general problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Soul - part 2

I purchased my 2020 kia Soul gt-line brand new in October 2019. The vehicle was later subject to a kia oil piston ring recall, which was performed by an authorized kia dealership in July 2021. Rick case kia - duluth, georgia despite the recall being marked as completed, the engine has now suffered catastrophic failure. An authorized kia dealership (nalley kia, lithonia, GA) performed an inspection and documented the following diagnosis: “engine has loss of compression in 3 of 4 cylinders due to piston ring failure. ” ? this confirms that the engine failed due to piston ring failure, the same defect addressed by the recall. The vehicle is currently inoperable and unsafe to drive due to engine failure and loss of power. Despite identifying the cause of failure, the servicing dealer and warranty administrator are refusing to process warranty coverage unless I personally pay $1,949. 56 for a complete engine teardown. The cause of failure has already been documented by the dealership, making the teardown demand unnecessary and unreasonable. I do not consent to teardown at my expense. This appears to be a case of failed or ineffective recall remediation, resulting in engine failure and creating a serious safety risk due to loss of engine power. I am requesting NHTSA investigation into the effectiveness of kia’s oil piston ring recall remedy and post-recall engine failures.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle indicated that the oil level was low. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that the dipstick was dry. The contact was concerned because oil had been added to the vehicle four months earlier, in October 2025. The dealer was not able to determine the cause of the failure. The oil level was topped off. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,637.

The car is at the shop. My mechanic says engine needs to be replaced. It failed rapidly, in one evening, it started running ruff and check engine light came on. It stalled more than 5 times. The car stalled in an intersection and had to coast to a stop to restart. The next morning drove to o'reilly's to get the engine code. They identified the code as engine block. When leaving o'reilly's the car stalled in middle of the street and was almost hit by semi tractor trailer that stopped barely in time. The mechanic reported finding metal shaving in the oil when diagnosing the problem. There was not any warning lights or issues before that evening outing. We would love to have the manufacturer address this issue. Engine failure at 52,800 miles on a 2020 kia Soul needs to be addressed.

Oil is getting past the piston oil rings, causing oil to get into spark plugs/coil area of engine. Mechanic printed recall paperwork for this exact issue, but no recall found for my VIN. According to recall, this is a very dangerous issue that can stall car at any time or may be more likely to cause fires. I need this to be addressed in my car, please. Especially since it's a known issue.

My car is burning oil and showing signs of blow-by. I suspect it is due to the faulty piston rings that prompted your engine recall sc209. I brought the vehicle into the dealership in 2020 at 2,100 miles for the recall and they said it "passed. " I recently became aware that this vehicle is burning oil at a significant rate, which is the date I reference below as "date this incident occurred. " I opened a case with kia customer care on 1/31/26. On 2/3/26 I began an oil consumption test at the local kia dealership and I will return at or near the 1,000-mile mark to determine how much oil was burned and to see if the oil has turned black, signifying the blow-by. Attached is the letter of fact that I provided to the dealership when I took the vehicle in to initiate the oil consumption test, so they have that on record, as does kia customer care. I may be in touch with you if I believe my vehicle has burned more than a quart of oil during the consumption test and they decline a next-step for addressing the defective pistons.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs and coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the taillights were inoperative, there was oil leaking from the bottom of the vehicle and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that after the vehicle was restarted, the vehicle returned to normal operation. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and the dealer stated that there was an oil consumption issue with the vehicle; however, cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

My 2020 kia Soul has around 135,000 miles on it. When accelerating it sounded like a rod or piston was coming through the engine wall. Then began the chugging and loud knocking noises along with engine shutting off. Glad we were not on a railroad track or something like that. We could have easily been killed. No warning lights or sounds at all.

The car is frying my battery. I had a duralast platinum that should last approx 4 years. It killed one at 26 months. I replaced it, free of charge per the warranty, and 6 months later the brand new one is testing low again. Also, at 127k miles a flashing check engine light came on, I took it for a pre-check at a local shop and the tech identified that there was 0 oil in the reservoir. I had him change the oil just so I could get it out of there and took it into the dealership a day later. After charging me $250 for a diagnostic the dealerships response was that the cylinder walls and piston rings were damaged causing excessive oil consumption and that I need to replace my engine. $9,000 for a new engine at 127,000 miles is ridiculous. Apparently just about every other model but mine was recalled. I had to take it in for a recall last year.

On my morning commute the engine light popped up and I started feeling a rumbling in my car when idle and gliding after accelerating. I suspect the issue is consistent with the recall for 2. 0l nu mpi engine due to a fire risk caused by faulty piston oil rings. Some sources say this is for 2020-2023 models and others report it being 2021-2023 so I am unsure if my car falls under this recall or perhaps this recall needs to be expanded.

The check engine light came on and took in to have checked and am told I need a whole new engine. When kia is contacted they are saying that they do not honor 100,000 mile warranty as I am not the first owner. I would like this to be honored because it is ridiculous that an engine would fail this soon. I have kept up on all oil changes and services since I have owned the vehicle.

Car is suddenly stalling without warning during idling or slow acceleration. No check engine light initially appears. When the stall happens a check engine light comes on. When the car restarts there is not a check engine light. Car will sometimes Mar a funny sound like a loud fan and jerking motion before acting “normal” but when idling at a light again will suddenly turn off. Car will start back up again, no warning lights, no check engine, etc. When doing a read of the computer there are no codes to determine any issues.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under kia recall: sc209; however, the repair failed to prevent the failure. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the contact became aware of a n excessive oil consumption. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil; however, the cause of the failure was unknown. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that oil was being added approximately every 2 days. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

The engine began to sound like it was missing or sputtering. This occurred for a short period of time, and then the sound stopped. The next day the sound started again, shortly after engine seized while driving which created a very dangerous situation. After about 10 minutes the vehicle restarted, was making a sputtering noise, and was driven a short distance into a parking lot. Still, no warning lights appeared on the dashboard, vehicle was towed to a kia dealership. At the dealership, 4 days later, we were told that the vehicle was completely out of oil. The check engine light, nor the oil icon, came on at any time. There was no evidence of an oil leak of any kind. There has been no damage to the vehicle. The vehicle has received regular oil changes either at a dealership or at a business that supplies oil change services. The engine seizing, really with no warning, created a dangerous situation.

The engine stalled. I was in a left turning lanev(which there's 2 left turning lanes and I was in the far left turning lane when the vehicle stalled and I had to get out in heavy traffic and push the vehicle to the gas station to the right of me. Cars were coming so close to me and I was so scared) I've spoken to the dealership and they said twice that someone would call me but no one has yet. The engine light came on and when I pressed the gas to go, it wouldn't move. Once I got the vehicle into the gas station, a gentleman told me to let it sit for 5 minutes and turn it back on. I did, the vehicle started but, would only allow me to drive around 35 mph until I was able to park it back in my driveway. Im terrified to drive it now.

The problems with the kia sol began with the "check engine" light continuously coming on in January of 2025. Took it to the dealership twice and numerous repairs were made and the vehicle continues to malfunction. It sputters and has created a dangerous condition to drive. For example, my 21 year old son was on the freeway and the car started sputtering. Thank god that the truck behind him moved lanes when he saw the car was struggling or it could have ended tragically. That was incredibly scary. I took it to the dealership again. They kept for two weeks trying to find the root of the problem, I spent $4,000 to "fix" it. When I drove it around town it did the same again, which put my brother and I in danger. The dealership finally said that the car needs a catalytic converter, which I was quoted as costing approximately $5000 dollars. I have spent a lot of money to try to fix this car and have been in two dangerous situations because the problem was not located. I have been trying in good faith to work with the dealership and kia corporate to put a new catalytic converter by requesting a good will gesture.

While I was parked, I got into the vehicle inserted the key and turned the vehicle on as it was started five seconds later the vehicle shut off instantly and the check engine light came on. I tried to keep starting the vehicle a couple of times. When it finally started, I had no warning lights on the dashboard so I took it a parts store who checked it out with a handheld diagnostic machine. The results were nothing was showing wrong. Everything was okay. They said it could be a glitch in the computer system and to follow up with dealership if problem persist.

Component that failed: the engine (2. 0l nu mpi) suffered a sudden internal mechanical failure. A connecting rod broke and punctured through the engine block. The failure was catastrophic and occurred without any warning lights, oil pressure warnings, overheating messages, or performance symptoms beforehand. Safety risk: the vehicle stalled instantly and lost all power while I was driving, which put my safety at risk. A sudden engine failure at speed can cause loss of control, a crash, or the inability to move the vehicle off the roadway. This type of failure is a serious safety hazard. Inspection and confirmation: the failure was confirmed by kia of riverdale on November 13, 2025. Their mechanic documented that the engine rod blew through the block due to internal damage. The dealer stated the vehicle is no longer drivable and needs a full engine replacement. Manufacturer response: kia declined assistance because I am the second owner and the warranty has expired, even though this type of failure is consistent with known engine defects in kia’s 2. 0l engines involving connecting rods, oil starvation, and internal bearing failures. Kia did not inspect the vehicle beyond the dealership diagnosis and did not offer goodwill repair. Warning signs before failure: none. No warning lamps, noises, or messages appeared prior to the incident. The engine failed suddenly without any advance symptoms. Best assessment of cause: based on the dealer inspection and kia’s documented history of engine defects, the failure appears related to the same connecting rod and internal lubrication issues affecting similar kia engines from nearby model years. Although my VIN is not currently included in an active recall, the mechanical failure matches the defect patterns described in existing kia engine recalls. The vehicle remains unsafe and completely inoperable.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle was driving sluggishly, and the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated before stalling. The vehicle was towed to the local service center and was diagnosed with piston rings failure. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed, and metal shavings were found inside the engine oil, and the camshaft and the timing were not operating properly. The cause of the failure was not yet determined by the dealer. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 21v259000 (engine). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.

I believe my car has been burning oil. The oil was empty at our last oil change only about 60,000 miles on car and we have had to keep adding oil to the car since then. I got extra concerned also when I saw alot of kia Souls same year have gotten recalled for oil consumption, yet my VIN number wasnt included. . . I have dropped a document in the comments with what the dealership said about it as well.

This vehicle burns over 2 quarts of oil between oil changes. Had 3 oil consumption tests. Kia states that this motor is supposed to burn that much oil. My catalytic converter is now going bad due to the amount of burnt oil clogging it. Why have these engines not been recalled?.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at a very low speed, the vehicle's speed increased independently. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the vehicle was being parked. The contact noticed an unusual sound, and the engine revved up. The contact stated that the vehicle was uncontrollable. The vehicle went across the street into the neighbor's yard. The vehicle crashed into the neighbor's rose bush and up onto the patio. The contact stated that the neighbor, who was seated on the patio, had been knocked out of the chair. In addition, the vehicle crashed into a wooden post. The neighbor was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A police report was filed; however, the information was unavailable. The neighbor's injuries were unknown. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,500.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21v259000 (engine). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with rod bearings failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.

Second engine installed in the car ceases to fire. Condition does not change with new sensors for camshaft nor crankshaft. Engine turns freely cranks but will not restart. Unreliable driving conditions. Mathew’s kia wants $1400 upfront to start exam in blind faith to see if a properly serviced car has a common warranty claim.

Engine stopped do to zero oil no light came on warning me and I checked the oil a month pryer. Had the oil changed two months before.

According to ray skillman southside kia, located in greenwood, indiana on [xxx], the “exhaust engine lock pin” broke inside the engine causing metal to shear inside the engine causing engine failure and needing engine replacement. Prior to this diagnosis the car was stalling during running in the middle of traffic potentially causing an accident or collision with other vehicles. This is a known defect in the manufacturers engines, yet there is no recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact previously received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21v259000 (engine). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where an inspection was performed, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had passed the inspection. The mechanic stated that no repairs were needed, and the recall was removed from the VIN. The contact then stated that while driving 30 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated, and there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for an inspection, and the contact was provided a diagnostic test fee. The contact declined the diagnostic test and took the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The mechanic determined that there was a defect with the piston oil rings. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 21v259000 (engine). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

Was driving home from work and the car started smoking and making nose. Full power loss but was able to safely pull over to side of the ride. Had vehicle towed to mechanic and a piston had blown a hole through the engine. Mechanic estimated the cost of repair $7000 or more to replace the engine.

My engine stalled out as I was heading up a hill after taking a right turn. There were cars coming up behind me and could have had a rear end collision. A day or two before, the check engine light came on but it was not flashing. I was going to have it looked at ASAP. I had it towed to my mechanic who found that there was zero oil in oil tank. They did some research and found a technical service bulletin for excessive oil consumption for kia Souls through 2021. (I have kept up with all maintenance) they recommend I have it towed to a kia dealer. I spoke with corporate and they refuse to cover engine repairs which would cost approximately $4,000, even though there is a TSB on this make and model. This is outrageous as my car only has 49,000 miles on it.

On August 3, 2025, I was in erie PA - presque isle park when the check engine light came on. It was a Sunday, so dealership was closed. I was over 3 1/2 hrs from home. Had no choice but to drive home and pray that I made it. On Monday, dealer said ok to drive if light is not flashing. If anything happens, have it towed here (that was comforting). First appt available was 8/26. On 8/26, I went to service area, they said several codes coming up relating to engine issues. They would have to keep the car - not safe to drive - they had no loaners - someone would drive me home. So when I was told ok to drive 3 weeks earlier - that was not true. I live on my own and what would I do if stranded somewhere. Dealer called me later and said that kia would not honor my 10 yr/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. It was initially in husband's name but he passed away 4/29/2024. Pa dmv required me to change the title to my name. The dealership also would not honor their extended warranty my husband had purchased for $2000. Meanwhile, the kia was 5 yrs 8 mos old with only 28,400 miles. The codes that came up in the car were: p030400 cylinder 4 misfire p001400 exhaust cam timing over advanced p000b00 cam position slow response engine timing chain assembly is stretched - removed and replaced engine timing chain assembly removed and replaced exhaust camshaft removed and replaced exhaust cvvt removed and replaced intake camshaft removed and replaced intake cvvt removed and replaced the timing chain tensioners I did not receive the kia back from the dealership until December 12, 2025 - yes they had my car from 8/26 to 12/12. Luckily, I had another car I could access since I had no loaner vehicle. After being strung along. . . Making phone calls to the dealership weekly. . . Contacting kia corporate. . . And listening to excuse after excuse why they would not honor the powertrain warranty - I had it with kia. I went to a Subaru dealership and signed papers for new car on 12/17/2025.

Car was purchased used in November 2024. Driven minimally through 2025. July of 2025 engine began stalling at low idle or when pulling into a stop and repeatedly stalling out. Took car to mechanic and replaced crankshaft position sensor, spark plugs, and fuel pump - cost $1,218. Stalling still occurred. Took it to kia dealership and they stated, “cylinder 1 scoring damage, and needed new engine”. This was/is a known problem with various kia models: “engine stalling symptom from defect manufacturing of oil rings in cylinder that causes scoring and engine damage. ” we bought this car for $12,000 in good faith and it didn’t even last a year!!.

To whom it may concern, I am writing to formally submit a complaint regarding the handling of my vehicle recall and repair process at kia killian road in columbia, south carolina. Vehicle information: - year/make/model: 2020 kia Soul - VIN: kndj23auxl7084518 - registered owner: stephanie nadine hessell timeline of events: - my vehicle was brought to kia killian road for recall repairs related to recalls 21v259, 21v259a, and cs2306 concerning the engine and starter. - the starter was replaced as part of the recall work. Despite this, the vehicle remained at the dealership for over a month and a half without resolution. - I was then informed I would need to pay approximately $1,200 to replace the ignition, even though there had been no issue with the ignition prior to the recall service. - the ignition was replaced at my cost, but I have since been informed that my vehicle is still not repaired due to an alleged electrical issue. - at the time of this complaint, my vehicle has been at the dealership for more than 2. 5 months, and I have been given inconsistent explanations and no resolution. Concerns: - the dealership appears to be tying unrelated repairs to the recall, causing unnecessary costs and delays. - I have been without the use of my vehicle for an extended and unreasonable period of time. - I have not been provided a loaner vehicle or alternative transportation despite the lengthy delay. Requested resolution: - immediate completion of the recall repair work at no additional cost to me. - reimbursement of the $1,200 ignition replacement charge, as the issue arose only after recall work began. - provision of a loaner vehicle or compensation for transportation expenses incurred during the 2. 5 months my vehicle has been out of service. - written clarification from kia corporate as to why this delay has occurred and how kia will ensure resolution. This matter has caused significant hardship, and I am seeking urgent assistance from kia consumer affairs, NHTSA, and.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact stated that while her son was driving at approximately 35 mph and going up a slight hill, the vehicle stalled. The contact's son said multiple unknown warnings illuminated. The son depressed the brake pedal and felt that it was very hard to depress. The son was able to restart the vehicle and continued on to his destination. The contact stated that the engine stalling failure had occurred once, however the failure of the brakes had occurred several times. The contact's son stated that when he was slowing the vehicle, as he was in reverse (r) backing out of a parking spot, he was unable to stop the vehicle using the brake pedal and had to use the emergency brake to stop. The son stated that another brake failure occurred as he was slowing for traffic. The son stated that he depressed the brake pedal and it was stiff and the vehicle was not stopping. The front end of his vehicle crashed into the rear end of the vehicle in front. The son said that when the brake failure occurred the check engine, oil check and the battery warning illuminated. The son stated that he used the emergency brake to stop. The police were called and wrote a report, both of the vehicles were drivable and there were no injuries. The son stated that there were minor dents and scratches on the front bumper and grill of his vehicle and dents and scratches on the rear bumper and trunk of the other vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer where it was determined that there was no mechanical issue with the brakes or the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000. The contact stated that in 2021 the vehicle had an engine failure and the engine had been replaced.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the check engine, low oil, and battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was making an abnormal rattling sound before the vehicle stalled. The contact coasted to a stop but was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that an engine rod had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that vehicle was no longer under warranty. The failure mileage was 93,307.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21v259000 (engine). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood. The contact turned off and attempted to restart the vehicle after arriving at work; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that prior to the failure, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The check oil and engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that prior to the failure, an oil and filter change was performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and the failure was deemed recall related; however, due to a lack of oil records the vehicle was deemed unrepairable by the dealer and manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

Vehicle: 2020 kia Soul VIN: [xxx] component: engine what happened: my 2020 kia Soul experienced sudden engine failure at around 130k miles. I was driving when the oil light turned on, and within seconds the engine seized and locked up. The check engine light came on afterward. There were no prior warning signs, no check engine light, and the oil level was not dangerously low. This is the second kia Soul I’ve owned that experienced this exact failure pattern—my previous 2014 kia Soul also seized without warning. Kia is refusing to assist or escalate, despite the fact this issue closely mirrors recall sc209 related to the 2. 0l nu mpi engine. I believe this is a serious safety issue and mechanical defect that deserves further investigation and may justify expanding existing recalls. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).