2020 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 381 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 9 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 6 people were injured and 8 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EngineApr 13, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.
Campaign 21V259000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
381 reports, newest first.
Steering, Feb 25, 2021
AT 8960 MILES STEERING INDICATOR DASH LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS A BAD STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. DUE TO THE CORONA VIRUS PART TOOK 2 1/2 WEEKS TO GET TO THE DEALERSHIP.
Power train, Feb 25, 2021
AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR 9 MONTHS AND PUTTING 17,000 MILES ON IT MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70MPH AND THE CAR BEGAN JERKING LIKE IT COULDN'T SWITCH GEARS. IT THEN BEGAN TO REV HIGH BUT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT EVENTUALLY GOT SO SLOW I HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND SIT ON THE SHOULDER FOR A FEW MINUTES WITH THE CAR OFF AND THEN TRIED TO RECRANK MY CAR IN WHICH IT STARTED BUT CONTINUED TO JERK/ROCK WHEN DRIVING. I GOT CLOSER TO HOME AND WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THE CAR WAS STILL ON BUT WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS IT REFUSED TO GO MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I TURNED IT OFF THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT DROVE. THE NEXT MORNING I TRIED TO DRIVE MY CAR TO WORK AND THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO JERK AGAIN AND EVENTUALLY THE HIGHEST SPEED IT WOULD GO TO WAS 50 IT CONTINUED TO DECLINE IN SPEED UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY JUST STALLED AND WOULDN'T MOVE. I TRIED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ON MY WAY THERE IT BROKE DOWN I THEN HAD TO GET A TOW TRUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND TOW IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THAT I HAD IN FACT RECEIVED A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. THIS OCCURRED ON JANUARY 15TH, 2021 IT IS NOW FEBRUARY 25, 2021 AND I DON'T HAVE MY CAR AND THEY HAVE NO ETA AS TO WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WILL BE HERE AND I CAN HAVE MY CAR BACK. I ASKED IF THE NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD WORK PROPERLY AND WAS TOLD "EVEN SOME OF THE NEW TRANSMISSIONS WILL BE DEFECTIVE SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW". I JUST WANT MY CAR I BOUGHT A CAR BRAND NEW BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS RELIABLE IT WAS NOT AND THERE'S NO RECALL NOTICE AND A TRANSMISSION STALLING ON THE INTERSTATE IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Other or unspecified, Feb 21, 2021
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS ON A CITY STREET ABOUT TO GO ON HIGHWAY RAMP. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND AS USUAL ISG (IDLE STOP AND GO) FEATURE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, BUT WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I MOVED MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK, THE CAR DID NOT START AGAIN, INSTEAD THERE WAS AN ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY AND OIL LIGHTS THAT WENT ON. THERE WERE CARS BEHIND ME. THANKFULLY, SINCE I WAS ON A HILL I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TOWARDS THE CURB ALLOWING THE CARS BEHIND ME TO PASS. AFTER THAT I USED MY CAR KEY TO COMPLETELY TURN OFF AND THEN TURN ON THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. IN THE PAST I HAVEN'T HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISG (IDLE STOP AND GO) FEATURE, BUT NOW I'M WORRIED THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY OR IF I CANNOT START THE CAR WITH MY KEY.
Power train, Feb 16, 2021
THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE IN THIS 2020 KIA SOUL, ONCE AT 4K MILES AND AGAIN WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 12K MILES. TWICE WITHIN 18 MONTHS. EACH TIME DRIVING ON I-10 EXPRESSWAY NEAR PENSACOLA, FLORIDA WHEN ENGINE STARTS DECELERATING AND CAN NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL THE POINT WHERE THE ENGINE STARTS WHINING AND THE CAR IS BASICALLY COASTING AT 10-15 MPH.
Power train, Feb 5, 2021
JUST PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS OF 2020 WAS THE FIRST TIME MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN A YEAR OUT FROM PURCHASE AND HAD LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT 'THERE'S A BAD ONE NOW AND THEN'. THEY SAID THEY HAD FIXED IT. TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE RPM STARTED FLUCTUATING AND SURGING EVEN WHEN I WASN'T PUSHING ON THE GAS. THE CAR THEN WOULD NOT SPEED UP WHEN I GAVE IT GAS TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC FLOW. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND CONTINUED TO SLOW. IT SLOWED SO MUCH THAT I WAS BARELY MOVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I COULD NOT CHANGE LANES BECAUSE I WAS IN THE FAR LANE AND IF I ATTEMPTED TO GET OVER I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE CARS PASSING. THIS WAS DURING RUSH HOUR I'M A MAJOR CITY. LUCKILY THERE WAS AN EXIT TO THE LEFT I WAS ABLE TO STEER OFF TO GET OFF HIGHWAY. I ATTEMPTED TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED ON THE EXIT RAMP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS STUCK AND COULDN'T MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. I HAD TO CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO CLOSED THE RAMP LANE UNTIL I COULD BE TOWED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT IN MY 'NEW' CAR THAT I BOUGHT IN ORDER TO HAVE A MORE RELIABLE VEHICLE. I'M SERIOUSLY REGRETTING RID OF MY OLD VEHICLE. I SHOULD HAVE JUST FIXED IT. THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST PURCHASE OF MY LIFE. I HAVE BEEN SO AFRAID BOTH TIMES THIS CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN, BOTH TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED.
Air bags, Feb 3, 2021, crash
I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I IMPACTED THE SECOND VEHICLE IN THEIR SIDE PASSENGER DOOR AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH. THIS HAPPENED ON US HWY 27 N IN CLERMONT, FLORIDA. BOTH MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE ER. I WAS DRIVING A 2020 KIA SOUL.
Power train, Engine, Jan 26, 2021
LIFTER TAPPING AND BURNING OIL. TOOK IT TO KIA OF SAVANNAH AROUND 2000 MILES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT, EVEN OIL WAS FULL WHICH I KNOW IS INCORRECT HAD CAR CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC BEFORE I TOOK IT THERE.
Power train, Jan 25, 2021
MY 2020 SOUL WAS NOT EVEN 1 YEAR OLD WITH APPROX. 12,000 MILES WHEN I WAS TAKING A TRIP FROM STL MY HOME TO COLORADO. 5 HOURS OUT IN LAWRENCE KANSAS AT 12:15 AM MY SOUL BEGAN SHAKING, WITH RPM'S ACTING WEIRD WHEN I WOULD PRESS GAS PEDDLES RPM'S WOULD REV UP TO THE VERY TOP AND CAR WOULD NOT GO. I WAS APPROACHING A TOLL BOOTH AND WHEN I GOT MY TICKET AND TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I PULLED ONTO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND WAS ON HOLD FOR ABOUT 1 HOURS WHEN I NOTICED VIA THE KIA APP THAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE COULD BE REACHED BY THE NAVIGATION UNIT. I HIT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND A WOMEN ANSWERED WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. SHE SEEMED EXTREMELY CONFUSED HOW TO DO HER JOB. SHE ASKED ME LOCATION, MY NAME, AND OTHER INFO SEVERAL TIMES. THE CALL WAS ABOUT 30 MINUTES WHEN SHE FINALLY SAID ASSISTANCE WOULD BE ON THE WAY. I RECEIVED 3 TEXT MESSAGES OVER THE NEXT 1 STATING SORRY FOR INCONVENIENCE WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO GET A SERVICE PROVIDER. WHILE WAITING I OBVIOUSLY GOOGLED AND SAW MAY STORIES ABOUT 2020 KIA SOUL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT WAS NOW ABOUT 6:00AM AND A STATE TROOPER CAME AND SAID I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS COMING AND I WAS EXHAUSTED, STARVING, AND NEEDED TO DESPERATELY USE THE RESTROOM. HE CALLED AND GOT ME A TOW TRUCK. I PAID $179.00 AND TOWED MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP IN LAWRENCE KANSAS. I THEN CHECKED INTO HOTEL WHICH WAS $125.00 AND RESTED WHILE I WAITED FOR THEM TO CALL. THAT AFTERNOON AROUND NOON THEY CALLED AND SAID MY BASICALLY NEW CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.
Power train, Jan 24, 2021
I WAS ON A TWO-HOUR DRIVE WHEN THE CAR STARTED MAKING ODD NOISES AND THE AUTOMATIC GEARS DID NOT SEEM TO BE SYNCING/SHIFTING CORRECTLY WITH MY ACCELERATION. I HAD TO PULL OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THAT'S WHEN IT STARTED TO GET REALLY BAD. I WAS OVER AN HOUR AWAY FROM HOME DRIVING UP TO A COURTHOUSE TO FILE A PETITION THAT WAS ON A DEADLINE. SO I CALLED THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS SAFE TO KEEP DRIVING AND WHETHER THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. THE MAN WITH WHOM I SPOKE SAID HE KNEW WHAT WAS PROBABLY WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT "UNCOMMON" BUT HE COULD NOT TELL ME ANY DETAILS BECAUSE OF THE "WARRANTY." HOWEVER, HE SAID I WAS SAFE TO KEEP DRIVING. I WAS NOT, IN FACT, SAFE TO KEEP DRIVING. THE TRANSMISSION DIED WHEN I WAS GOING 75MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN BURLINGTON, NC, WAITING FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT IS NOW ON BACKORDER. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW CAR, AND IT LITERALLY ALMOST KILLED ME. THE MAN AT THE SERVICE BARELY BATTED AN EYE. YOU WOULD THINK I WAS GETTING MY OIL CHANGED. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MATTER-OF-FACT HE WAS WHEN HE DESCRIBED HOW "COMMON" THIS PROBLEM IS IN THE NEW KIAS. THIS SHOULD NOT EVER BE A "COMMON PROBLEM" FOR ANY BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INFURIATING AND COMPLETELY DISTURBING. I DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY PAPERWORK ON THIS. THE DEALERSHIP HAD ME PICKED UP BY ENTERPRISE AND GAVE ME LITERALLY NOTHING. I WILL BE CALLING THEM TOMORROW MORNING WHEN THEY OPEN TO REQUEST THIS DOCUMENTATION.
Power train, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 20, 2021
1-ON THREE DIFFERENT TIMES I PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY TO GO AND MY CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE NO POWER HOW MUCH YOU PUSH THE GAS PETAL THEM EVENTUALLY IT TAKES OFF AND GOES. CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND THEY TOLD ME TO JUST DRIVE MY CAR IN SPORT MODE. I DON'T LIKE HAVING TO DRIVE MY CAR IN SPORT MODE THE RPM'S RUN HIGH AND IT USES MORE GAS. 2- MY FORWARD COLLISION ASSIST SYSTEM CAUSES MY DASH LIGHTS (COLLISION LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND AGAIN WENT BACK TO KIA AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME UNTIL THEY CAN DUPLICATE IT THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO CALL KIA ABOUT. 3- MY GAS HAND LIES AT TIMES I CAN FILL MY CAR UP AND THE HAND GOES TO HALF A TANK AND TAKES HRS TO A DAY OR TWO FOR THE HAND TO MOVE TO FULL. 4-JUST RECENTLY IN A WALMART PARKING LOT MY CAR JUST SHUT OF AS IF I TURNED THE KEY OFF AGAIN MY DEALER SAID IF THE CAN'T DUPLICATE IT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE I WONDER IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER 5 MONTHS WITH THE LAST EPISODE ON JAN.6,2021
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 15, 2021
AT 10K MILES THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO WARNING OR DUMMY LIGHTS RIGHT AFTER I SLOWED AND MADE A TURN. OIL CHANGE WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK. TOOK VEHICLE IN AND WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL. AT 13,400 MILES VEHICLE STARTED MAKING LOUD TICKING NOISE AND WAS NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATING. EACH TIME I HAD SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE RPM WOULD GO UP, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT GO AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. THEY STARTED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND SAID THE ACCELERATION ISSUE WAS DUE TO LACK OF OIL. 5 DAYS AND 200 MILES LATER I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING THE LOUD NOISE AGAIN FROM THE ENGINE AND ALSO NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY. THEY TEST DROVE IT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND TO COME BACK IN 300 MORE MILES. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE 300 MORE MILES DUE TO THE ACCELERATION ISSUES. I CALLED KIA CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS BEST. I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING IT BECAUSE IT HAS ALREADY ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ONCE.
Engine, Jan 10, 2021
TEST DROVE THIS WITH 8K MILES, AND FOUND COOLANT IN THE ENGINE OIL, AND A EMPTY COOLANT RESERVOIR WITH 2.0 NON TURBO. PURCHASED A DIFFERENT 2020, WITH NO VISIBLE COOLANT IN OIL(NEW OIL) BUT VERY LOW COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR WITH ONLY 5K MILES. ALSO A 2020 2.0 NON TURBO. POSSIBLE LINKED TREND OF ISSUES
Power train, Engine, Jan 6, 2021
I STARTED EXPERIENCING SLIPPING UNDER THE 9K MILEAGE MARK WHILE ACCELERATING. RECENTLY AROUND 25K, WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS AN UPDATE REQUIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDED TO BE LOADED TO THE COMPUTER. ABOUT 300 MILES AFTER THAT UPDATE, WHILE IN PARK, MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, THEN THE OIL LIGHT AND THE BATTERY LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY IN SEVERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND AFTER SEVERAL DIFFERENT PREVIOUS DRIVING DISTANCES. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE. I BROUGHT IT BACK A FEW TIMES AND I RECREATED THE ISSUE AND THEY DOCUMENTED IT, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET A TECH TO COME OUT AND READ THE CODES. I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY WERE STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY ISSUES. I ASKED IF THEY HAD CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT. I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM KIA SAYING THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IF IT WAS TURNING OFF THE ENGINE THAT IT MAY NEED REPLACING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND LET THEM KNOW THAT I WANTED THEM TO VERIFY THERE WEREN'T SHAVINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE DIAGNOSTICS RUN. THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK IN AND THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR TECHS RUN MORE TESTS. I AM STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT THE ISSUE.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 24, 2020
TODAY WHILE DRIVING HOME. MY 2020 KIA SOUL HIT 23000 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER AS I WAS ON HIGHWAY ON WAY HOME STILL. MY VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING LIKE BAD GAS. THEN STARTED JERKING AND RPMS KEPT REVVING UP EVEN THOU I WASNT PUSHING ON GAS ANY HARDER.ABOUT 27MILES FROM HOME RPMS SHOT UP AND CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN. QUICKLY PULLED OVER. SO I PUT IN PARK THE SHIFTED TO DRIVE AGAIN TRIED TO GIVE LIL GAS BUT CAR DIDNT MOVE HAD TO GET TOWED HOME.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 18, 2020
I STOPPED AT STOP SIGN AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AND MADE A DING SOUND BUT RADIO NEVER DISCONNECTED. NOT THE USUAL SHUT OFF THIS WAS DIFFERENT. THEN IT STARTED BUT IT MADE AN UNUSUAL DING SOUND. PLUS, SOUNDS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS DRAGGING IT WAS A RECALL AND I TOOK THE CAR BACK FOR MAINTENANCE AND NOW IT'S DOING SAME THING AGAIN PLUS THIS TIME IT WAS WHINING FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS WHILE I WAS DRIVING.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Dec 10, 2020
OUR KIA SOUL 2020 HAS SOME FAILURE RELATED TO THE AUTO STOP FEATURE (ISG). STARTING AT ABOUT 3000 MILES, THE CAR GROANS AS IT COMES OUT OF AUTO STOP, WITH THE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT. KIA CORPORATE DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A REPEATED ISSUE, THOUGH THERE ARE MANY FORUMS ONLINE RECORDING THIS EXACT PROBLEM AROUND THIS MILEAGE. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO CONSENSUS ON THE REPAIR, AND NO CONSENSUS ON WHETHER IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. IF THE AUTO STOP (ISG) FEATURE IS DISABLED, THE NOISE DOES NOT HAPPEN. MORE ACCOUNTS CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTPS://WWW.KIASOULFORUMS.COM/THREADS/ENGINE-GRINDS-WHEN-COMING-OUT-OF-THE-AUTO-START-STOP.116042/ A VIDEO WITH THE SAME NOISE CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/1TA6BH6ZPU8 THIS UNNERVING NOISE OCCURS AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING (NO NOISE PRIOR TO THAT).
Engine, Dec 6, 2020
BOUGHT NEW IN FEBRUARY 2020, AS I WAS COMING HOME DOWN CITY STREETS, FROM WORK IN OCTOBER 2020, I NOTICE A KNOCKING PINGING RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.. WHEN I GOT HOME THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA OF PALM SPRINGS CA TO TAKE IT IN. THEY TOLD ME AN APPOINTMENT WOULD TAKE WEEKS TO TAKE IN OR DROP OFF AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT 4 DAYS TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I DECIDED TO DROP IT OFF AS THE CAR WAS STILL MOVABLE, DROPPED IT OF WITH NO APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER CALLED ME ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND COULD NOT FIND A REASON FOR THE NOISE AND WOULD KEEP CHECKING. ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK INTO THE ISSUE WE WERE TOLD THE ENGINE FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. TO DATE, AND WOULD TAKE 3 TO 4 WEEKS TO RECEIVE A NEW ENGINE AND ANOTHER 2 WEEKS FOR INSTALLATION. WE ARE NOW IN DECEMBER AND HAVE NO CAR AND HAVE HAD TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON OUR CAR LOAN. I HAVE COMPLAINED DIRECTLY TO KIA MOTORS AND EVERY TIME I HAVE CALLED THEY SEEM TO NOT BE ABLE TO SATISFY OUR COMPLAINT AND THEY KEEP PASSING THE BUCK TELLING ME THAT MY CASE WILL HAVE TO BE ESCALATED TO A HIGHER AND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE NO ONE HAS AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISION UNLESS WE GO THRU THEIR PROCESS OF ESCALATION AND EACH TIME SAY THEY WILL CALL ME AND I HAVE TO CALL THEM. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION AND REGRET HAVING BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE.
Power train, Nov 19, 2020
WHILE EXITING FREEWAY, TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). AFTER STOPPING AT LIGHT, CAR FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR. PULLED OFF ROAD STARTED AND STOPPED CAR (HOPING TO RESET TRANSMISSION) TRIED TO ENGAGE SPORT MODE TO MANUALLY SHIFT AND TRANSMISSION INDICATED 5TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN, SHIFTED OUT OF SPORT MODE. TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO ENGAGE INTO LOWER GEAR, BUT SHIFTED BACK INTO 5TH GEAR WHILE CLIMBING HILL. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN, PUSHED ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR, TRANSMISSION REVVED AND MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP OF HILL. WENT THROUGH 2 STOP LIGHTS AND 1 STOP SIGN (WHILE WATCHING FOR CROSS TRAFFIC). THIS WAS AT 11:00PM WITH NO TRAFFIC PRESENT. PULLED CAR INTO CARPORT PARKING SPACE. AGAIN TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AND WAS ABLE TO PUT INTO REVERSE AND THEN DRIVE WITH TRANSMISSION ENGAGING CORRECTLY. VERY FRIGHTENING! ROUTE FROM FREEWAY TO HOME IS NOT A VERY SAFE AREA AT NIGHT TO JUST STOP AND WAIT FOR ASSISTANCE.
Power train, Nov 4, 2020, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING, THE VEHICLE SHIFTER WAS SWITCHED FROM REVERSE TO THE PARK POSITION. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS EXITING, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY DROVE FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE CARPORT POLL. DURING THE INCIDENT THE CONTACT WAS INJURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REENTER THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED BRUISING TO THE BODY AND A RIGHT ARM INJURY WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE WAS REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE LOCAL DEALER KIA OF SANDUSKY LOCATION 7515 MILAN RD, SANDUSKY, OH 44870 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Power train, Oct 26, 2020
WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD IN DOSWELL, VA, AFTER MAKING A TURN, THE RPM METER SHOT UP TO 4,000 BUT I WAS ONLY GOING 15 MPH. AS I TRIED ACCELERATING THE RPM METER KEPT SHOOTING UP EVEN HIGHER THAN NECESSARY AND THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE LIKE I WAS DRIVING 85 MPH. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND TAKEN TO KIA WHERE THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THIS CAR TWO MONTHS AGO AND IT ONLY HAS 1,900 MILES. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK NOW AND KIA HAS BEEN VERY UNHELPFUL IN THIS PROCESS AND HAVE BEEN VERY POOR WITH COMMUNICATION ABOUT MY VEHICLE. WHEN I CALLED THIS MORNING, THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE CURRENTLY HAS 20 MORE KIA SOULS IN THE SHOP THAT NEED NEW TRANSMISSIONS AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHEN I'LL HAVE MY CAR BACK. I DON'T PLAN ON BUYING FROM KIA IN THE FUTURE.
Power train, Engine, Oct 23, 2020
2020 KIA SOUL PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2020. VEHICLE STARTED TO DEVELOP A MILD "TICKING" NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE AND WORSE AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2020. ON 10/11/2020, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CONSIDERABLE GRINDING/CLICKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT WAS STILL DRIVABLE. WE WERE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT THAT AFTERNOON WHEN THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO LURCH FORWARD, BUT WAS STOPPED BY THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED. THE VEHICLE MADE A SCREECHING NOISE VERY BRIEFLY, AND DIED. VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, AND HAD TO BE PUSHED TO A PARKING LOT. ON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE TURNED OVER, MADE SOME VERY CONSIDERABLE GRINDING NOISES AND SHUT OFF AGAIN. ALL DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. KIA ROADSIDE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM AT ALL. I HAVE CALLED 2-3 TIMES, AND WAS ONLY TOLD TODAY BY A SECRETARY THAT IT APPEARED THE VEHICLE NEEDS A WHOLE NEW MOTOR. I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN DIRECTLY COMMUNICATED WITH BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR. HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS, THE END RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Oct 20, 2020
THIS 2020 KIA SOUL HAS A CVT TRANSMISSION. IT HAS NOW FAILED TWICE WITH ONLY 1400 OR SO MILES ON THE CAR. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY, APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES FROM OUR HOME. THE SECOND OCCURRED ON STREETS BY MY HOUSE, DIRECTLY BY A SCHOOL IN A SCHOOL ZONE. THE CAR FAILED TO DRIVE MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND KIA WILL NOT EVEN SPEAK WITH ME. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ASSIST EITHER. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 14 DAYS, WITH ONLY A LOANER FOR 7, AND NOW IT IS DEAD A SHORT TIME LATER. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW.
Other or unspecified, Oct 7, 2020
WHEN THE ISG (AUTOMATIC STOP/START) COMES OUT (LIFT FOOT OFF OF BREAK PEDAL), THE CAR MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN COMING OUT OF ISG. OTHER KIA SOUL OWNERS HAVE FOUND SAME THING. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN COMING OUT OF A FULL STOP, AFTER THE ISG ENGAGES, THEN DISENGAGES (THIS IS WHERE SOUND OCCURS). CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AFTER EVERY ISG STOP.
Steering, Suspension, Sep 20, 2020
WHEN PARKED (BUT WITH THE POWER SET TO "RUN" OR THE ENGINE FULLY ON), IF YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, TYPICALLY TO ITS FULLEST EXTENT, THERE IS A LOUD "CLUNK" OR "CLANK" NOISE COMING FROM THE BASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ONLY TOLD ME THE STEERING WAS "BROKE" AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM UNDER WARRANTY. THE ISSUE STARTED AROUND 2300 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL VIDEOS SINCE THE ISSUE BEGAN. THE CAR HAS TO BE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION (FORWARD OR REVERSE) BUT UNDER 5MPH (ROUGHLY). AFTER WATCHING A FEW YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND DOING SOME FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH PART OF THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE/DAMAGED "COUPLING GEAR" BETWEEN THE POWER/ELECTRIC ASSIST STEERING MOTORE AND THE STEERING COLUMN ITSELF. REGARDLESS, IT IS A SEVERE STEERING ISSUE THAT HAS LEAD TO A PREVIOUS RECALL IN OLDER KIAS AND SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 17, 2020, crash
WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AND COMING TO A STOP AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF . I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET AND HIT A PARKED CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY . IT PUSHED THE PARKED VEHICLE FORWARD ABOUT 2 FEET UNTIL THE CAR STOPPED . THIS IS A DIRT DRIVEWAY. I GUESS WHAT HAPPENED IS THIS CARS START AND STOP FEATURE WHICH TURNS THE MOTOR OFF WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AND STARTS BACK UP WHEN YOU LET YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE . SOME KIA FEATURE THAT WENT HAYWIRE AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT . YOU CAN DISENGAGE THIS FEATURE BUT IT MUST BE DONE EVERY TIME YOU STOP AND TURN OFF HE VEHICLE . THE DEALER DID NOT EVEN WANT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC TO MAKE SURE THE RADIATOR WAS NOT DAMAGED .