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: power train
58 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, Nov 4, 2017
2014 KIA SOUL BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY. HAVE TO REFILL OIL ONE A WEEK. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER MISSED AN OIL CHANGE. 100,XXX MILES. STARTED AT 80,XXX MILES.
Steering, Power train, Exterior lighting, Feb 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN AND CONTINUED TO GO STRAIGHT DOWN A HILL. THE POWER STEERING WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WENT OFF ROAD AND FINALLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMPS WOULD FLICKER SUDDENLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL BRIEFLY, AND THEN ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 14, 2016
I BOUGHT MY 2014 KIA SOUL WITH 6 MILES ON IT NOV 2013. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF WHEN I USE MY TURN SIGNAL OR AFTER USING MY TURN SIGNAL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM FIXED. FINALLY BIG RED SPORTS & IMPORTS TOOK A KIA SOUL OFF THEIR CAR LOT (AFTER MY 3RD TRIP THERE & THEY STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE PART) TO PUT A NEW PART IN MY CAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I STILL HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY HEAD LIGHTS SO I TOOK MY KIA TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. NOW MY CAR WON'T GO INTO REVERSE AT TIMES,AND WHILE I'M "TRYING" TO PUT IT IN REVERSE MY AUTOMATIC LOCKS START LOCKING AN UN-LOCKING REALLY FAST. I HAVE TO TURN MY CAR OFF, AND TRY TO START ALL OVER SO IT WILL GO INTO REVERSE. I HAVE ALSO ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED. MY WORRY IS MY SAFETY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH MY HEAD LIGHTS WANTING TO WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. OR IF I GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T SHIFT GEARS. *TR
Power train, May 20, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. AFTER PARKING ON AN INCLINE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR, UNLESS THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,200.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jun 30, 2015, fire
TAKING A DAY TRIP TO THE CRAYOLA FACTORY, WE WERE 10 MILES FROM OUR DESTINATION WHEN WE FIRST SMELLED SMOKE THEN SAW IT COMING IN THROUGH THE VENTS AND FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. I FIRST CHECKED THE GAUGES TO SEE IF IT WAS OVER HEATED, NOTHING. POPPED THE HOOD AND THAT'S WHEN WE REALIZED IT WAS ON FIRE. WE RACED TO GET THE 2 SMALL KIDS OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS THE FLAMES WERE STARTING TO OVER TAKE THE FRONT HOOD. WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THE KIDS AND GET FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE BUT 3 MINUTES LATER THE CAR WAS GUTTED. NOTHING BUT METAL LEFT ON THE INSIDE. WE HAD NO WARNING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO OVERHEATING - JUST SMELLED AND THEN SAW SMOKE. WE WERE LUCKY WE HAD A PLACE TO PULL OFF ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD BY THE POLICE OFFICER THAT I'M LUCKY THAT I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND OPENED THE DOORS BEFORE THE LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED AS HE HAS SEEN IN OTHER KIA CARS. MY HOPE IS THAT KIA CAN FIND THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE AND DO A RECALL BEFORE ANYONE ELSE IS FACED WITH THIS NIGHTMARE. I REPORTED IT TO KIA VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THEY SEEMED MORE CONCERNED ON HOW TO TAKE MY PICTURES OFF RATHER THAN FIX THE ISSUE. *TR UPDATED 11/02/2017*CN
Power train, Structure, Nov 4, 2014, crash
DRIVING SOUL DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN ANOTHER CAR CAME ACROSS THE HIGHWAY- THREE LANES, FROM A PRIVATE DRIVE IN FRONT OF ME TO ACCESS TURNING LANE. I HIT HIS REAR DRIVER SIDE WITH MY FRONT LEFT DRIVERS SIDE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Nov 1, 2014
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED CONSTANTLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND WAS SLOW TO PICK UP SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TIMING BELT BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THE SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. DYD
Power train, Oct 13, 2014
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FULL STOP OR ROLLING STOP, VEHICLE HESITATES AND LOSES POWER WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. *TR