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.
Of the 2014 reports, 34 involved a crash and 69 involved a fire. 30 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
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
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
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 and engine cooling
55 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, May 20, 2021, fire
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated her son was driving at 35 mph when smoke started coming out from under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicles next to the vehicle and behind the vehicle honked their horns and started yelling at the driver that there was a fire underneath the vehicle. The driver pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The driver exited the vehicle through the driver’s side window due to the electrical components in the vehicle melting and not functioning as designed. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. No medical treatment was needed at the scene. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot where the contacts insurance company inspected the vehicle and deemed the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage approximately was 60,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Apr 5, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED OIL VERY QUICKLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRED BEANS KIA OF LANGHORNE (1801 LINCOLN HWY, LANGHORNE, PA 19047) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 27, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, WHITE SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AS THE "PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY' AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HOMETOWN KIA (111 MIDTOWN AVE, MT HOPE, WV 25880) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HIS FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,521.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 10, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE EXHAUST SOUND SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY LOUD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO ORANGE PARK KIA (6373 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD BLOWN FROM THE ENGINE MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE NO FAILURE CODES WERE PRESENT TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V12000 (ENGINE); ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Engine and engine cooling, May 7, 2019
2014 KIA SOUL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. THE GAS FLOAT SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS DIRECTED TO WAIT FOR MAIL NOTIFICATION TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. *JS