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.
Service brakes, Engine, Nov 7, 2019
PROBLEM WITH IDLE STOP/START SYSTEM-WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE, I HEAR A LOUD GROAN SOUND, AND THE CAR SHUTTERS BEFORE EVENTUALLY MOVING FORWARD. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SOUND THEY HEARD WAS "NORMAL", BUT IF IT CONTINUED TRY TO GET A AUDIO RECORDING OF THE SOUNDS I WAS HEARING, AND THEY WOULD LOOK IN TO IT. RIDICULOUS! I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 2 MORE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. RIGHT NOW I TURN THE FUNCTION OFF AS SOON AS I GET IN THE VEHICLE, WHAT GOOD IS IT IF YOU CAN'T USE IT?
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 29, 2019
I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2020. I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM IN JULY. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IDLE STOP AND GO FEATURE, AS IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THIS IT IS BEING USED. WHEN I COME TO STOPS AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. WHEN I RELEASE MY FEET OFF THE BREAKS THE CAR MAKES A DULL QUAKE LIKE NOISE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 7 DAYS ALREADY. THEY CHANGED THE BREAK BOOSTER THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS NOT. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SCHEDULE SOMEONE AT THE DEALERSHIP TO RIDE WITH ME FOR A FEW MINUTES TO LISTEN TO THE NOISE. ABOUT A WEEK AND HALF AGO I GOT AN REPLY TO AN EMAIL TELLING ME TO HOLD OFF ON THAT, BECAUSE ANOTHER CAR HAS COME INTO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THEY WILL CONTACT ME WHEN THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN GOING ON WORKING ON 5 MONTHS NOW.
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Oct 13, 2019
THE IDLE STOP - START SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE BROKEN. WHENEVER I PULL UP TO A LIGHT AND STOP THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THEN, WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE STARTS BUT THE CALIBERS LOCK UP ON THE DISC CREATING A LOUD GROANING SOUND. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUTTER AND BARELY GO FORWARD. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR CONSISTENTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE DEALER, KIA OF IRVINE, TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT FO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
Steering, Structure, Wheels, Jul 9, 2019
PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED - APPROX 45MPH. SEVERE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DID HAVE A NEW-ENOUGH MACHINE TO ALIGN THE CAR. HOW CAN KIA OF IRVINE, NOT HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO FIX THE CARS THEY SELL? INSIDE REAR COWLING THAT GOES AROUND THE SMALL PORTAL WINDOW ON THE RIGHT WAS WARPED FROM THE FACTORY. CAR WAS NOT MOVING. GOT A REPLACEMENT PART; HOWEVER, IT WAS A POOR INSTALL JOB AND THE FRONT PART OF THE COWLING DOES NOT ALIGN WELL WITH ITS LOWER CONNECT PIECE. RIGHT FRONT TIRE IS BECOMING SEVERELY WORN BECAUSE OF ALIGNMENT ISSUE THAT CAN'T BE FIXED. EXTERIOR PLASTIC COVER ON LEFT-SIDE A-FRAME PILLAR CAME FROM THE FACTORY SCRATCHED AND LOSE. KIA OF IRVINE WILL NOT FIX IT - THEY ONLY WANT TO BUFF THE PLASTIC. NOT A PROPER FIX BECAUSE THE PART IS STILL LOSE.
Engine, Jun 21, 2019, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED 10 DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *BF
Other or unspecified, Jun 20, 2019
I LEARNED THE CAR HORN ON MY 2020 KIA SOUL DID NOT WORK WHILE ON A HIGHWAY AND CLOSE TO BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. I TRIED TO USE HORN TO ALERT THE OTHER DRIVER AND IT FAILED. I CONTACTED DEALER SERVICE DEPT FOR ASSISTANCE AND HAD TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT AND THEY ADVISED ME THE HORN SYSTEM FAILED AND SENT ME HOME WITH MY CAR AND NO HORN. I COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MGR AND THEY GAVE A LOANER AND TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THEIR SERVICE AREA UNTIL THE PARTS COME IN. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE PART WILL TAKE 4 WEEKS TO COME IN, THEY CAN'T TAKE THE PART FROM THE OTHER 2020 SOUL ON THE LOT AS THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME FAILED HORN SYSTEM.