Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Kia Motor Soul - part 1

The vehicle burns an unreasonable amount of oil. This clogs tue catalytic converter creating risks of breakdown or fire. There are many documented cases of this on the vehicle models and yet kia has not resolved. Instead we pay for the issue. Car ownership has been consistent on maintenance and yet this issue remains.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

I recently bought this 2020 kia Soul the 2 l engine and I’ve noticed every 700 miles 1 quart of oil in this concerns me because how do I not affect it would’ve ran dry and burn the motor up that me is safety. I understand that they have it to replace motor and engine for the original owner, but since I am second owner of this vehicle I don’t qualify for the hundred thousand miles 10 year warranty. My vehicle has 88,700 miles and I’m sure what not to do next.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

Hello NHTSA I have a problem with my car. Which kia Soul plus with 83000 miles on it. It have check engine light blinks with code p1326 which is knock sensor recall. I went to kia dealer at federico kia at wood river illinois they replaced the knock sensor. It show up back in 6 miles. I took it back to the dealer. They hold the car for one week. They said you got denied of engine replacement due to lack of maintenence. It have sevice records on carfax.

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

Engine and engine components caught fire while driving. This put my husbands life at risk and could have caused harm to other drivers if he was driving on a busier road. Car fire could have completely engulfed the car and caused harm or even death. Fire department was called to assist with extinguishing the fire and to ensure that further danger did not persist.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, a loud knocking sound was heard, and the vehicle's speed decreased to approximately 25 mph. The contact was able to safely pull over into a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 197,000.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

Oil warning dash light illuminated red. Engine oil dipstick showed empty. Oil had been changed within 4 months. Added approximately 3. 5 quarts of oil.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

The vehicle is a 2015 kia Soul with the 1. 6l gdi engine. The check engine light came on solid, and a dealer later confirmed diagnostic trouble code p0420, indicating the catalyst system efficiency is below threshold on bank 1. The catalytic converter and engine are still on the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. This condition matches the defect described in kia’s sc176 safety recall for 2012–2016 Soul vehicles with the 1. 6l gdi engine, in which overheating of the catalytic converter can lead to internal engine damage and even a fire. My concern is that a failing catalytic converter or related engine damage could lead to sudden loss of power, engine failure, or fire while driving, which puts my safety and the safety of others at risk. The problem has been confirmed by an authorized kia dealer, which documented the solid check engine light and dtc p0420 on a written repair estimate. In that document, the dealer referenced recall sc176y as the possible applicable recall and noted that it would need to contact kia for coverage because the vehicle has a branded rebuilt title. To my knowledge, the manufacturer has not yet performed any sc176?style ecu logic update, compression test, or catalytic converter/engine inspection on this vehicle, and the manufacturer has declined to escalate or review recall coverage for this defect. The check engine light and p0420 code remain the primary warning indicators, and they first appeared shortly before the dealer visit on the repair estimate date.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with knock sensor failure, valve cover gasket failure, and an inoperable oil pan. The contact was informed that the knock sensor, valve cover gasket and oil pan needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was released to the contact. The contact stated that within two minutes after leaving the dealer, the failure reoccurred. The check engine warning light illuminated and the engine sputtered. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a clogged catalytic convertor. The contact was informed that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 118,981.

My 2016 kia Soul (1. 6l gdi engine) experienced a catastrophic, sudden engine failure while driving, preceded by check engine light code p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold). This exact failure sequence is the precise subject of active NHTSA safety recall campaign 19v120 (kia campaign sc176). Although the vehicle received the mandated sc176 preventative software update in 2019, the underlying mechanical defect was not cured. High exhaust gas temperatures caused the catalytic converter to degrade and fracture internally. The fractured abrasive substrate particles were then siphoned backward into the engine combustion chamber during normal valve operation. This caused immediate, severe scoring of the cylinder walls and piston damage, leading to total engine seizure and failure. This defect presents an extreme safety risk. Sudden engine failure at highway speeds causes an immediate loss of motive power, braking assistance, and power steering, significantly increasing the risk of a high-speed collision. Furthermore, fractured connecting rods or oil leakage stemming from this specific engine failure pose a severe vehicle fire hazard. The vehicle is currently held for diagnostic verification at kia riverside in California. I am filing this complaint because the manufacturer's 2019 software remedy was entirely ineffective at preventing the mechanical destruction of the engine and catalytic converter. I am requesting that the NHTSA hold kia accountable to fulfill the physical repair and replacement mandates of recall sc176 at zero cost to the consumer, regardless of the prior software logging.

The contact owns a 2021 kia Soul. The contact stated that while checking the engine oil level, the contact noticed that the vehicle was consuming excessive oil. Upon inspecting underneath the vehicle, the contact's husband did not find any leaks. No warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the piston oil rings needed to be replaced, and the engine was consuming excessive oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 21v259000 (engine); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall due to the vehicle mileage. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

States having problems with oil lost, but only inside the motor as if the rings are faulty.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated while driving. The contact stated that he was a mechanic, and the contact had retrieved a diagnostic code indicating a vibration in the pistons. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 112,704.

Vehicle is experiencing rod-knock and engine performance issues along with a p0420 code for the catalytic converter. After using a diagnostic tool to retrieve code, a recall was present for the existing code, that explained the exact symptoms my car is experiencing. I have had the car since 2021 and have not received any notification regarding a recall for the engine; it was only after I ran a diagnostic check where I found out there was a past recall for the engine and catalytic converter (sc176). I called kia customer service, and they explained that the vehicle did not receive the recall, however they could still not uphold the recall work because the vehicle is outside the warranty for the recall (vehicle odometer reads 150088), approximately 90 miles over warranty. Only indicator light that illuminated was the check engine light. The recall says the vehicle could overheat and is at risk of a fire hazard. I was not notified of any engine recall for the vehicle since I have owned the vehicle, and I am worried that my daily commuter will present a fire risk.

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

• a theft attempt caused by the widely reported kia software vulnerability (documented in my police report) • a display failure that kia refused to repair • a recall that kia refused to perform because the display was broken • repeated defects lighting, battery warning indicators never come on when the oil is beinf consumed • and now a complete engine failure on a 2022 vehicle.

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

I took my 2021 kia Soul to the dealership for a piston ring recall; they ran their standard test and said it passed, but my car is still showing a misfire fault. I replaced the ignition coil, spark plug, and fuel injector, yet the problem persists. I’ve taken it back to the kia dealership twice, but they refuse to inspect it because it already passed their test.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the check engine light began to flash as the vehicle entered limp mode. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they discovered that oil had leaked onto the engine which caused her to lose over a quart of oil. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle would not be covered under warranty and was given an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 19v120000(engine, engine and cooling) and that they could not offer any additional assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

On [xxx], my 2018 kia Soul (VIN [xxx] ) displayed dtc p1326 with a blinking check engine light and went into limp mode. Ray’s automotive documented p1326 in writing, added oil, and cleared the light only to allow safe transport. At greenway kia (avenues), they charged $199 and refused to create a vehicle diagnosis number (vdn) or perform the bearing clearance test (bct) unless they could reproduce the code. This directly contradicts kia TSB pi2107y/z (rev 1, 11/07/2024), which states: “a vehicle diagnosis number (vdn) must be created with or without dtc p1326, after scanning for dtcs, prior to performing pi2107y/z. ” ray’s found low oil, but my next scheduled oil change was still 300 miles away. I refused to accept the vehicle back because limp mode is unsafe for my daughter (primary driver). The dealer recently told me to pick it up anyway. Kia corporate opened case #[xxx] after 2 separate 2-hour kia recorded calls on June 1 and June 3, 2026, but continues to refuse the required diagnostic. This is a known manufacturing defect covered under kia product improvement campaign pi2107 and the class-action engine settlement. The refusal creates a serious safety risk for my daughter and family. Requested action: require kia to follow the published TSB (vdn creation and bearing clearance test with or without active code) and provide a rental vehicle. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

My 2020 kia Soul had its engine replaced under safety recall sc209 (NHTSA campaign 21v259). At 136,202 miles, this replacement engine suffered a secondary catastrophic failure, dropping heavy metal shavings into the oil lubrication system and causing the engine to stall. Kia of orange park (repair order 183972) diagnosed the failure but refused to honor the 15-year/150,000-mile class action engine settlement extension, forcing me to pay out-of-pocket at an independent shop. The manufacturer's safety recall remedy has failed. ".

The vehicle is burning oil. It creates residue in my engine which may make it dangerous to drive and ruin the catalytic converter, among other issues. I was first notified of this problem during my second oil change in 01/2026 at a kwik kar lube & tune, about 6 months after purchasing the vehicle in 06/2025. As of 05/2026, an oil warning lamp began to appear on the vehicle dashboard to notify me that the oil was low. I checked the oil stick, and there was burnt oil, albeit very little of it. I had gotten a full synthetic oil change, so it was not yet time to change my oil, but clearly this issue is causing premature oil loss.

Was issued a recall from kia for an oil piston ring that wasn't heat treated properly, kia told me the problem was fixed and the recall shouldn't affect me, my car was in an out of the shop for months after that, they replaced my timing belt and transmission under warranty, said I Sould be fine between oil changes my car started knocking, I checked the oil and it was completely dry, no warning lights which is part of the recall fix is early detection warning light. I add oil to my car seems to run better for the day, the next morning on my way to an oil change the engine starts knocking the warning light comes on and then im on the side of the road with all my oil on the ground.

Cv joint and axle causing car to stall when turunning.

I was driving when the vehicle stalled while slowing down. It stalled several more times at a stop light, and then when slowing down or accelerating slowly. I then noticed the engine started making a noise. I have parked it and not been able to drive it since. No safety indicators popped up during the stalling. When the engine started making a noice the check engine light then turned on. The car has only 65958miles on it. I believe it should be apart of the sc209 recall list but it is not.

On may 20 2026 car died out multiple times when driving but would start back up. Today may 21 2026 car was lacking power and engine making noise while driving. Then the check engine light came on also the oil light flashed then turned off. Checked the code it said p00114. Then checked oil it was about 1 1/2 quart low after we did complete oil change a month ago. I then found this engine has the same exact problems we are experiencing and have a recall to replace engine, but when we enter our VIN it doesn't show for our vehicle.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to o’reilly’s where it was diagnosed with a failed engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle as not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. In addition, the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 109,256.

2021 kia Soul | VIN: [xxx] | recall sc336 (NHTSA 25v099) | kia America case no. Xxx dealer: team kia of el cajon, 541 n. Johnson Ave, el cajon, CA 92020 symptoms: rapid oil consumption, abnormal engine noise, overheating, vehicle stalling at complete stops, difficulty restarting. All symptoms are explicitly documented in sc336 TSB (rev 6, 10/21/2025) as consequences of defective piston oil rings. Dealer conduct issues: 1. Charged $280 diagnostic fee to perform a recall. Owner confirmed open recall on VIN before arrival. Dealer required $280 diagnostic payment as condition of recall service, in violation of 49 u. S. C. 30120. 2. 24-hour TSB protocol violation. Sc336 TSB requires engine vibration inspection no sooner than 24 hours after r/o open date. R/o opened may 16 at 7:38 am. Inspection report also dated may 16 with no timestamp. If test ran same day, pass result is invalid under kia's own guidelines. 3. Failed to open required techline case. Sc336 TSB page 2 states: if engine noise is present and inspection results in pass, dealer must open a techline case. Owner continues to experience engine noise. Dealer has not provided a techline case number despite two written requests. 4. Demanding $2,500 for recall-related symptoms. Dealer is attributing stalling and oil consumption to a separate camshaft issue and demanding $2,500 more. Sc336 TSB documents that piston ring damage causes cascading engine damage including timing components. 5. Owner is [xxx] , drives for uber. Vehicle out of service 12+ days. Lost income and rental costs incurred. Kia America corporate (case xxx) has been copied on correspondence but has not responded. Requesting NHTSA review of this dealer's sc336 recall compliance. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2021 kia Soul. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the oil pressure sensor light was illuminated. The vehicle was making an abnormal knocking sound. The contact had to add additional oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the vehicle was related to the recall. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the camshaft and timing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken previously to the local dealer for NHTSA campaign number: 25v099000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed there was no warranty coverage. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

Engine failure while driving . A bolt broke off the rod end cap and was freely moving in the engine causing a rod knock sound and seized the engine. Almost causing an accident on the heavily populated road. Metal debris is present in oil pan . Piston is damaged as well.

2017 kia Soul, at approximately 87,000 miles began to show intermittent oil warning lights under regular g-loads pointing to oil starvation issues. Vehicle was taken to kia dealer for oil change. Dealer stated that possible oil consumption would trigger a need to return to dealer before the 1000 mile marker for second round of warranty checks per TSB 222 rev 8 excessive oil consumption nu/gamma/theta/kappa engines. Dealer is claiming that pn oil pressure switch 94750 37100 is culprit and wanting to charge for service and parts. Existing TSB 237, oil pressure switch replacement, which outlines that the lambda engines have this exact same pn covered under warranty at no cost to client. This should set precedent that the TSB needs to include the same engine types in TSB 222 as the issue seems to be recurrent in engine types across the fleet of kia manufactured vehicles. Kia corporate has a letter outlining that the repairs are to be covered by dealers for the oil pressure switch in question.

I own a 2020 kia Soul that, according to kia customer care, had the sc209 engine recall repair completed in 2021 at approximately 28,000 miles under a previous owner. I have the exact repair date written down and can provide it if needed. On may 12, 2026, while driving, the vehicle suddenly stalled and shut off, switching into accessory mode without warning. I was able to restart it afterward. Today, approximately 20 minutes ago, the same issue occurred again while driving — the engine stalled unexpectedly and switched into accessory mode. After the first incident on may 12, I checked the oil level and it appeared full. Today, after the second stall, I checked the oil again and found it significantly low, around 1–2 quarts remaining. The vehicle required approximately 3 quarts of oil to return to full. I want this formally documented because I am concerned there may be an ongoing engine issue related to excessive oil consumption and/or engine failure despite the prior sc209 recall repair having been completed. I have only had the car 27 days.

The contact owns a 2012 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled and failed to accelerate with the low oil warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred after the contact’s spouse had added oil to the vehicle. The vehicle was able to restart, and additional oil had to be delivered to the contact to refill the vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed by a dealer for further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 84,213.

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

Car had recall and new engine was put in April 2024. I’ve had the new engine for 25 months. It started doing the exact same thing as before when engine went out. No power, limp mode, engine violently shaking, rods knocking. Engine light came on. I parked it immediately and called dealership. They said it’s a refurbished engine not new so it does not have the full warranty. This new engine wasn’t new I just found that out this morning. Upon further research in kia forums, these replacements blew up too. Like we all got the same engines that blew up. Can anything be done about this? this would be the 3rd engine in this kia. It only had 30k miles on the new motor. Engines last longer than that. I’m now stuck as a travel nurse with finding another vehicle. This is just wrong. I missed work trying to find a car. Has there been any complaints about the replacement motors seizing up and blowing? online searches show it happening to a lot of people with these kia Souls. Idk what your company does but everyone said to let you know. Idk how that helps but here it is. Can anything be done? my mechanic came by to look at it and said the motor is blown. It has an appointment at dealership for official diagnosis of blown motor.

Before the accident which my car was totaled, I would take it in with issues. Electrical lights coming on the car would stop . My transmission locking up . I would tell them that there was something wrong with the car . I had videos to show pannel lights coming on at 70 on freeway and car locking up and would just stop . That's what happened to son driving. My car was totaled. Why should I loose and now I don't have a vehicle .

My vehicle engine failed on the interstate after getting kds update on my vehicle and it is covered kia corporate and the franchise dealer are actively claiming they 'cannot share or access' the vehicle's electronic diagnostic data, despite the mandatory use of the connected kia kds tool, in an apparent attempt to obscure a documented safety defect and deny a class-action lifetime engine warranty. They have kept my car almost 2 months, won't give me a rental , only information is again them lying to me saying it's a blown head gasket, when I know in fact it will still run, but blow white smoke out of the tailpipe and run in limp mode but still will start and mine won't do anything at all.

03/17/ kia Soul 2022 was brought into the dealership to have the safety recall (NHTSA: 25v099; kia: sc336) addressed. There is a description of the service that says, “piston oil ring. ” dealership stated everything was "good to go" upon completion of this service. Per dealership document, causal part says “ring set-piston”, issue number sc336. Issue type: safety recall; description: piston oil ring. 04/20/2026: while driving, the engine light turned red/blinking. The car was immediately pulled over to the side of the road. It was towed to the aforementioned kia dealership via aaa. The engine needed to be replaced. Regarding the engine: issue number sc336y1; issue type: service campaign; description: dtc p1327 engine r&r. 05/05/2026: while using the car, it would not move with attempt to accelerate from a 4-way stop. The oil light and battery light were red; the engine light was orange. A message on screen displayed: “battery discharge warning. Please use the system after starting the vehicle. ” when attempting to turn the key, the engine did not make any sound. Approximately 10-12 minutes later, I went through the same steps and the car turned on. Kia dealership was notified. Upon arrival to the dealership, I was told "these things happen," "it is likely the battery," and, "the fuel saving start-stop function that cars like the Soul have can lead to this kind of thing. " it was also stated that the "battery was good, but the charge was low. " finally, I was told "the car should be fine to drive, since it made its way to the dealership" without issues. I verbalized the significant safety risk and stated I needed it assessed. The car remains at the dealership, as there is no root cause and this is a major safety hazard that, notably, occurred 6 days after the engine replacement. The dealership maintains that "there is nothing that can be done. " this has been escalated to kia corporate. No issues with car prior to engine light turning red on 04/20/26.

The check engine light came on. I took the jar to kia and also requested for the piston recall to be repaired. I was denied due to an expired warranty. The engine stalled and stopped suddenly while driving in the street. Soon the care was no longer drivable.