This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Stopped at stop light, light turned green. Pressed gas and dashboard symbols came on and car died. Tried starting again and it was dead. Pushed it to parking lot and tried to jump it. Didnt jump.. pushed to auto zone. Tested battery it was at 10%. they didn't have a battery. Used a jump box and car started. Was able to drive it home.
In May 2020, four months after leasing new car, car stalled while driving it (wheel locked and engine shut down). Luckily only on a residential road and not highway. Car made slight engine sounds, but no dashboard lights indicators at all at any point.. managed to drive car 10 minutes home (it stalled again). Towed car to dealership. Engine (one cylinder) had to be replaced was told put together incorrectly at factory, and that oil was almost completely used up, engine could have exploded. Confirmed could have stalled on highway. Replaced at no charge. Assured transmission fine and safe to drive. Reported to Kia corporate right away and asked that conversation be recorded.. in April 2021 learn of recall for Soul that seems to describe the same issue. Went in for routine maintanence, told that it was a different problem and a different model.
The car stalled in traffic while I was at a stop light. I put the car in park, and the engine re-started. The car had 6,595 miles on the odometer, and the first service was due at 7,500 miles. After this stalling incident, in order to prevent this happening again, every time I had to stop after that, at a light or intersection, I put the car in park. The next day, driving at 25 mph on a city street, loud rattling and metallic sounds came from the engine. I checked the oil. There was no trace of oil on the dipstick. I put in 2 quarts of oil, and the dipstick showed the sump was now full. I checked the tailpipe and found a carbon deposit on the inside, indicating the burning of oil. I took the car to the dealership where I bought it - kirby Kia in ventura ca - and they diagnosed a severe engine malfunction with evidence of metal shavings after removing the valve cover, and in the oil filter. They said they needed to replace the engine. They provided me with a complimentary rental car for 10 days, then a loaner, and returned my vehicle to me after 21 days. In the paperwork they gave me on returning my vehicle it states they installed a remanufactured long block engine and intake manifold. At no point in this whole procedure was I asked to consent to the engine being replaced, and I signed no document authorizing this to be done. At the end, I wrote that my signature only indicated my car had been returned to me. No apology was expressed to me by Kia for the major inconvenience the failure of the engine in this new car had caused me, except when I informed the management of the dealership of this fact, they called me to express regret.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was not driving properly. The vehicle was towed to danbury Kia (100A federal rd, danbury, ct 06810, (203) 730-5737) and was diagnosed with engine damage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 13,706.
- Yorktown Heights, NY, USA
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Bought the car in August of 2019 when the 2020 model was first released. Around 20,000 miles started to experience a heavy stutter in the engine at low rpms. Eventually it progressed over about a week, and the car would die at a stop light/sign. When parked it dies at random, you can hear and feel the engine struggle. If you watch the rpms you can see it visibly fluctuating, between about 500 and 800 RPM's then at random it will bog hard and die. If you kick on the A/C while stopped, you can watch it bog, which about 100-200 rpms is normal then it should idle up again. However it bogs about 500 rpms and will sometimes die. I wanted the alternator, and compressor checked. Took it to kalidy Kia in edmond Oklahoma and they told me multiple times there was nothing wrong with it or that the intake valve was dirty, which at 20,000 miles is ridiculous. Told me I was using bad gas, and still to this day won't look into the problem even under warranty. No telling when it is going to happen.
The car was purchased new from a Kia dealer in June of 2020. In March of 2021, with about 12,300 miles the following happened. Was driving the car not on the freeway and the car stopped in the middle of the street. Before the car stopped, no warning lights were ever displayed. Once the car stopped, I was able to get it restarted and moved it a very short distance where I parked it. After the restart, the engine light and oil light were illuminated. The car stopped again, when restarted, just the oil light illuminated. I parked the car and called Kia road assistance and it was towed to a Kia dealer. I was informed by the dealer today that the car needed a new engine which would be covered under warranty. Expected repair time is at least three weeks as the engine has to be special ordered. I reiterate that not only did no warning lights ever came on until the incident I described. Kia's uvo also sent me regular emails telling the the cars health was perfect! the way that the car just stopped and died while driving could have been very dangerous if I was not on a street with a low speed limit.
The contact owned a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer (lifetime Kia 4170 us-64, murphy, nc 28906;(828) 835-9200) who diagnosed that the crankshaft had failed however no repair was completed. The contact stated that shortly after that while their son was driving approximately 35 mph, when they heard a pop noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle then loss all power and a nearby driver informed the contact that the rear of the vehicle was on fire. The driver coasted to the side of the road and exited the vehicle. The fire then began to grow fairly quickly. The fire department put out the fire and a report was made. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. There were no injuries and no medical attention was needed. The contact had spoken to the dealer regarding the fire. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 71,000.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bought car new in October of 2019 in March 2020 car turned off as I was driving I put it in park turned back on with a loud noise called the shop they said it was low on oil but they just changed the oil 3 weeks prior so they added more oil told me to come back in 30 days and a month later it shut off on me again so I brought it back to the dealership and they determined I needed a new engine so they ordered a new engine and something was wrong with the new engine so they had to order another engine I finally after about 2 months maybe more I got my car back on June 4th I picked up my car and on Monday June 8th I turned on my car and a message about the tire pressure system needed to be checked and the auto shut off light was blinking the ABS light the emergency break light engine light and others were flashing and the steering wheel felt loose and the speedometer was reading 0 while I was driving I left it running and after a while they all shut off and speedometer worked and steering wheel felt fine well yesterday in Friday June 12th I turned the car on at 8am and all the lights were flashing again including the auto of light the speedometer read 0 while I was driving and the steering wheel felt loose again and the tire pressure light and system message came on again I took a video this time brought it back to bev smith Kia and had no car all day until I finally asked about a loaner at 4:30pm was told to go to the dealership to get a loaner waited there for an hour for the loaner but at this point I don't even want the Soul back.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at 55 mph, the engine revved up and decelerated to 3 mph and stalled without warning. The contact and vehicle occupant struck the dashboard however, there were no reported injuries. The vehicle was towed to fuccillo Kia of greece (4321 w ridge rd, rochester, NY 14626, (585) 720-8000) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was metal shavings inside of the transmission. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 2,300. The VIN was not available.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Converse, TX, USA