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: fuel/propulsion system
54 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 23, 2018, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP18003 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEMET KIA (153-03 HILLSIDE AVE, JAMAICA, NY 11432, 718-523-1145) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000. *DT*JB *JS
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 15, 2018
4 TIMES WILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE SO BAD THE CARS BEHIND HAD TO STOP. THE VERY FIRST TIME WAS 6 WEEKS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR. TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER THEY RECREATED THE ISSUE AND SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FLAW IN THE ENGINE HEAD. KIA SAID I HAD TO WAIT TILL THEY MAKE A RECALL. 3 MONTHS AFTER THAT ISSUE IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WE WERE SITTING IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN A TRUCK WAS GOING TO HIT US. I FLORED THE GAS AND A BUNCH A SMOKE CAME OUT IT BOGED BUT WE GOT OUT OF THE WAY IN TIME. KIA TOOK THE VAULVE COVER OFF AND IT LOOKED LIKE TAR. HOW CAN THAT BE POSIBLE WHEN IT WAS NOT EVEN DRIVEN THE FIRST 3,000 MILES FOR THE OIL CHANGE??? WE ARE PAYING FOR A CAR THAT HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. TO SCARED TO DRIVE IT.
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 18, 2015
MY 2014 KIA SOUL WHICH I LEASED FOR 39 MONTHS IN JULY 2014, JUST HAD A RECALL FOR A FAULTY GAS PEDAL THAT MAY FRACTURE UNDER EXCESSIVE PRESSURE. ITS GREAT THAT I AM GETTING THE PROBLEM FIXED FOR FREE BUT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA AND THE MAIN REASON I CHOSE KIA WAS BECAUSE THEY ARE ONE OF THE SAFEST CARS OUT THERE. I HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I CHOSE KIA BECAUSE OF HER AND WANTED HER TO BE SAFE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. TO LEARN THAT SINCE THE DAY I LEASED MY CAR WHICH IS ALMOST A YEAR AGO, I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER AROUND IN A CAR THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIAL CAUSED HER INJURY OR WORSE IS VERY DUE TO MY GAS PEDAL BREAKING IS ALARMING TO ME, MY DAUGHTER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND PRECIOUS THING TO ME IN MY WHOLE LIFE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT FIXING THE GAS PEDAL FOR FREE IS ENOUGH AND THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO MAKE UP FOR ALL THE TIMES I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER IN A VEHICLE THAT I THOUGHT WAS VERY SAFE WHEN IT WAS NOT. I WOULD LIKE PERMISSION TO GET OUT OF MY LEASE SO THAT I HAVE THE FREEDOM TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS SAFE FOR MY DAUGHTER. ANYONE WITH KIDS SHOULD KNOW EXACTLY HOW I FEEL AND WILL SYMPATHIZE WITH MY SITUATION. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 11, 2014
WE WERE DRIVING 75 MPH. ON I-75 OUTSIDE DALTON GEORGIA IN LOTS OF TRAFFIC (THE OUTER LANE) AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT DOWN. WE GRADUALLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AVOIDING NEAR CRASHES AND STOPPED COMPLETELY. WE TRIED RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT HAD NO POWER TO DRIVE. WE WERE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP IN DALTON GEORGIA AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ON 8/18/2014 & SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE PROCEEDED ON TOWARDS OUR DESTINATION. ON 8/16/2014 (THE SAME DAY THEY FOUND NOTHING) WE HAD TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 161 MILES FURTHER SOUTH ON I-75 (OUTSIDE MACON GEORGIA) WHEN THE CAR DID THE SAME THING. IT SHUT DOWN DRIVING 75 MPH IN MAJOR TRAFFIC. OUR VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING AS IT DID ON 8/16/2014, LOSS OF ALL POWER. WE WERE THEN TOWED TO MACON GEORGIA KIA DEALERSHIP. ON 8/17/2014 THEY INFORMED US THEY WERE REPLACING A "PRESSURE PUMP" AND SHOULD RECEIVE IT 8/18/2014. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED THE PRESSURE PUMP AND HAD THE TECHNICIAN DRIVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AND IT SHUT DOWN ON HIM. AT THIS POINT THEY WERE UNSURE OF WHAT TO DO AND DID MULTIPLE TEST ON THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ADVISED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE THERE AND THEY WOULD GET IT BACK TO US. WE RETURNED TO OHIO IN A RENTAL VEHICLE ON 8/22/2014. OUR CAR WAS TRANSPORTED BACK TO OHIO 9/3/2014 BY THE KIA COMPANY WITH NO FURTHER FINDINGS. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW MY VEHICLE WAS BEING RETURNED AND THEY FOUND NOTHING ELSE THEY STATED THAT A 2014 KIA SOUL ON THEIR LOT DID THE SAME THING DURING A "TEST" DRIVE. I AM DEATHLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE SINCE I HAD MY LIFE FLASH BEFORE US 2 TIMES AND A 3RD TIME ON THE TECHNICIAN. *TR