2018 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 218 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 14 involved a crash and 14 involved a fire. 12 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bagsJan 25, 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Campaign 22V031000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
218 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2021
On the evening of 7/31/2021 myself and my 2 brothers were on our way home from shopping. It had just got dark outside. Suddenly there was a loud noise under the hood and the vehicle stopped dead in the middle of the road. Thank GOD we were not hit from behind. I put the flashers on to warn others. Other cars were blowing there horns, it was very dangerous for us and others as well. I called and got AAA there as soon as possible. The car was smoking and oil was every where. I had the car taken to an independent shop. They told me the connecting rod had gone through the engine block and that it was very bad. They suggested that I take it to the Kia dealership. They said Kia would know about the warranty's. I had AAA take it to the Kia dealer ship in west Orlando. I paid them 265.00 to do the diagnostics on the car. They told me the connecting rod bearing had caused the rod to go thru the engine block. They said I would Have to have a new engine (approx. 10,000.00 ). I said if I gave them the money when could i get my car? They said they didn't know. I ask if I could have a loaner vehicle to get myself to work. They said they don't do that. They also said at that cost I would not get a new engine. I was not treated very nice. I never had any trouble with my car. I had no warning of any kind it just suddenly stopped. I am a widow and my husband always told me to keep my oil changed. He said it is the life of the car. So I always changed my oil ahead of the scheduled time for it to be changed. I got my oil changed on 7/29/2021 and the bearing went bad on 7/31/2021. A friend from my church tried to contact Kia Corp. in California for assistance,but was treated rudely.I know there have been recalls on different Kia and Hundai engines for connecting rod Bearing issues.This was very dangerous many people could have been hurt or killed. Kia Will not help. I only have 71,000 miles on my car. I was the second owner of the car so my warranty is no good. 3 tech's have seen it.
Engine, Oct 13, 2021
Engine started to knock, then it got louder and finally the engine stopped running. If it would have shut down on the busy interstate, it could have been a disaster. The problem has not been inspected by Manufacture. Trying to report to KIA. Engine has less than 84000. The oil light came on right before it died.
Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2021, fire
So, I was driving down the road and there was like a tapping sound coming from the engine. It had been doing that tapping noise for a couple of days. All of a sudden a heard like a loud bang/pop noise and see smoke coming out of my engine area. The car stalled and I slowly let it coast to the side of the road. I looked at my rear view mirror and I see black smoke and a man running toward me yelling, "Get out of the car! Get out of the car! It's going to explode! Get out of the car!" Other cars were stopping and I couldn't tell what all the fuzz was about. I picked up my work lap top, parked the car, and took the keys off the ignition. Smoke was coming into the cabin and I realized this was something else. I opened the door and the man yelled again, "Get out!, Get out!" I did. I slowly got out of the car and made my way away from the car. I began recording because I was mad that this KIA that I had bought just over a year prior had broken down. It wasn't until I stepped further back that I see the fire coming upward and the engine was on fire as well. The KIA Soul 2018 burned completely down in less than 10 minutes. I was lucky to get out alive.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 21, 2021
On several occasions now the vehicle has sped up on its own while parked. Thank goodness I had my foot on the brake but as soon as I let go of the brake, it went fast without my peddle on the gas. I stopped it with the break peddle and it did it again once I let go of the brake peddle. It usually takes a couple of times for the car not to do that. Also, the oil light hasn't warned me that the oil is low. The motor began rattling while I was near work and I stopped the vehicle. Someone helped me and told me that there was barely any oil in the engine. So, we added oil but now it's always rattling. It has also stalled while going up a hill. That's happened on two occasions. I believe I may have a lemon in my hands. KIA has yet to accept that it's still under warranty and they keep brushing me off.
Engine, Sep 14, 2021
My engine failed and gasket blew with no signs of over heated and no issues prior to failure car had no issues at all.
Engine, Aug 12, 2021
The car started making a squeaky noise checked to see if it was the brakes or anything else, nothing everything appears fine. Hera the noise again have it checked out turns out car has no oil what do ever. I have my car serviced every 3 m as it should be even before the miles I know and have read and other articles about the oil just disappearing, my car only has 53, 000 miles on it.
Engine, Aug 10, 2021
Around 65000 miles, While driving the engine just lost power and started knocking. There are a lot of forums with the same model with the same compliant and issue. even the Kia dealship says there is a problem with these engines. They are recommending a new engine I am afraid to have my family in this car.
Power train, Engine, Jun 24, 2021
While driving to work my engine began to knock, my oil light flickered and went out, and then I completely lost power. I took my 2018 Kia soul to a local mechanic and he confirmed that my engine was blown and would need to be replaced with only 78,388 miles on my vehicle.
Engine, Jun 7, 2021
I have been a 3 car Kia customer for almost 10 years. In the last 10 months I have had more than a dozen service visits. Starting in August 2020 my engine was losing oil. After first visit, my SA Edwin agreed this is a problem, do the oil consumption test and we’ll be on our way for a repair. Test Done, with a "sorry" we have to do the test again but we replaced the ignition coil. (2nd Coil since I’ve owned car) And again we test. With more "Sorry" it didn't burn enough oil, or you have to come in EXACTLY at 1,000 miles. (This is NOT true; math can be converted at any mileage over the 1,000.) Even when I told them it starts burning at the 2,000 mark after oil change. Over and over again, I miss work to sit in the dealership, or WALK home, as the dealership insisted on these appointments but wouldn't give me a loaner (I have full coverage insurance) Finally in March 2021 they decide they will clean the combustion chamber. Need to leave car: they make me RENT a car saying it will be paid for with my warranty. ADDITIONAL days needed as more problems occurred while in for repair. (Oil switch). Keep the rental they told me, it’s covered. Return the rental and the dealership won’t PAY THE RENTAL. I have now missed over 30 hours of work, repeated oil change costs for the process, Rental Fees, Inspection fees that were never reimbursed. All in avoidance of a repair that was clearly needed to my engine. Go back into a new Kia on 6/1/21 for scheduled oil change, and the Tech tells me there is NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. AGAIN. 10 months later and I still have the same problem. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE and KIA will not address.
Power train, Engine, May 28, 2021
2018 kia soul+ with 2.0l engine has developed a rod knock at 86k miles. Kia customer service was made aware of the issue and has refused to to repair the vehicle. According to a kid certified technician at a kia dealership, the issue is the same as other kia vehicles with a recall for, "connecting rod excessive wear". Customer service was made aware of these findings and still refuses to issue recall. Engine currently runs, but can not be run for very long or driven due to eminent risk of catastrophic engine failure.
Engine, May 1, 2021
MY CAR HAS 64,700 MILES ON IT. I WAS ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD A POOF NOISE WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AND I LOST ALL POWER
Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 29, 2021
THE CRUISE CONTROL SOMEHOW AFFECTS THE ENGINE AND OR TRANSMISSION WHEN IN CRUISE IT SPEEDS UP WITH OUT PRESSING ON THE GAS THE MPR GOES WAY OVER 4 MPR THEN I CANCEL THE CRUISE AND RESET IT AND SAME THING HAPPENS THIS IS ON HWY
Engine, Mar 3, 2021
ON JANUARY 22, 2021, VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATING. SOON AFTER, LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE AND ENGINE DIED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ENGINE FAILURE AT 75K MILES. DEALER STATED SEVERAL ENGINE FAILURES IN THE YEAR MODEL CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED. USED ENGINE WITH 12 MONTH WARRANTY WAS PRICED AT $9100.
Power train, Engine, Feb 18, 2021
JANUARY 21ST 2021, WENT TO A DEALERSHIP IN MIAMI AND PURCHASED A USED KIA SOUL PLUS. JANUARY 26TH 2021, AFTER LEAVING THE POST OFFICE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND CAME TO A STOP. OIL LIGHT WAS GLITCHING PRIOR TO THAT DAY. CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND COULDN'T SHIFT GEARS TO PARK OR NEUTRAL. HAD TO PUSH THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND SIT. TOOK TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED OIL GASKET. TOOK THE CAR HOME FEW DAYS DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. FEBRUARY 9TH CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN WHILE TURNING INSIDE PARKING SPOT. CAR BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WAS BOTH ON. CAR WENT BACK TO KIA DEALERSHIP THURSDAY 11TH. KIA LOOKED AT THE CAR STATING OIL SLUDGE WAS ALL INSIDE THE ENGINE AND REPAIRS WILL COST $9,000. USED CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.
Power train, Feb 18, 2021
JUST BOUGHT CAR, 33,000 MILES, WAS DRIVING AND TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, INTERNAL MECHANICAL DAMAGE
Engine, Feb 4, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AND DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL METALLIC SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER WHEN THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECENT OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA OF BOWIE (16620 GOVERNOR BRIDGE RD, BOWIE, MD 20716, (301) 820-7500) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC REFERENCED A RECALL FOR 2014/2015 MODEL YEARS HOWEVER, THE 2018 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WERE NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CONTACT'S MODEL YEAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine, Jan 27, 2021
I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 KIA SOUL WITH 89,000 MILES ON IT AND ENGINE MADE A RATTLE NOISE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A LOUD CLUNK NOISE OUT OF THE BLUE. DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, AFTER THE NOISE THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY DIES. I COAST INTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE IS LIGHTLY SMOKING AT THIS POINT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TELL ME THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THE SHOP MANAGER ALSO STATES THAT THE 2018 KIA SOUL SHOULD HAVE AN ENGINE RECALL IN HIS OPINION BECAUSE HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE THE 2018 SOUL USES IS THE SAME ENGINE THAT IS IN OTHER KIA VEHICLES WITH RECALLS ON THEIR ENGINE. I HAVE RELIGIOUSLY PERFORMED ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES AT MANUFACTURES PRESCRIBED TIME.
Engine, Jan 26, 2021
WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. IT GAVE NO WARNINGS OR MADE NO NOTICES. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA AND CALLED AAA TO COME AND TOW THE CAR TO MY HOME. MY HUSBAND WENT TO START IT AND SAID BATTERY WASN'T GOOD SO WE BOUGHT A NEW ONE, THEN HE STATES THE STARTER WAS BAD SO WE REPLACED IT, THEN WE FINALLY GOT IT TO START ONLY TO HEAR THE CAR MAKE A LOUD SLAPPING SOUND. THE CAR DOESN'T DRIVE AND THE ENGINE HAS FAILED. I AM THE SECOND OWNER SO THE WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 18 MONTHS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE OIL CHANGES AND KEEP IT CLEAN. I HAVE TAKEN REALLY GREAT CARE FOR THE CAR AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE, WHEN IT'S A 2018 KIA. ENGINES SHOULD LAST A LONG TIME.
Power train, Engine, Jan 19, 2021
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS AS THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES NOW. STILL ON FOR THE 6TH TIME NOW!!!! I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WOULD FIX THIS AND IT HAS NOT
Other or unspecified, Jan 15, 2021
2 INSTANCES HAVE OCCURRED. 1. IN REVERSE, THE CAR MOVED FORWARD AND NEARLY HIT A WALL. 2. IN REVERSE, THE CAR MOVED FORWARD AND NEARLY HIT ANOTHER CAR. THEN PUT IN NEUTRAL TO PUSH BACK. BUT CAR MOVED FORWARD IN NEUTRAL AS WELL. LET THE CAR SIT FOR A HALF HOUR. AND IT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE CORRECTLY AGAIN.
Engine, Jan 12, 2021
I WAS DRIVING MY KIA 2018 SOUL TO MY JOB GOING AROUND 55 AN HOUR AND I HEARD A LOUD CLINK IN THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE JUST GOT FIXED FROM HITTING A DEER AND PASTED INSPECTION. EVERYTHING DONE ON IT WAS COMETIC AND WAS NOT DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE FOR ANOTHER 1,500 MILES. IT COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN WAS TOWED BACK TO WHO REPAIRED IT AND THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACE. I ONLY HAD IT A YEAR AND IT ONLY HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT. I AM NOW OUT A VEHICLE AS I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ENGINE AND ALWAYS GOT AN OIL CHANGE BEFORE THE RECOMMEND TIME AND MILEAGE. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE A VECHILE SHOULD HAVE IN THE CONDITION IT IS IN!!!!
Engine, Jan 5, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER SON'S APARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER KIA OF SOUTH AUSTIN (5306 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX 78745, (512) 444-6635) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Engine, Jan 5, 2021
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 5 MINS AND MY KIA SOUL MADE A RATTLING NOISE THAN 200 FT LATER MY CAR WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE IS GONE ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND GAVE NO WARNING ⚠️ LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND ENGINE JUST CUT OFF
Engine, Dec 3, 2020
MILEAGE 68000 - TICKING NOISE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR TWO DAYS (FOR THE HOLIDAY). TWO DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND RAN CODE AND PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE. NOISE CHANGED IMMEDIATELY TO KNOCKING AND SQUEAKING AND CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING HOME. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RODS EITHER BROKE, BLEW, OR WERE GOING TO, AND A NEW MOTOR WAS NECESSARY. MY VEHICLE HAS THE 2.0L MOTOR THAT IS SUBJECT TO MANY OTHER RECALLS AND ISSUES BUT YET NOT ON THE RADAR OF THE AUTHORITIES. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 10 MONTHS AND APPROXIMATELY 20,000 HIGHWAY MILES, AND JUST OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD.
Engine, Nov 30, 2020
2018 KIA SOUL #3 PISTON AND CONNECTING ROD SHATTERED WITHIN 1.5 BLOCKS OF INITIAL KNOCKING DETECTION WHEN TRYING TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT OFF OF THE STREET.. THE MOTOR SEIZED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED BY OTHER DRIVERS.