Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2022 Kia Soul owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a rattling sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a Take 5 oil change, which informed the contact that the oil level was 2 quarts low and had failed to show up on the dipstick. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted, but was unable to schedule an appointment or provide a time frame. …
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally stalled while driving at various speeds. The failure had occurred four times. The contact stated that during the last failure while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact coasted over to the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The contact was asked to provide proof of maintenance while the vehicle was being inspected, to determine if the engine would be replaced under the recall. …
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine while driving at various speeds and while the engine was idling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under the recall. The dealer informed the contact that the failure appeared to be related to the oil pressure throughout the engine. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the recall test could not be performed because the vehicle had failed to start; however, the contact stated that the vehicle was operable at the time it was taken to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced out the out-of-pocket. The contact related the engine replacement to the recall. …
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the month that the vehicle was purchased, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to coast to the side of the road. The ABS, traction control, Forward Collision Avoidance, and System Check warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The failure was progressively worsened. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminate every seven miles of driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The failure was later diagnosed as a control area network failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. …
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started to leak oil. The contact stated that the oil was seeping onto the floorboard and the passenger's side floor mat. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. On a separate occasion, while the contact was driving 50 MPH, there was a puddle of oil underneath the vehicle with an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle five different times to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was unaware of where the oil leak was coming from. …
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 contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). After retrieving the vehicle, there was an audible tinging sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the tires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer for an extensive overhaul, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The oil level was approximately of a quart low. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer suggested driving the vehicle for 1,000 miles and having an oil consumption test performed. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. Additionally, the contact stated that the low oil pressure warning light failed to illuminate while the engine oil level was significantly low. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed. The contact stated that on the first test, the vehicle had consumed 1.1 quart of oil after 1,946 miles. The contact stated that on the second test, the vehicle had consumed 1/2 quart of oil after 1,047 miles. The dealer informed the contact the oil consumption test met the manufacturer's guidelines, and the contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway and observed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the engine had seized but was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 70,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic signal, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle shuddered and then stalled. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the check engine and battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer advised the contact that the failure might be related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the dealer would not replace the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025.
NHTSA investigations
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.'s (Kia) remedy program for Safety Recall 25V099, involving incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which may damage the engine causing a loss of motive power or fire.
Engine complaints in other Soul years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2022 Kia Soul?
NHTSA has 73 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2022 Kia Soul, 78% of the model year's 94 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2022 Kia Soul engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 25V-099 (hard parts internal/mechanical, Feb 17, 2025). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2022 Kia Soul engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 3 injuries and 3 deaths to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.