general problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Soul

I am writing to report safety concerns regarding my 2018 kia Soul plus. I have been experiencing several engine issues, including knocking noises, hesitation during acceleration, excessive oil consumption, and an active check engine light. Recently, while driving with my daughter, the vehicle began shaking and the check engine light flashed three times. Although I strictly adhere to the recommended maintenance schedule, these issues persist. My mechanic identified code p0455, but a smoke test did not reveal a leak. Additionally, despite having a full tune-up in August [2025] at 105,636 miles, I am being told I require another tune-up due to engine misfires. I am concerned about the frequency of these repairs and the overall safety of the vehicle’s engine.

Unknown. . . The car goes into limp mode suddenly. . . My battery was boiling an shot liquid out of it, prior to this my other battery leaked an the alternator was bad . . . . When this happens suddenly you have no steering, an if course the boiling battery may explode. . . . I've had this car checked over several times since begining of January with everything checking out fine but this still happening.

I thought my headlights needed cleaning because they are blurry instead of clear. As I am cleaning the headlights I tree that both of my headlights have micro cracks throughout the entire headlights this is not chips in the headlights it is literally toni look cracks.

A kia franchise dealership demanded payment for diagnostics in order to perform a federal airbag safety recall, which I refused. After the dealer’s involvement, the vehicle’s diagnostic/obd port became unreadable, preventing recall completion. A second kia dealer states they cannot complete the recall and wants thousands of dollars just to attempt diagnosis. The vehicle has been out of service for over six months with an open safety recall. I believe the recall process has been obstructed.

My engine under, the 2018 kia Soul engine recall, first problem was on October 2023 when it arrived at the dealership with 'no oil'. The mechanic said for kia to replace the engine. At this time they also found 'sludge' for the first time. I had done my oil changes at the dealership and the most current was August 2023; 2000 miles prior. Kia extended my 100k miles engine warranty to 150k miles. Since, I have experienced excessive oil consumption and firing of the engine. In December 2024, the engine light went on. The kia mechanic said the engine must be replaced. This time I had a problem finding two maintenance receipts. Kia refused to honor the warranty. The dealership refused to work more on the car. In March 2025, the car began to fire large bangs, then much smoke and the engine seized. What if I was driving on a busy street when this happened? what if the car caught fire? I towed the car to the dealership. Kia manufacturer refuses to honor the engine warranty. I explained to kia my car has documented engine problems. The sludge found is part of the engine problem. The car uses excessive oil, the high burning is coagulating in the bottom of the engine causing the sludge. I have followed the scheduled maintenance in the owner's manual. I have been harassed, badgered, called names at the kia dealership who wants me to take my car away. I told all of them I have a car with a well known and documented engine defect that they must fix. I read the NHTSA 23v-099 recall. My kia Soul has experienced similar problems according to the descriptions from the kia mechanic. Because my car does not fall within the specific car description kia keeps turning me away. I am driving an unreliable and unsafe car on the road. We cannot allow kia to continue to sell unsafe cars they have no intention to correct. Another problem that began after the October 2023 break is the car has an error that reads, '. . . The battery is on'. I have replaced 3 die hard batteries since. Thank you.

The brake lights do not work even after they change all of them at the dealership.

The contact owned a 2018 kia Soul. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 65 mph, another driver advised her to pull over. The contact stated that the vehicle started jerking and the driver noticed that there was smoke coming from underneath the front end of the vehicle. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact's daughter was able to veer to the side of the road and exited the vehicle. The driver then noticed fire underneath the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the entire vehicle caught on fire. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact was unsure whether a fire department report and a police report were filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

Car stalled in the middle of the road while driving. Took it in to dealer ship for a recall to get this repaired or flashed. Engine burning excessive oil. Car has always been kept up with maintenance. While operating the vehicle the car stalled due to low oil compression. Vehicle has aprox 155k miles. Check engine light has came on. Due to the issue that car engine is burning oil there is a new permanent code p0420 which is a bad catalyc converter since the cars emission system is failing. Car has been sitting at home for about 1 month or longer as we don’t drive it and are still financing the vehicle.

My goddaughter has had random starting problems with the 2018 kia Soul plus, that I bought her. If you turn the key you hear a click but it won't start until you try several times. She has had to get a jump on occasions. We bought a new battery, thinking that was the problem, but that didn't solve the issue. Taken car to the dealership several times, but they say that they can't find a problem. She get nervous everytime she goes somewhere and cut the car off, thinking she's gonna get stranded. I'm afraid for her, getting out there at night time that car not starting for her. Researching this issue online, I found out that this is an issue that numerous people have complained about, an addressed the issue as well. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed by kia. Thinking about trading her kia Soul, and buying her something more reliable.

Buyer beware, do not purchase a kia. Kept up with oil changes on the car. Purchased used in 2019 at 45k miles. While driving from work car just stopped working, and engine and oil light turned on. Electrical was working replaced battery maybe two months earlier. Wasn’t due for an oil change. Took car to a mechanic who said it was low on oil which seemed odd. Also replaced brake pads and rotors. $1000 later the car starts making a horrible rattling sound and the oil light and engine light turn on and car almost immediately dies. Took car to dealership, engine is done. This is happening to all of kias cars that are being put on to the market. These cars are still being sold and they are all very much aware that these engines are bad. An entire decade of bad engines from kia. And they are doing nothing. Nothing. No recalls on this car. So now I am f*****. I have had this car for two years and it is only three years old and the engine is done. How is nothing being done about this???? why are our voices being ignored?? there are complaints on this page with this exact issue. Why aren’t these cars being recalled?? I had my boyfriend and 3 dogs in the car, what if my car had caught on fire like their other crappy cars they have put out? would I just be another person murdered by kia and no one does a thing about it? (allegedly).

I was driving my 2018 kia Soul on madison hwy in valdosta,GA. L saw smoke coming out my hood so I was able to pull into a convenient store ! the people in the store came running out with fire extinguishers and we were able to put out the fire.

I have a 2018 kia Soul+ and recently there is a burning smell coming from the car especially when the a/c is on. I took my car to the dealer regarding the problem, but was told that they did not see anything wrong or smell anything burning on the car. The problem happens mostly while driving on the highway. I'm afraid that the car is going to catch on fire. The car also loses power while driving ex. I can be driving 60 miles and all of a sudden the car starts to decrease in speed and you have to rave up the car to get it going again. Not good at all.

When you turn off the car the key won't come out if it's raining you get wet and sometimes the car won't start and the remote don't work. You smell gas while you driving.

Tl-the contact owns a 2018 kia Soul. While driving 60- 70 mph in the rain the adaptive cruise blocked and emergency brake blocked message were displayed without warning. The contact called ron tonkin kia 19335 se mcloughlin blvd, gladstone, or 97027 (503) 258-5808 but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted the failure mileage was 3,000. Ap.

My vehicle recall is to do with electrical issue that not only may have affected the air bag, but the electrical system shorting that’s burning the bulb holders that holds all of the brake and tail lights bulbs on this vehicle. These brand new bulbs consistently burn or short out within 1 to 2 weeks. This expense has grown expeditiously over the years of ownership, and because there is nothing in the information center to warn us, we are constantly due to no fault of our own, unknowingly driving with no brake light. Having to drive regularly on interstate 4, with traffic stopping warning, this is a great safety concern. Brake light are very very essential driving in sudden stopping traffic. Kia should be liable and responsible for correcting this traffic hazard. Thank you notes.