Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2024 | 5 | 17% | 7,000 miles |
| 2023 | 15 | 28% | 9,000 miles |
| 2022 | 73 | 78% | 70,000 miles |
| 2021 | 184 | 77% | 75,000 miles |
| 2020 | 251 | 65% | 26,000 miles |
| 2019 | 93 | 68% | 67,000 miles |
| 2018 | 147 | 67% | 73,000 miles |
| 2017 | 198 | 73% | 83,000 miles |
| 2016 | 617 | 76% | 90,000 miles |
| 2015 | 662 | 73% | 94,000 miles |
| 2014 | 590 | 65% | 103,000 miles |
| 2013 | 306 | 46% | 119,000 miles |
| 2012 | 220 | 43% | 120,000 miles |
| 2011 | 28 | 14% | 109,000 miles |
| 2010 | 14 | 10% | 63,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving on an access road at 20 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over onto the side of the road to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact started to drive however, the failure recurred. The contact inspected the vehicle but found no cause for the failure. The vehicle was restarted; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 7,000.
purchased 6-22-24 fire happened 8-14-24 at approximately 11pm, with approximately 2691 miles, fire started in engine compartment, car burned to ground, nothing left, approximately 2691 miles on vehicle. i was lucky to get out alive, i had to kick the doors open.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while pulling into a mall, there was an abnormally low rumbling and ticking sound coming from the vehicle. While driving 45 MPH, the message to turn off and restart the vehicle was displayed with an audible alarm. The contact stated that the vehicle had shut off on three separate occasions. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and was informed about a diagnostic test. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a pinhole in the filter. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact called another local dealer, Glassman Kia (28000 Telegraph Rd., Southfield, MI 48034), and was informed that there should have been an oil or check engine warning light illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Soul. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP mode and stalled. On another occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to vibrate after the accelerator pedal was depressed and the front driver's and passenger's side headlights failed to operate. Additionally, the contact stated that she took the vehicle to the car wash and noticed that fuel had leaked onto the tires. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that tire shine was on the tires not fuel. The contact also stated that the vehicle had lost power steering functionality. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. …
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 2021 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall repair. The dealer replaced the piston rings; however, the Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software was not updated as it was not available during the recall repair. The contact stated while driving 35-45 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and she was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred the next day. A warning message illuminated, indicating that the Auto Collision was about to be deactivated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. …
We were going south on [redacted] about 25 mph intending to make a left turn onto [redacted] My wife said "slow down or you won't make the turn" to which I replied "I am trying but it won't slow down" As I applied the brakes to slow down to turn, instead the car started to speed up and I could not make the left turn. I continued down the road trying to slow down enough to attempt a left turn on to [redacted] But the car continued to go even faster, so I pumped the brakes trying to slow down and get the car to stop. Instead, the car kept speeding up faster. In seeing I was close to the end of the dead-end road I swerved to the right to avoid the parked Train cars at the end of the road only to crash into the corner of a building which stopped us. At which time I was rendered unconscious. …
Related recalls (4)
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.
Engine
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021.
Engine
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge.
Engine
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting…
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter.
NHTSA investigations
Engine Fires
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Soul years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2015 (662), 2016 (617), 2014 (590), 2013 (306) and 2020 (251) model years. Engine complaints make up 73% of all complaints for the 2015.
Is there a recall for Kia Soul engine problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 25V-099 (hard parts internal/mechanical, Feb 17, 2025); 21V-259 (engine, Apr 13, 2021); 20V-750 (engine, Dec 2, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Kia Soul engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles; 13% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor (86 mentions), followed by the engine › oil/lubrication (6).
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.