONG WITH A STRONG BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO KIA OF BEDFORD (18180 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE; HOWEVER, NO CODES APPEARED FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHILE RESEARCHING THE FAILURE ONLINE, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Engine, Jul 11, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG RED SPORTS / IMPORTS (418 N INTERSTATE DR, NORMAN, OK 73072, 405-364-4400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED A PISTON REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE MADE IT INELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE SAME INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Engine, Jul 11, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DUTCH MILLER KIA OF WV (335 MACCORKLE AVE, CHARLESTON, WV 25303) TO HAVE IT REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE STILL USED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Engine, Jul 10, 2019
I TOOK MY 2012 KIA SOUL INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TWO RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF. ONE OF THE RECALLS INVOLVED HIGH EXHAUST TEMPERATURES WITHIN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY CAUSE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE TO THE PISTONS AND CONNECTING RODS, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL AND FAILURE. DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE CATALYTIC OVERHEATING PROTECTION ENGINE CONTROL UNIT LOGIC TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND REPLACE THE CONVERTER IF IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED, ALSO ASSESSING AND REPAIRING RELATED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AS NEEDED FREE OF CHARGE TO RESOLVE THE CONCERN. THEY DID AN ECU UPGRADE BUT AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL SERVICE THEY NOTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING PRIOR TO SERVICE. THEY DID NOT NOTIFY ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING. A WEEK LATER I NOTICED THE ENGINE KNOCKING AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT ADDRESSED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE #2 ROD BEARING WAS BENT AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE TO THE TUNE OF $5500. THEY STATED THAT THE BENT ROD WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE RECALL DEFECT BUT COULD NOT TELL ME ANY OTHER REASON FOR HOW IT WAS BENT EITHER. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS PART OF THE RECALL.
Engine, Jul 9, 2019
A LOUD TICKING NOISE DEVELOPED IN THE ENGINE THIS SPRING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY A KIA TECHNICIAN AS WORN CONNECTING ROD/CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS. I HAVE PERFORMED REGULAR RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES, WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S GUIDELINES. THE NOISE BEGAN SUBTLY AND WORSENED OVER TIME. IT CAN BE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND AT ALL SPEEDS. IT IS LOUDEST WHILE ACCELERATING AND IS FAINT WHILE COASTING. MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS 2012 KIA SOUL+ (PLUS) WHICH HAS A NU 2.0-LITER GDI ENGINE. THE SAME ENGINE IN OTHER VEHICLES AND DIFFERENT ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ERROR IN MANUFACTURING AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD IT PRESENTS (ENGINE FIRE).
Engine, Jul 5, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). DAYTONA KIA (LOCATED AT 1702, 510 N NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114, (386) 252-7000) WAS CONTACTED, BUT FAILED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE FREE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 3, 2019
NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ON. AT RANDOM, ENGINE WILL LOSE POWER, BUT DOES NOT QUIT. NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE, CAR ONLY REACHES APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. OBSERVED TO HAPPEN AFTER TURNING IGNITION KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENS. HOWEVER, OCCURRENCE IS RANDOM, AND NO ENGINE WARNING CODE IS GIVEN. MECHANICS FIND NOTHING WRONG, DUE TO NO WARNING CODE.