Power Train Problems of Kia Motor Soul - part 1

The transmission on the vehicle has gone bad twice since we purchased it used. The car has 34,400 miles on it. The problem puts the driver in an unsafe situation as the problem causes the car to lose power while at high speeds. The piston rings have also been replaced as part of the recall. Kia just keeps replacing these parts with more defective parts. I have videos if you want them.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

While driving under normal conditions, the check engine light began flashing and the vehicle suddenly lost power and entered limp mode. Acceleration was severely limited, making it difficult to maintain speed in traffic. The vehicle was later diagnosed with diagnostic trouble code p1326, which is associated with engine rod bearing failure. This caused an unexpected loss of engine power and created a safety risk while driving. The vehicle had to be taken to a dealership for inspection due to the severity of the power loss.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

My 2022 kia Soul experienced a sudden loss of motive power and stalling while driving, creating a high risk for a rear-end collision in traffic. An authorized kia dealership (mike miller kia) performed a major timing repair in March 2025 [xxx] ) to address these safety issues. However, the exact same failure occurred again in January 2026. The dealership now documents that the engine was 4 quarts low on oil, nearly empty, despite proper maintenance. This indicates a severe oil consumption defect that leads to timing failure and unpredictable engine stalls. I believe this vehicle poses an unreasonable safety risk due to this recurring stalling condition, which matches the defect described in NHTSA recall 25v099 (sc336), though my VIN is currently excluded. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

Sudden vibration on the engine while driving. No power upon acceleration. Heavily oil consumption. Had a problem on the seat belt with in couple of year of purchased, however the dealer fixed it for free. Catalytic converter was brooked at 80k milage exactly when the warranty over. It was costly to replace.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

The contact owns a 2022 kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while idling on several occasions. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact scanned the vehicle with a vehicle scanner, and the dtc: p1c28 was retrieved, which the contact related to NHTSA campaign number: 23v531000 (power train); however, the model year was not included in the recall. The contact later became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 25v099000 (engine and engine cooling), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer diagnosed that the engine oil pump needed to be replaced, and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The contact stated that the oil pump failure might also be related to the oil piston rings failure described in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but declined to cover the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

I paid almost 3,500 dollars and kia kept my car two months and I’m still having transmission issues and now they are asking for service receipts. After I picked up my vehicle from the original transmission repair I was back in less than 7 days because transmission was roughly jumping in gear and shifting horribly with burning smell. The technician noticed the problem and immediately took my car to the back but they kept my car another 30 days saying that they did an update and now I’m stuck suffering with a struggling transmission. My mpg has drastically dropped on this vehicle to a 9. 6 and that is not normal. I paid cash and kia need to help me in any way. They are trying to wait until the 12,000 mile warranty runs out and leave me stuck and that’s not fair when I’ve been complaining since I picked up the car the second time but they won’t assist me now. My vehicle experiences delayed transmission engagement, rpm increases without acceleration, hesitation, and loss of fuel economy. Dealer refuses diagnosis unless complete failure occurs. This creates unpredictable vehicle response and loss of power concerns. Transmission hard shifts and jerks violently during gear changes and acceleration, causing loss of smooth power delivery and unsafe vehicle behavior.

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

I have a kia Soul 2022 and I have been having a lot of different problems with my vehicle that are a serious safety hazard for my family and myself. I was trying to pass 18 wheeler truck one night and I saw white and black smoke coming out from the back of my kia Soul. I was trying to pass a 18 wheeler on the interstate and my car shut its self all the way off. I freaked out and lucky there was no one on the right side when this happened I veered off to the right of the interstate and checked everything but I could smell something was burning. I sat on side of interstate I waited about 45 minutes and tried to crank it and it cranked so I was able to get to our location and I had a mechanic look at it he said it was the pistons and burning my oil. I took it back to get the guy look at it where I got the oil changed and he had to put more oil and an oil filter in it again. . I then went back home several days later I took the car back out and it started smoking and jerking on the road. The smoking is getting worse now. I know kia had a recall on the cars, but for some reason my VIN wasn’t included my car is doing the same as what the other ones are doing and to be honest I feel like all kia spul 2022 should be in recall this is very dangerous and I am still having to pay on ours and I am scared to drive it. There is a lot more to my story, but I don’t want to get banned. I just want my car to be included in the recall and all the others that are still having this problem. This is a dangerous defect and it should be fixed my car is my source of income and now have no clue what I will do when it catches on fire. Just today it smoked four times after going back to get more oil last night, because it was completely out of oil and I bought 2 quarts of oil just to get to the oil change place. Be careful and call corporate they should be under recall and corporate should be nicer to their customers and we shouldn’t have to pay for everything this recall is causing.

Summary of safety defect: while my 16 year old daughter was driving our 2014 kia Soul in December 2025, the car suddenly lost power in traffic and would not go over 20 mph; the check engine light came on and the vehicle entered limp mode. The sudden drop in power created a high anxiety, hazardous situation for my daughter, who had only had her license for a week, during rush hour traffic. The vehicle was unsafe to operate and had to be towed. Details of the incident: diagnostic trouble code p1326 (knock sensor detection system) was confirmed by the kia dealership. P1326 is part of kia’s known engine defect population and is tied to safety related engine failures. The dealership documented oil consumption, oil fouled spark plugs, and compression readings below kia’s minimum specification on all cylinders. The dealership concluded in writing that engine replacement is required. Despite this, kia denied warranty coverage based solely on a bearing clearance test, without completing the full diagnostic process required under the ksds settlement. The vehicle remains unsafe and inoperable. Why this is a safety issue: the sudden loss of power and inability to accelerate above ~20 mph created a dangerous situation for my daughter and surrounding traffic. This is a known defect pattern in kia vehicles covered under the ksds program. The failure occurred without warning and could have resulted in a collision. Requested action: I am reporting this because kia has not responded to my two complaints nor properly addressed a safety related engine defect that is already part of a national settlement. The incomplete diagnostic process and denial of coverage leave the vehicle unsafe and unusable. I request that NHTSA review this incident as part of the ongoing safety concerns involving kia gdi engines and p1326 related failures.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

Code p1326 popped up - my mechanic replaced the p1326 knock sensor for the kia. Code p1326 popped up 2nd time - replaced sensor again. Code p1326 popped up and now there is some knocking. Check engine light flashing - then went off for a while after part was replaced, and then back on again, and off again and back on. There are many kias listed for recall with this code, same year and model. Yet mine is not under recall. It says to reach out and ask for an ecu update and that kia should cover an extended warranty for this known issue.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

Vehicle transaxle will start or feel like is slips and wont go pass 40mph on the highway and has become a safety concern. This started about a week ago and continues. No lights on dash and dealer claims they cant duplicated concern. On the way to the dealer it was doing it and when we pickup the vehicle started doin again less than a mile from dealer. They charge for diag and the car is under warranty. I went back to drop off vehicle and they are refusing to take the vehicle in. I have contacted kia prior to the visit and will contact them next Monday.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

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 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.

Transmission failed when mileage was at 88,000 miles and is not opererational to drive. After taking car to a pirate auto shop the mechanic informed me it showed codes p0753 and p073, and informed me the transmission fluid had metal debris inside it. This is a known defect from this specific kia model. Then took it to the kia dealership in chula vist, for diagnostic, they informed me p073 code shown up and recommended to replace the transmission. This is known defect that is associated with the kia Soul manufacturer, and is related to the recall. My safety was put at risk when I was driving and after I stopped at a red light the car was in drive and would not accelerate when I pressed the gas, this problem was confirmed by the dealership with diagnosis paperwork. Their was no warning when this issue occurred, additionally kia corporate refuses to accept responsibility for their manufacturer defect.

The engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle began to hesitate and lose power while driving, making the vehicle unsafe to operate. The problem involves the engine and powertrain. A kia dealer inspected the vehicle and found a timing-related engine fault code (p0014). The dealer stated the condition is consistent with the kia engine bearing failure recall and referenced recall sc200ps, but said this VIN was not included. The vehicle has reduced power and cannot be safely driven. This creates a safety risk because the engine can lose power without warning while the vehicle is in motion. Warning lights were present before and during the failure. The vehicle has not been repaired and is available for inspection.

The engine makes a noise like a knock, when the car is running or the speed increases the noise becomes louder and it feels like a strong blow coming from the engine.

Description of the problem: my 2018 kia Soul has a recurring and unresolved safety issue involving sudden loss of power while driving. The check-engine light repeatedly comes on, and at times the vehicle will hesitate or lose acceleration unexpectedly, creating a risk of being unable to maintain speed in traffic. Chronology: this issue has been occurring for over a year. I have taken the vehicle to the kia dealership multiple times for the same problem. Each time, the dealership has either been unable to diagnose the cause or has returned the vehicle stating the issue was repaired, but the problem returns within weeks. Most recently, the dealership kept the vehicle for over a month and still could not identify or resolve the cause of the power loss or the recurring check-engine light. They then instructed me to pick up the car and drive it until the warning light comes back on, despite my reporting that the vehicle loses power while driving and is unsafe to operate. Safety concern: the loss of power happens without warning and can leave me unable to accelerate or maintain speed. This has made it unsafe to drive in normal traffic conditions, such as merging onto highways or crossing intersections. I cannot safely operate the vehicle in its current condition. Attempts to resolve: all service has been performed at the same kia dealership since the car was purchased new. Despite multiple repair visits, including a month-long stay at the dealership, the problem remains unresolved. Kia customer care has been contacted, but the issue continues with no effective resolution or repair. Reason for NHTSA complaint: because the malfunction involves sudden power loss and repeated failure of the authorized dealership to diagnose or repair the issue, I am reporting this as a potential safety defect. I am concerned that this may reflect a broader problem affecting this vehicle model.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

It started appearing to be electrical and ended in some type of engine/system emergency! I rented this vehicle through avis and the first few days everything appeared ok, regarding the functionality vehicle. Mid-day on 10-4-25, I attempted to put groceries in the trunk, wouldn’t open. After 4 minutes, I gave up, assuming I’m doing something wrong. That evening, the gas mileage hadn’t moved remained at (90), the battery light, oil pan, mph:stuck on 23, and the rev stuck on 1. 2, and the odometer hasn’t changed. When I removed the key the dash board remained on and once I hit the lock button it turned off. 10-5-25, I put gas in the car and the indicator marker never moved. I called to report these issues because my vehicle was not inspected before I left the lot. We canceled our paid trip and headed back to TX. While driving, the gas and oil pan light would turn on (2-3 min) then go off. While on the freeway, suddenly, the car shuts off. The best way I can describe it during the process is (sitting in a parked car with the acc position) everything is working but the car isn’t “on”. Due to mph being stuck at 23, I can say I was literally going the speed limit (60-65, flow of traffic) to 0! the phones were still charging, lights, and dashboard stayed lit, hazards light worked, and we literally rolled until the car stopped! since this is a rental by law it should have been checked before handing me the keys. The employee handed me the keys and pointed to the car from his computer. As soon as I was aware it was a problem I called multiple times to report this. When the situation was not properly handled by avis the first 4 times, I called the police. I requested to file a report and the officer did not show, however, harris county sent a tow truck. I will be filling a police report in the morning. Although there is not a recall, I see there are social groups with similar issues in the kia 2024 sol! this was a lemon rental and the experience was traumatic!.

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

The engine in my 2015 kia Soul was replaced under warranty in June 2025. Only 3,568 miles later, the replacement engine failed. The vehicle displayed code p1326 and quickly lost oil, leaving it unsafe and undriveable on the road. This sudden failure created a serious safety hazard, as the vehicle stalled without warning and could not maintain safe operation. I was fortunate to be close to home and immediately turned back, narrowly avoiding a dangerous situation on a busy road. Provide any assistance. Instead, they declined to repurchase or replace the vehicle, leaving me with an undriveable car and a $9,900 loan balance. This second catastrophic failure has not been inspected by a kia dealership because kia refused to take responsibility or even arrange for evaluation. This was not an isolated incident. Problems began on 11/27/2024, less than 3,000 miles after I purchased the vehicle, and have been ongoing ever since, including prior emergency towing events due to similar safety issues. Kia’s repeated failures to provide a lasting fix or safe remedy have left me without reliable transportation and have put both myself and other drivers at risk. I have full documentation of the June 2025 engine replacement, the subsequent failure, and kia’s refusal to act. The vehicle remains available for inspection. Warning messages and engine lights appeared only after the failure had already occurred.

In June 2024, my 2014 kia Soul (VIN: [xxx] ) experienced a sudden engine failure without warning. I was driving on a busy road when the engine began sputtering and quickly stalled. The vehicle became inoperable and had to be towed. I had it inspected at a kia dealership, who diagnosed the issue as complete engine failure but have not provided me with a full diagnostic report despite multiple requests. This type of failure is consistent with the known defects in the theta ii engine that have triggered recalls and extended warranties in similar kia models. Although kia has denied coverage for my vehicle, I believe this is a related safety issue. The vehicle stalled unexpectedly, creating a hazardous condition on the road. I was traveling with my toddler in the back seat and felt our safety was at risk. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this failure is not an isolated incident and should be investigated. Kia has refused to acknowledge a defect, but the symptoms match those in previous recalls for other Soul and forte models with similar engines. I have also attached documentation showing service history and repair costs, and I am happy to make the vehicle available for inspection. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

In March 2023 I reported my keys stolen by a tow truck driver and in March 2025 I discovered my auto registration documents was forged by the auto dealer. The time in August 2024 my id was stolen and because of slander hpd refused to investigate. All of this was followed by more violence against me and I decided to move to another state. I believe my car has been tampered with as the reasons for the theft of the keys which have been replaced three times. Now I am having problems with the gear shifting. I believe someone is trying to slander me as a person with dementia to stop me from driving disrupting my life. No pictures of the harassment I have received but I have tried to take notes of certain events. My previous vehicle was kia Soul also, a newer model but it was totaled by a nigerian attorney’s son when the whole family was in the car. The police officer who wrote the crash report , the prosecuting attorney and my attorney and judge I believe were all paid off so that the son could walk free without penalties for hurting me and totaling my vehicle. I believe this harassment has gone too far and is actually threatening my life and others by being allowed to continue harassing me and cause damage to my vehicle. I need direction on how to take care of of this issue as why I have contacted NHTSA. I also believe this is age related discrimination issue with strong attempts to stop me from driving although I have an excellent record in three states with one traffic ticket. My recent oil change was an unpleasant event because the technician refused to do a battery replacement and allowed me to drive away in that condition although I explained earlier, I needed my car checked completely so safely to drive a trip out of town. I had to return to the repair shop and speak to the manager and get my car serviced again with a new battery. I hope you can direct me on how to resolve this issue to drive safely without harassment and personal property violations.

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

The contact owns a 2023 kia Soul. The contact stated that the battery discharge and auto start/stop warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 23v531000 (power train), for which the dealer replaced the electric oil pump controller as the remedy. After the repair, the cruise control was unintendedly activated. The lane keep assist feature was intermittently activated independently. While refueling, the fuel gauge was half full and took approximately 30-40 minutes before quickly displaying a full tank. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the recall repair was completed; however, the vehicle was not taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact back to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Soul 🔎.

Kia 2016 died in mid traffic, would not switch out of 1st gear as an automatic, on a major road in texas, no warning lights etc. Could be transmission or catalytic convertor.

On [xxx] around [xxx], we were headed westbound on [xxx] toward boise when the car began making a clanking sound. In less than a minute, the car was pouring smoke, clanking stopped and car completely failed. I coasted to side of freeway, car would not turn over, I did not try more than once for fear of further damage or starting a fire. When tow driver came and car was moved, it exposed a giant puddle of oil and pieces of what looked like melted metal. The tow driver stated it was a connection rod piece and engine is likely shot. I immediately scheduled a service ticket to have it looked at my local kia dealership. They confirmed that I experienced a catastrophic engine failure and that it matched the exact recall sc176 issue. They attempted to contact and file a claim under both the recall and the powertrain warranty and were denied both by kia, due to negligence of the owner. I had a passenger with me who has severe medical conditions. It was in 90's in desert like heat. It took 4-5 hours to have it towed and get out of the heat. We almost got into an accident when the car malfunctioned. There were zero warning notifications or lights on the dashboard until the car completely went disabled while coasting to the side of the freeway. No warning chugs. No previous issues with smoke/warning lights/ nothing prior. This literally happened out of no where and now I am being told by kia they will not repair because its my job to look into recalls. I have lived at the same address for the whole time I owned the car. I have printed records and digital records from my local dmv to prove it. I have written and digital proof that I properly maintenance my vehicle on time and that I paid for synthetic oil rather than just the lowest possible choice they offered. I have proof that I was notified for the recall regarding the steering issue in 2017 and that I immediately made a service appt with my local dealership to have it address. I received no notice for any other recall information redacted pursuant to the freedom of in.

Check engine light came on so I took the car to a mechanic who scanned the vehicle and found diagnostic trouble code p0017 (crankshaft position – camshaft position correlation). This code indicates a timing issue that could be related to a timing chain or camshaft sensor malfunction. The car only has 92,000 miles and is less than 10 years old, I bought it pre-owned. I contacted kia corporate and was told to take the car to a dealership for evaluation, but the dealership refused to inspect the car without a $250 diagnostic fee, stating it was not covered because the vehicle was purchased used. My understanding is that powertrain issues like this should be covered under warranty, and this may relate to existing recalls such as recall sc336, which concerns engine performance and safety. This could pose a serious safety risk if the engine fails while driving.

Component/system failed: engine and power train. Available for inspection: yes, the vehicle is currently at the dealership. After a loud ticking/knocking noise from the engine began, the car lost power while driving. It matches symptoms associated with kia’s known connecting rod bearing failure issue (covered under recall sc176 and campaign pi2002a). There were no warning lamps at first, but later the oil pressure warning light began to flash intermittently. A kia dealership confirmed the issue and completed the pi2002a ecu update. However, they denied the extended engine warranty coverage under the campaign, saying that the vehicle was purchased at an auction, even though this issue stems from a known manufacturing defect and recall that should apply to the vehicle, regardless of ownership history. This creates a serious safety concern, as the engine could seize while driving. This issue has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership and documented under kia case #25414628 and #25331856. This denial contradicts the campaign terms and puts drivers and others at risk.

We purchased a 2016 kia Soul with the gdi engine in October 2024 from jim shorkey kia in uniontown with 60k miles on it. We just had to have a whole new catalytic converter installed that cost us $1500 because the one on this car was completely messed up. It caused the car to stall, have no power and when my daughter was pulling into her parking space, this caused the brakes to stop working because the car was getting no power. The converter was completely clogged and the whole thing had to be replaced (at our expense)! this was a recall for the same year kia Souls, but somehow this one is not on the recall list for the exact thing that these were being recalled. How does that work? we were left without a vehicle for days and we had to pay to have the car towed to a garage and repaired. Kia would do nothing, so we had to have it repaired at a reputable garage in our area! only having the car of less than 8 months after buying it used from a kia dealership, this is disheartening. How could they sell a car that obviously had issues with the catalytic converter, or they did just not check the vehicle out before they sold it to someone. I get that it was a used car but are we seriously going to sell a car to someone that obviously has an issue! so why exactly was this 2016 kia Soul with the gdi engine, not recalled?? we should be reimbursed for this. This is crazy. My daughter could have been in a horrible accident. Thankfully she was only leaving her apartment and in the parking lot of her home! what do we do about getting this? this car clearly has issues and should have been recalled with the others!.

Catalyic converter is damage.

Engine knock and random engine shutoff, dealership filled apparent recalls: changed piston rings, ecm update, update on ecm logic, and unrelated update to anti-theft ignition protector. Recommends a entire engine replacement due to "internal failure" but failed to provide proof of damage or reasonable explanation of failure. Presumably told would not be covered due to exceeding warranty by 2,975 miles, regardless of prior damage. Recall notice sent via mail days after visiting the dealership, visited may 23rd, 2025. Kia failed to send notice within warranty mileage for damage recalls may have caused.

My 2015 kia Soul is experiencing ongoing, severe oil consumption. Despite having an extended warranty for rod bearing failure (15 years/150,000 miles), my kia dealership refuses to perform an oil consumption test because my vehicle has slightly exceeded 100,000 miles (currently at ~106,500). I brought the vehicle in multiple times for oil loss before reaching 100,000 miles, but no one informed me that a test existed or was needed. The car burns through oil every 3,000 miles or less, sometimes with no oil showing on the dipstick before the next change. It often chugs or knocks, but no warning lights currently appear. I previously received engine codes p1326, p0011, and p0014, and I did receive the ksds update. The dealership told me I must wait for the engine to fail to qualify for replacement. This is unsafe for me and other drivers. Kia consumer affairs has confirmed I’m under warranty, but no solution has been offered to prevent a dangerous breakdown. I am concerned that this is a widespread issue that is being ignored unless the vehicle fails completely. I’ve been instructed by kia service staff to continue topping off oil to avoid engine damage. However, by doing so, I am also preventing the p1326 code from triggering—effectively disqualifying me from warranty help. I’m forced to choose between protecting my car or triggering a code to qualify for repair. This puts consumers at risk and creates an unfair barrier to accessing the warranty coverage kia advertises.

[xxx], the vehicle was delivered to crain kia dealership located in conway, arkansas, due to failure of engine to start (engine would turn over but not run). I scheduled a service appointment for may 20th at 0930, for the car to be evaluated/troubleshot. While at the kia dealership service desk, I discussed kia safety recall sc336, and that my VIN# was effected by the recall (verified by speaking with kia customer care representative) and by using NHTSA's VIN/recall search engine. At that time, I disclosed that the car was a salvage title vehicle, but was restored, looked nearly brand new and was otherwise operational prior to the engine "no start" condition (4 months of ownership). The service team at the dealership confirmed the salvage title via "carfax", however they noted that kia's internal VIN/title database did not reflect the car as salvaged. Crain kia dealership then decided to submit the car for kia's safety recall inspection and possibly warranty work since the vehicle has not exceeded the 5yr/60,000 mile limited basic warranty. Unfortunately, the dealership did not open a "tech-line case' until approximately 15 days later. Tech-line communication between the service technician and kia's engineering/recall rep, directed the dealership to perform an engine wet/dry compression test (due to deficient piston oil-rings). On June 5th, crain kia notified me that the resulting 'low" compression test results indicated that the piston rings were faulty, and that the engine would need to be replaced. Additionally, they told me that the vehicle would not be eligible for factory warranty due to the salvage title and that I would be responsible for engine change costs. Moreover, the dealership's service team charged me for the cost of the compression testing. I have thoroughly reviewed the kia recall sc336 documentation as well as NHTSA's 25v-099 bulletin and verified that neither notices proclaim, exclude or deny coverage to salvage title vehicles. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information a.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, and the vehicle decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for a second opinion, and the vehicle was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained with the local dealer but was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

The vehicle has been well maintained. About 1. 5 years ago, it experienced a fuel injector failure. All four injectors were replaced to ensure the health of the engine. Recently, while on an 8-hour trip, halfway through, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power on the highway, nearly resulting in a crash, and the check engine light illuminated. The car was towed to a kia dealership, where they stated the engine had failed. Cylinders 3 and 4 have ring and valve damage. The car had been performing well with no issues or warning signs, such as a trouble light or high temperatures. All other diagnostics were rated green by kia.

Vehicle shut off on the highway and engine no seized however oil change was recently completed.

I dropped off my 2021 kia Soul at the dealership where I purchased it to address a nationwide recall, which states: “the piston oil ring(s) may have been incorrectly manufactured, potentially damaging the engine cylinder wall. This can lead to increased oil consumption, abnormal engine noises, engine seizure, and possible fire from oil leaking onto hot exhaust components. Loss of drive power and/or fire increases crash and injury risk. ” my vehicle has shown multiple symptoms, including rough running, significant shaking, illuminated check engine and oil lights. On 01/02/23, I brought it in, but the dealership found no stored codes and took no action. On 04/20/23, a code for a cylinder 1 misfire was found, but because the issue wasn’t present at that moment, no repairs were made. On 10/05/23, spark plugs and fuel pump were replaced under warranty. No further issues occurred until 02/14/25, when the same symptoms returned. I was told I’d be charged for a diagnosis and they likely wouldn’t find anything, so I left without service. On 04/09/25, the symptoms reoccurred. I dropped off the vehicle on 04/10/25 and paid out-of-pocket for a rental until 04/14/25. On 04/14/25, after being told earlier that work couldn’t be done because the engine hadn’t cooled to 55°f, I was later told the recall was completed and the vehicle was safe—despite ongoing issues. I fear for my safety and the safety of others. I believe my vehicle needs an engine replacement and is unsafe to drive. The recall letter states inspection and software update should take 1–2 hours, and engine replacement 8+ hours. I request further diagnosis and repairs. Despite the vehicle continuing to show symptoms, I was dismissed. I am seeking accountability and proper resolution.

My car randomly started stalling and turned off while I was in the middle of a busy intersection with both my children in the car. I had to turn on my hazards and turn off my car and turn it back on and press on the gas pedal. The car did that four times in less than 30 minutes. I am not the original owner of the vehicle, but the previous owner did have the cars camshaft repaired when I took it to the mechanic on 4/21 that was when I found out about the previous owner having the same issue as I am. I called kia of America regarding the recall on 2020 kia Souls. They ignored my request and told me there was nothing they can do as my warranty was expired. I then proceeded to call carmax where I bought the car and was never informed that there was mechanical issues and that the car was safe. I did the research and saw there is a recall on 2020 kia Soul for improperly heat treated piston oil rings and that a damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash and that oil may leak into hot exhaust causing a fire.