2014 Kia Soul

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 902 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 902

Of the 2014 reports, 34 involved a crash and 69 involved a fire. 30 people were injured and 1 person died.

Primary concernEngine553 reports · 61% of complaints
Owner complaints902Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine553
  2. Exterior lighting130
  3. Electrical system98
  4. Other or unspecified83
  5. Power train58
  6. Engine and engine cooling55
  7. Steering55
  8. Fuel/propulsion system54

Recalls and investigations

  1. Air bags, frontalFeb 18, 2022

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014 Soul vehicles. The front air bags may not deploy during a crash if the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) loses communication with the front impact sensors.

    Front air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

    Dealers will update the ACU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC229.

    Campaign 22V096000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. EngineDec 2, 2020

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

    An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.

    Campaign 20V750000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. 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

  4. SteeringSep 29, 2017

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.

    If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.

    Campaign 17V608000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Vehicle speed control, accelerator pedalMar 2, 2015

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Soul and Soul electric vehicles manufactured July 21, 2013, to January 8, 2015. A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.

    If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will add a supporting rubber underneath the pedal stopper, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC116.

    Campaign 15V123000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: engine

590 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Engine, Apr 29, 2019, fire

    MY ENGINE BLEW A PISTON AND MY MOTOR EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING 65 ON THE INTERSTATE. I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, MY BRAKES LOCKED UP, MY ENGINE WAS SMOKING. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT.

  2. Engine, Apr 24, 2019

    DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. ALL LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE CAR STALLED. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND ITS 6000 TO FIX!!! I COULDVE DIED!!!

  3. Electrical system, Engine, Apr 23, 2019

    I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO ACT FAST AND GET OFF THE ROAD SO I WOULDN'T GET HIT BY THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND COME TO FIND OUT MY 2.0 ENGINE HAD SEIZED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER FROM KIA INTERNATIONAL ROADSIDE STATED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOWING KIA SOULS ALL MONTH FOR BAD ENGINE PROBLEMS. I HAVE 65000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. MY NEXT OIL CHANGE WASN'T UNTIL ANOTHER 1000 MILES. NO LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON NOT EVEN THE ENGINE LIGHT, IT JUST SHUT OFF OUT OF NOWHERE. ALL THE OIL WAS SUCKED OUT OF THE ENGINE, ON TOP OF THAT I HAVE TO PAY $8,000 TO GET A NEW ENGINE. A RECALL NEED TO BE PUT UP ABOUT NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD.

  4. Engine, Apr 22, 2019

    ONLY HAS 104000 MILES WITH REGULAR DOCUMENTED OIL CHANGE. BLOWN ENGINE ROD. AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN I ACCELERATED LARGE KNOCKING WAS HEARD

  5. Engine, Apr 16, 2019

    WAS DRIVING DOWN CITY STREET WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. PULLED OVER CHECKED AND ADDED A LITTLE OIL, AND WHEN WENT TO START THE CAR IT WAS SLOW TO START AND ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND REMAINED ON. OIL IS FINE.

  6. Engine, Apr 15, 2019

    THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND AT 69441 MILES ON THE 2.0 LITER ENGINE, THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO GET OUT AND PUSH IT TO A SAFE AREA OFF THE HIGHWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A SEIZED ENGINE. I CONTACTED A LOCAL KIA DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THEY ONLY OFFERED A VERY HIGH ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I OPTED FOR MY MECHANIC TO INSTALL A USED REPLACEMENT ENGINE FROM AN AUTO RECYCLING COMPANY. INVOICE FOR THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE CAME OUT OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL KIA SOUL WITH SLIGHTLY LOWER MILES ON IT, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN WITH THE METAL CHIP IN THE ENGINE DEFECT ISSUE RECENTLY REPORTED, SINCE I DRIVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO GET OUT AND HAVE TO PUSH THE CAR OFF A BUSY HIGHWAY!

  7. Engine, Apr 11, 2019

    WHEN DRIVING, IT STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE OUT OF NO WHERE HAD 2 SHOPS CONFIRM THEY HAVE TO GET INTO THE ENGINE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WAS INSIDE. THIS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. NO REASON THE ENGINE SHOULD HAVE GONE OUT. CAR WAS 4 FEET DOWN MY STREET WHEN IT STARTED KNOCKING REALLY LOUDLY. WAS NOT EVEN RUNNING FOR A MINUTE.

  8. Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 5, 2019

    ENGINE LOSES POWER AT TIMES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. ACCELERATION SOMETIMES CAUSES A LUNGING MOTION. ALSO HAS DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING SPEED WHILE CLIMBING SMALL HILLS. OIL RUNS DRY WITHIN A WEEK OF REFILL.

  9. Engine, Apr 2, 2019

    I NOTICED A STRANGE CLICKING OR SPUTTERING OF MY MOTOR AND THEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ON A STREET, TURNING RIGHT AT A STOP LIGHT...AND NOT THE FREEWAY! FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE BLEW AND THAT ALL THE OIL WAS SUCKED UP OUT OF MY CAR. MY NEXT OIL CHANGE WASN'T DUE FOR ANOTHER 1000 MILES. I HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS! NO NOTHING OTHER THAN NON-FUNCTIONING CAR. RESEARCHED ENGINE FAILURE AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ON 1.6 L ENGINES (I HAVE A 2L) BUT SAME ISSUE. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT HE SEES THIS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS IN KIA'S. THE 2L NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL! APPARENTLY, AFTER RESEARCH ON THIS SITE, MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. PEOPLE COULD GET HURT! WHAT IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY??? OR, MY ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE??? I'M SO GRATEFUL I'M ALIVE RIGHT NOW.

  10. Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 2, 2019

    VEHICLE IN MOTION,DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 12MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. INITIAL DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR FROM KIA DEALERSHIP SAID INTERNAL DAMAGE TO FUEL PUMP. LESS THAN ONE HOUR AFTER PICKING VEHICLE UP NOTED NOISE FROM ENGINE DURING ACCELERATION AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DTC CODE INDICATED AN ISSUE WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

  11. Engine, Mar 29, 2019

    MY MOTOR EXPLODED JUST LIKE THE 1.6 MOTORS THAT ARE BEING RECALLED BUT MINE IS A 2.0 MOTOR.

  12. Engine, Mar 21, 2019

    3/10/19 VEHICLE SHOWED FLUTTERING ENGINE LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL STREET (35 MPH). CHECKED, FOUND WAS 3 QTS LOW ON OIL AT 1 WEEK AFTER OIL CHANGE WHEN VEHICLE HAS SHOWN NO NOTICEABLE OIL CONSUMPTION PREVIOUSLY. MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOW ON SCHEDULE OR BETTER SINCE PURCHASE. DEALER STATES INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE @84,526 MILES - SYMPTOMS MATCH RECALL 19V-120, INCLUDING OBDII CODE & CATALYTIC CONV, BUT IS DENIED BY MANUFACTURER UNTIL THE POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL ACTION & MEDIA COVERAGE IS BROUGHT UP. IS NOW BEING 'REVIEWED' BY MANUFACTURER, WHILE NO USUAL DEALER ASSISTANCE - MOST ESPECIALLY 'LOANER' VEHICLE - IS PROVIDED. IMPORTANT: AS STATED IN THE NHTSA SAFETY REPORT, KIA DOES NOT PRODUCE VINS SEQUENTIALLY, THUS THE USUAL MANUFACTURER'S VIN DATABASE METHOD APPEARS INEFFECTIVE - A VIN SEARCH TURNS UP NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING PREVIOUS ONES IT HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR, A RESULT REPORTED BY OTHER KIA OWNERS SPOKEN TO WHILE WAITING AT THE DEALER'S SERVICE CENTER. THIS MAY BE THE REASON FOR THE WIDESPREAD ISSUES WITH RECALL DENIAL.

  13. Engine, Mar 20, 2019

    RECENTLY FILED A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY 2014 KIA SOUL ENGINE FAILURE, MY ENGINE IS A 2.0 IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT A 1.6 LITER ENGINE IS BEING RECALLED

  14. Engine, Mar 15, 2019, fire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS IF PRESSURE WERE BEING RELEASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE, BUT SHORTLY AFTER, BEGAN SHAKING, SMOKING, AND MAKING CLUNKING NOISES. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OAKES KIA (2900 BURLINGTON ST, NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO 64116). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,350.

  15. Engine, Mar 12, 2019

    ON 02/15/2019 I WAS DRIVING ON COUNTY HWY H IN DELTA TOWNSHIP, WI AT 45 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND MY 2014 KIA SOUL LOST POWER. AS IT LOST POWER, FIRST MY OIL LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED BLINKING ALSO. I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT AROUND AND DRIVE APPROX. 100 FT INTO THE DELTA TOWN HALL PARKING LOT WHERE I DISCOVERED MY ENGINE WAS SMOKING AND I HAD LOST NUMEROUS FLUIDS OUT OF THE ENGINE. I THEN CALLED A LOCAL WRECKER AND THEY TOWED IT TO THEIR SHOP. A&L AUTO IN IRON RIVER, WI. THEY STATED AFTER LOOKING AT IT THAT SOMETHING MADE A LARGE HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND MOST LIKELY THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I THEN REQUESTED THEY TOW IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN DULUTH, MN WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.

  16. Exterior lighting, Engine, Mar 11, 2019

    ENGINE RUNS DRY OF OIL WHILE STATIONARY, HEADLIGHT WIRES MELT WHILE STATIONARY.

  17. Engine, Mar 11, 2019

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LATER TOWED TO CROWN KIA (903-581-7688, LOCATED AT 4818 TROUP HWY, TYLER, TX 75703) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.

  18. Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 10, 2019

    I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALLS ESPECIALLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RECALL I FOUND IT VERY ODD THAT I HAE AN ISSUE WITH IT ONLY HAVING THE CAR FOR A FEW YEARS.MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER

  19. Wheels, Engine, Mar 8, 2019

    ON MAY 29TH 2018 I WENT BACK TO HOLLY KIA WITH A PROBLEM WITH MY TIRES . I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR AGAIN ABOUT THE CATALY CONVERTER. HE STATED TO REPAIR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD COST ME ABOUT $1100. I WAS TRULY UPSET BECAUSE MY CAR IS ONLY 4YEARS OLD. ONCE I PICKED UP MY CAR I CONTACTED THE KIA CORPORATE OFFICE AND SPOKE TO ANOTHER YOUNG LADY EXPLAINING TO HER THE SITUATION AND SHE WAS VERY RUDE UNPROFESSIONAL BECAUSE SHE TOLD ME THAT IT KIA ONLY MANUFACTURES THE CAR BUT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHEN A PART SUCH AS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY GO BAD IN A CAR AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. SHE THEN STATED THAT THE NEXT TIME I PURCHASE A CAR I SHOULD MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE BEFORE I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. NEEDLESS TO SAY MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS REPAIRING. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES AND I EXPLAINED TO THE YOUNG LADY THIS AS WELL. I TOLD HER I JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DID NOT WANT TO HELP ME GET THESE SITUATIONS FIX BECAUSE MY CAR WAS FAIRLY NEW. WELL I DIDN'T GET HELP FROM HER. FAR AS MY TIRES AFTER GETTING THE CRANK SENSOR FIX I FOUND MYSELF BACK AT HOLLY KIA GETTING MY TIRES LOOKED AT BECAUSE THE AIR KEPT GOING OUT. ONE MORNING GOING TO WORK A YOUNG MAN STOPPED ME ON THE HIGHWAY TO TELL ME MY TIRE WAS FLAT I IMMEDIATELY BUT AIR IN THE TIRE AND WENT TO HOLLY KIA AND TOLD THE SAME PARTS SERVICE SUPERVISOR WHAT THE PROBLEM HE TOOK MY CAR IN AND HAD THE TECHNICIAN LOOK AT MY TIRES I ASKED HIM COULD HE HAVE THEM LOOK AT ALL THE TIRES BECAUSE I AM PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRES EVERY OTHER DAY. WELL IN JUNE MY SON HAD TO PURCHASE THAT SAME TIRE THAT THEY SAID WAS FIX AND TOLD ME ALL THE OTHER TIRES WERE GOOD. IN SEPTEMBER 2018 I HAD TO END UP PURCHASING THREE OTHER TIRES BECAUSE I WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HAVING TO PUT AIR IN THE OTHER TIRES. EVER SINCE I PURCHASE THE TIRES NO PROBLEM

  20. Engine, Mar 5, 2019

    MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 02/22/2019, AND IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER ON 02/23/2019. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE ROD BEARING DAMAGE. THIS VEHICLE HAD ONLY 77526 MILES ON IT.

  21. Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 4, 2019

    LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NEAREST DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND FOUND THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE.

  22. Engine, Mar 4, 2019

    ON 09/23/2018, WHILE DRIVING 70 ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER MY TUNE UP, MY CAR STARTED MAKING THIS HORRIBLE NOISE AND THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND RATTLING REALLY HARD. I PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW A SPARK WIRE (I HAVE A VIDEO). I DROVE TO THE NEAREST ADVANCE AUTO PARTS AND A MECHANIC OF 30 YEARS SAID HE NEVER SEEN NOTHING LIKE IT. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT BACK TO CASTROL (WHO COMPLETED MY TUNE UP) AND THEY CHANGED ALL SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES STATING THAT THEY NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN BEFORE AND THERE WERE NO LEAKS AND NO INDICATION AS TO WHY THAT HAPPENED. ON 12/172018, THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND RATTLING AGAIN WHILE GOING ABOUT 45-50 ON A MAIN ROAD AND ONCE I PARKED, IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO ED VOYLE KIA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY ENGINE SO IT WILL BE REPLACED. THEY PUT ME IN A RENTAL AND TWO MONTHS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT YES, THERE IS A RECALL, HOWEVER, MY VIN # HASN'T COME UP YET SO I CAN PAY OUT OF POCKET AND BE REIMBURSED ONCE MY VIN# COME UP. THEY TOOK THE RENTAL BACK AND I'M NOW WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. I CAN'T GET TO WORK AND I STILL OWE ABOUT 10K ON MY CAR. NO ONE IS HELPING ME AT KIA AND I'VE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. I LITERALLY WAS PROVIDED A PO BOX TO SEND MY COMPLAINT TO. I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL PEOPLE YET NO ONE SEEM TO CARE

  23. Engine, Mar 1, 2019

    BOUGHT A USED 2014 KIA SOUL IN 12/2015 WITH 34,000 AND PUT ON 17,400 MILES TO DATE.APPROX. 12/27/18 HEARD A VERY SLIGHT KNOCKING, TAPPING NOISE (HAD TO TURN THE ACCESSORIES OFF TO HEAR IT) AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL (WHICH WAS FINE-JUST HAD IT CHANGED). NO LOSS OF POWER, NO SMOKING, AND NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE WEATHER WAS COLD (WINTER IN THE NORTHEAST) SO I ASSUMED THE NOISE WAS A COLD ENGINE AND THE NOISE WAS HARDLY AUDIBLE AS THE CAR WARMED UP. IT EVENTUALLY GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER AND GOT FASTER AS I ACCELERATED (STILL NO LOSS OF POWER, ETC. I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR MIDDLE OF JANUARY 2019 AND PARKED IT IN MY DRIVEWAY.(I WAS AFRAID I WOULD DO MORE DAMAGE) AND HAD IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALER TO HAVE THEM ASSESS THE NOISE. ON 1/29/19 THE DEALER CALLED ME AT WORK AND TOLD ME "YOU NEED A NEW ENGINE"....AND ALSO TOLD ME SHE SPOKE TO SERVICE DEPT. AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 5 WEEKS (APPROX.).I'VE SUBMITTED ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO DATE (DONE BY MANUFACTURER'S DATES/ONLY OIL CHANGES/ DID NOT NEED ANY MECHANICAL REPAIRS). I'VE CONTACTED KIA HEADQUARTERS APPROX. 16 TIMES AND NO ONE HAS RETURNED ANY CALLS. LAST TIME I SPOKE TO THEM THEY ARE IN THE 'WAITING STAGE' TO SEE WHAT DECISION CAN BE MADE AS FAR AS ?? REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. THEY WOULD LIKE ME TO PAY FOR IT. (THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT SOMETHING I DID TO THE CAR). MEANWHILE MY VEHICLE IS SITTING ON THE BACK LOT OF THE DEALER. KEEP IN MIND I'VE ONLY PUT ON 17,400 MILES IN 3 YEARS.......PLEASE ADDRESS IF YOU CAN. THANK YOU! (I DO HAVE ALL THE INVOICES, MAINTENANCE RECORDS, BUT CANNOT SCAN AT THIS TIME)

  24. Electrical system, Engine, Mar 1, 2019

    JUST FINISHED GASSING UP AFTER WORK FROM HIGHWAY DRIVING AND OIL LIGHT STARTS FLICKING ON AND OFF REALLY FAST FOR A MIN THEN GOES AWAY . AFTER I PULL OFF THE MAIN ROAD TO A NEIGHBORHOOD I'M ABOUT TO PULL OVER TO CHECK CAR AND GO OVER A SPEED BUMP CAR DIES. SO I GET OUT POP HOOD OPEN OIL CAP THERE NO OIL AND FUMES COMING OUT AND I REALLY DIDNT GET A WARNING LIGHT OR ANYTHING TO WARN ME THERE WASNT ANY OIL OTHER THEN THE FLICKERING LIGHT THAT JUST WENT OFF. IT HAS 100000 MILES GOT OIL CHANGED EVERY 4000 TO 5000 IT LAST HAD ONE AT 96000. SO I HAVE SOMEONE PICK ME UP I GET OIL PUT I. IT DOESNT START I LEAVE OVER NIGHT FIND OUT CPU HAS A SENSOR TO PROTECT ENGINE FROM FURTHER DAMAGE IF IT GETS HOT SO I DISCONNECT BATTERY AND RECONNECT IT STARTS BUT NOW THERES A KNOCKING SOUND I TAKE IT 2 MIN AWAY TO FIRESTONE THEY LISTEN TO IT AND SAY THE PROBLEM IS A INTERNAL MOTOR PROBLEM THEY CANT FIX SOUNDS LIKE A ROD BROKE.OR LOOSE. SO I HAVE TOWED TO DEALER FOR NOW. I JUST SAW THE NEWS ABOUT THEM CATCHING FIRE AND BASICALLY PUT 2 AND 2 TOGETHER. THE CARS ARE EATING TOO MUCH OIL DUE TO A REGULATOR SENSOR AND THE OIL SENSOR IS NOT LETTING PEOPLE NOW THERE ISN'T ANY OR THAT ITS LOW TIL IT'S TOO LATE SO THE RODS BREAK AND PUNCTURE THE MOTOR CAUSING OIL TO LEAK AND CATCH FIRE DUE TO HEAT. SO NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT'S UNDRIVABLE THAT I HAVE TO PAY POSSIBLY FOR A NEW ENGINE DUE TO A FAULTY DISTRIBUTION SENSOR AND OIL LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM THAT CAUSES OVERHEATING OF THE MOTOR. I HOPE MY RECALL NOTICE COMES SOON TO REPLACE THIS MOTOR CAUSE I DON'T HAVE 4 000 TO 6000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A NEW ONE.

  25. Steering, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 20, 2019

    I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH NORTH ON HARBOR BLVD AND FIRST ST IN CALIFORNIA SUDENDLY I HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING/CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE & NO ERROR CODES CAME ON PRIOR TO THE NOISE SO I PULLED OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC. UNTIL TODAY MECHANIC HAS UNKNOWN ORIGIN OF PROBLEM