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: exterior lighting
130 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Aug 12, 2019
THIS IS INVOLVING RECALL SC176 AND OTHER CONCERNS. CAR LOSES FORCE WHILE ACCELERATING THAT HAS HAPPEN 2-3 TIMES. AS WELL AS RATTLING NOISE UNDER CAR. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS ARE FLICKERING AND TURN OFF COMPLETELY. CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ONCE THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY, I BOUGHT NEW BATTERY AND STILL IT INDICATES THAT NEW BATTERY IS LOW 9VOLTS. ALL THIS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW AS EVIDENCE. BUT I WILL TAKE PICTURES AS THE LIGHTS START TO FLICKER AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO KIA TO HAVE A RECALL PERFORMED WHICH THEY SAID THEY DID BUT CAR IS STILL NOT RESPONDING AS IT SHOULD. OIL CHANGE WAS DONE ACCORDING TO THE TECH. AND A DIAGNOSE WAS ALSO PREFORMED AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG YET MY CAR KEEPS FLICKERING LIGHTS, RATTLING NOISE AT TIMES, SLOWING DOWN. BUT NOTHING IS WRONG. OH AND THE BATTERY IS STILL CAUSING ME PROBLEMS BECAUSE ITS NOT GETTING THE SUPPORT FROM THE ALTERNATOR BECAUSE ITS STILL LOW INDICATOR.
Exterior lighting, Aug 9, 2019
REPLACED A HEADLIGHT AND WITHIN 15 MIN. THE BULB BLEW OUT. WHEN I CHECKED THE BULB THE CONNECTOR PART WAS HOT AND A LITTLE MELTED.
Exterior lighting, Aug 3, 2019
TAKATA RECALL MY 2014 KIA SOUL HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF WHILE IN MOTION AT NIGHT! THEY BOTH BEGIN TO FLICKER AND THEY TURN OFF AND JUST LEAVE ME WITH MY LOW RUNNING LIGHTS ON. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE ITS NOT THE FIRST TIME KIA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS AND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD!! THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF PEOPLE AND NEED TO BE A RECALL
Exterior lighting, Jun 30, 2019
WHEN THE 2014 KIA SOUL LIGHT SETTINGS ARE SET ON THE AUTO SETTING, AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTS SOMETIMES COMPLETELY TURN OFF, SOMETIMES LINKED TO USING A TURN SIGNAL, NOT ALWAYS. THEY DO NOT COME ON AGAIN UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED, OR YOU SWITCH THE LIGHTS FROM AUTO TO MANUAL ON. THIS HAPPENS IN MOTION, AND STATIONARY, AND SEEMS MORE LIKELY WHEN TURNING.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 30, 2019
DRIVING ON FREEWAY OR STREET, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING TO HEADLAMPS FLICKER ON AND OFF WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS. THEY WILL STAY OFF SOMETIMES THIS IS DANGEROUS.
Exterior lighting, Jun 14, 2019
HEADLIGHTS: INTERMITTENT HEAD LIGHTS ON KIA SOUL. HAD A HEADLIGHT OUT SO PUT IN NEW BULB. WORKED AND ON MY WAY. NEXT MORNING LIGHT WORKED OKAY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND WENT OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH LEFTHAND & RIGHTHAND HEAD LIGHTS. AFTER REPLACING BULBS A COUPLE TIME I PUT OLD ONES BACK IN WITH THE SAME RESULT. I FOUND OUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT LOOSING LIGHTS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. LOOSING LIGHTS AT NIGHT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. APPARENTLY THE CONNECTORS THAT CONNECT THE HEADLIGHTS TO THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MADE WITH SUBSTANDARD PLASTIC AND THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE WARP THE CONNECTORS. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A FULL BLOWN RECALL. STARTED HAPPENING IN MARCH 2019 AND CONTINUES.
Exterior lighting, May 20, 2019
HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING.
Exterior lighting, May 3, 2019
THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS START TO FLICKER ON/OFF SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING WHICH NOT ONLY PRESENTS A DANGER FOR THE DRIVER/PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE BUT APPROACHING VEHICLES AS WELL AS THIS CAN BE A DISTRACTION WHEN ONCOMING DRIVERS SEE FLASHING HEADLIGHTS AND IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, STATIONARY, CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS TURNING OR GOING STRAIGHT. IT PRESENTS A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. I LISTED ONE DATE THAT IT HAPPENED BUT IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. KIA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS IS AS THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 2, 2019
LATE ONE NIGHT, I TRY TO TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS ON. THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON AND STARTED TO FLICKER I HAD TO TURN THEM OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THEM ON. THEM A FEW MONTHS LATER MY DRIVER SIDE HEAD LAMP DID NOT WORK. I REPLACE THE BULB. THEN I RECEIVE A NOTICE FROM KIA THERE MY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS FLICKING. I WHEN INTO THE VICTORVILLE KIA DEALERSHIP FOR A DIFFERENT RECALL, AND ASK THEM TO CHECK THE PROBLEM WITH THE FLICKER AND AT THE TIME HAD THE DRIVER HEAD LIGHT OUT AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T RE-PRODUCT THE PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAD THE HEAD LIGHT REPLACE, ALONG WITH THE WIRES, THEY HAD BURN UP. I JUST REPLACED BY THIRD HEADLIGHT. THREE (3) HEAD LIGHTS WITHIN FOUR (4) MONTHS.
Exterior lighting, Apr 17, 2019
WHEN DRIVING WITH HEAD LIGHTS ON FOR A WHILE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF AND ON THEN OFF FOR A WHILE UNTIL LIGHT COOL DOWN
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 14, 2019
WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER AND THEN GO OUT. NO MATTER WHAT I'VE DONE ON MY END, NOTHING HAS SOLVED THE ISSUE, RACKING UP UNNECESSARY COSTS. ONCE IN A WHILE THE HEADLIGHT WILL STAY ON LONGER THAN EXPECTED BUT SUDDENLY TURNS OFF, MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING ON PITCH BLACK ROADS.
Exterior lighting, Apr 8, 2019
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF OR TURN OFF COMPLETELY AFTER USING TURN SIGNAL. LIGHTS ALWAYS FLICKER OR TURN OFF AFTER TURN IS COMPLETED AND THE TURN SIGNAL GOES BACK TO NORMAL. HAPPENS AT EVERY SPEED WHETHER THERE IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR NOT.
Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 4, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. AFTER THE NOISE, MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED THE PEDAL, IT JUST WOULDN'T GO ABOVE 5MPH AND BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE. HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 24, 2019
FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRIGHT LIGHTS ON MY 2014 KIA SOUL. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE LIGHTS FLICKERING AND SPORADICALLY TURNING ON AND OFF UNTIL RECENTLY WHERE THEY WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING HOW I CAN FIX THIS ISSUE BY GOING TO KIA DEALERSHIPS, AND LOOKING ONLINE FOR A SOLUTION. I HAVE COME ACROSS SEVERAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS AS WELL AS ONLINE HELP SUGGESTING THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. IT IS SAID TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SWITCH AND/OR THE CONNECTOR THAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM. I'VE CHANGED THE BULB AS WELL AS THE FUSE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I'M GETTING TICKETS DUE TO THIS BEING AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT AN EASY FIX. IT'S SCARY TO DRIVE DISTANCES WITH CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AND NOT KNOWING IF THE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON OR OFF.
Exterior lighting, Engine, Mar 11, 2019
ENGINE RUNS DRY OF OIL WHILE STATIONARY, HEADLIGHT WIRES MELT WHILE STATIONARY.
Exterior lighting, Mar 4, 2019
THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS MELT OR BURN OUT CAUSING ONE OR MORE HEADLIGHTS TO STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY OR COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. THIS ISSUE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY.
Exterior lighting, Feb 28, 2019
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN ON AUTO-HEADLIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS DO NOT FLICKER WHEN MANUALLY MOVED TO ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAYS.
Exterior lighting, Feb 18, 2019
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT ONLY WORKS AT RANDOM TIMES, IT WILL COME ON AND A FEW SECONDS LATER IT GOES OUT. MOST TIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. LAST WEEK I HAD A NEW SWITCH INSTALLED THAT WAS ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE LIGHT WORKED FOR ONE (1) DAY AND WAS OUT AGAIN YET I WAS TOLD THE SWITCH WAS BAD THAT THEY REMOVED. HAPPENS WHEN MOVING OR STATIONARY, LEAVING DRIVEWAY. IF THE VEHICLE SETS A WHILE SOMETIMES IT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON MOST TIMES IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE OTHER HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE AUG. 2018. I REPLACE THE BULB AND IT WORKS FOR 3 MONTHS THEN STARTS OVER AGAIN WORKING RANDOMLY
Exterior lighting, Dec 27, 2018
THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER OR ENTIRELY TURN OFF. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BULB MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MANUFACTURE PRODUCTS AND DISCOVERED THE ELECTRIC PLUG TO THE HEADLIGHT IS MELTED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WE CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT SAFELY. EACH TIME WE REPLACE THE BULB IT STOPS FUNCTIONING IN A FEW DAYS TO WEEKS.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 20, 2018
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. REPLACED BULB BACK ON AND THEN RIGHT BACK OFF. FURTHER LOOKING AND THE ADAPTER PLUG THAT SNAPS INTO THE BACK OF THE LIGHT IS BURNT!
Exterior lighting, Dec 11, 2018
TAKATA RECALL.. DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT. PREVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE OUT ONE DAY THEN WHEN I WOULD START MY CAR IT WOULD COME BACK ON. IN THE PICTURE BOTH LIGHTS ARE WORKING BUT 5 MINS BEFORE ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS WORKING. THIS HAS BEEN AN GOING ISSUE FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW. SOMETIMES I HAD TO REPLACE THE BULB AFTER IT BEING OUT FOR OVER A WEEK BUT THE BULB WAS NOT BLOWN.
Exterior lighting, Nov 28, 2018
CONNECTOR ON HEADLIGHT WIRES ARE BURNING WHILE OPERATING HEADLIGHTS AND CAUSEING BOTH HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. BULBS ARE BURNT OUT BUT HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON UNTIL CAR SITS FOR A WHILE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 26, 2018
I HAD TO GET NEW HEADLIGHTS AT THE DEALERSHIP. IT IS NOW GETTING RIDICULOUS. ONE HEAD LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. IT WILL COME ON WHEN IT FEELS LIKE COMING ON. SOMETIMES IT COMES ON.SOMETIMES IT WILL COME ON RIGHT AWAY OTHERS TIMES IT WILL FLICKER ON OFF AND NOT WORK AT ALL. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I DRIVE HOME IN THE DARK AND I DNT WANT TO GET FILLED OVER. I ALSO DRIVE IN DARK ROADS AND IT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE WHEN ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WORKS. I AM NOW NOTICING THAT IS THE WORKING IN THE CAR NOT MY HEADLIGHTS.
Exterior lighting, Oct 22, 2018
AFTER RUNNING VEHICLE THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR RUNNING LIGHT GOES OUT. THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS CHECKED AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL, TURN INDICATOR WORKS, BRAKE LIGHT WORKS, HAZARD LIGHT FLASHES. THIS IS THE FACTORY LED VERSION OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS HAPPENED 6 MONTHS AGO. THEN I FLIPPED THE FUSE AND IT CAME BACK ON. NOW IT HAS GONE OFF AGAIN AND THE FUSE FLIP IS NOT REMEDYING THE PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 16, 2018
WHEN HEADLAMPS ARE IN AUTOMATIC MODE, THEY WILL SOMETIMES FLICKER ON/OFF, OR TURN OFF COMPLETELY UNTIL HEADLAMP CONTROLS ARE MANIPULATED (BY TURNING HEADLAMP POWER SWITCH DIAL BACK AND FORTH OR BY PULLING/PUSHING LOW/HIGH BEAM CONTROL). THIS IS EXACERBATED BY DRIVING ON AN UNSTABLE ROAD (I.E. A ROAD WITH POTHOLES OR BUMPS), WHEN ACTUATING SIGNAL LIGHT CONTROLS, AND WHEN STOPPING. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH, BUT HAS HAPPENED IN CITY STREETS AT VELOCITIES AS LOW AS 5 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST MONTHS, BEGINNING AROUND AUGUST 2018.