10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 46
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,365 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Kia Soul engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Kia Soul Owner Comments (Page 4 of 23)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #383

Jan 172022

Soul

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have notice that there is a burn smell or melting smell coming in my vent. Has happened several times it-€™s been a month so I reported to Kia dealership. They tested and said there is nothing wrong. It-€™s been two weeks since they did the test. The car is acting weird and not wanted to speed and it-€™s shaking. I-€™m aware of other problems to other Kia-€™s but my car is presenting same issues. No lights has pop indicating there is something wrong. I need help with my car or this will be a bigger law suit for the Kia manufacture. You don-€™t want to put peoples life in danger.

- Phx, AZ, USA

problem #382

Dec 302021

Soul

  • miles
Unknown

- Jackson , MS, USA

problem #381

Jan 292022

Soul

  • miles
Driving car at normal speed suddenly car would not accelerate. had severe loss of bower with no warning. engine stalled and would not start. towed to mechanic and was told engine needed to be replaced.

- Dryden, NY, USA

problem #380

Apr 042021

Soul

  • 67,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the oil pressure warning light would remain illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed an oil consumption test however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 67,500.

- Owings Mills, MD, USA

problem #379

Jan 282022

Soul

  • miles
I noticed my 2014 kia soul 2.0 not taking off when accelerating and hearing a high pitched screeching sound coming from the engine almost like metal was rubbing against metal. My vehicle also has been burning a lot of oilsince I purchased it in 2018 (1 quart every 2 weeks). I have taken my vehicle into kia for 2 other recalls and mention the oil burning and was told it was normal. On January 20th, 2022, I took my vehicle to the Kia dealership because of the acceleration issue and was told it may need an engine replacement but now I'm being told the engine doesn't need replacing but it needs a catalytic converter and that this may be a result of the car leaking oil into the catalytic converter causing it to become completely clogged. This will definitely be considered a safety issue because this could cause a fire or make the vehicle stall therefore causing an accident. The engine and catalytic converter for 2014 soul+ 2.0 needs to be recalled.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #378

Apr 012019

Soul

  • 82,558 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine, and Engine Cooling). The contact's mother took the vehicle to the local dealer and had the recall remedy completed. The contact stated in November 2021, while driving approximately 40 MPH, while depressing on the accelerator pedal the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was unable to park on the side of the road and was able to continue driving shortly after however, the vehicle failed to accelerate over 20 MPH. The contact stated she had to stop four times before arriving at her residence. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the rear catalytic converter replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated after leaving the dealer, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to two separate independent mechanics and was informed that the original main catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the original main catalytic converter replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,558.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #377

Nov 152021

Soul

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Lack of power and would not go above 60 on highway. KIA of Des Moines says oil consumption and oil everywhere and that Catalytic converter clogged which made the piston rings blow out.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #376

Nov 172020

Soul

  • miles
While driving at 15-20 mph, the engine started knocking loudly, smoked a little and died. There were NO warning lights or messages. There were NO previous symptoms, the car had been running fine and the oil and water had been checked 3 days prior. My car had never leaked or burned oil. I was able to restart it, the knocking was very loud. I was a couple miles from home so I slowly drove it home stopping 3-4 times to allow it to cool. At home I checked the oil and all had drained out except what was still dripping out underneath. A mechanic friend added oil and started it, it still knocked loudly and he thought a rod and/or rod bearing were bad. I parked it not knowing what to do yet. A little over 2 months later I was notified of recall 20V750, SC200. This was during covid. Between end of Jan 2021 (when notified) and Nov 2021, I had been quarantined 4 times and had lost my job so I couldn't afford to tow to the dealer. When I did, Nov 22,21 the dealer would not honor the recall because an update on the KSDS on the ECU was not done. The recall letter said they would do the update and repairs. I researched all letters from Kia to their dealers, other owners and NHTSA. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS or conditions regarding this. ALL information states the update will be done with recall repairs, there is no time limit given (other than an offer to recieve a free Visa with update that expired 11-15-21), and suggests to do it asap. Even letters to dealer had 2 Q&A letters, each had a question if there were any restrictions on owners, the answer is no on both letters. There are NO restrictions regarding the updated ECU, the warrenty, or condition of the car. Kia DOES give the dealers instructions for cars that are towed in, if stored, if they start, if they crank. Each of these INCLUDE updating the KSDS, again making the excuse I was given false. There was NO reason the update could not be done and my car repaired PER KIA'S instructions to dealers and recall owners.

- Desoto, IL, USA

problem #375

Jun 012020

Soul 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the oil warning light was illuminated after an oil change. Upon inspection, the contact noticed there was no oil in the oil reservoir. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where various unknown tests were performed. The dealer diagnosed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil, which caused the engine to fail. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. The consumer took the vehicle to Kia of Cherry Hill, NJ, who stated the engine could seize at anytime even though with the car having regular oil changes.

- Mt. Laurel Township, NJ, USA

problem #374

Jan 162021

Soul

  • miles
Car has issues when starting up. When turning on, occasionally it will take time to completely turn on, its as if it-€™s not receiving enough power from battery, but then it will turn on with the traction control and engine light being on. I would have to turn it off and turn it back off for those light to turn off. I-€™ve also driven the car and it will turn off, but the light is still on, the engine just turned off. This will also happen when I-€™m idle and waiting to run the car. When driving, I feel something being moved and the traction light & engine light will turn on. Especially when I try to get more speed on the car. I-€™ve taken the car numerous times for this issue but each time they-€™ve told me nothing was wrong with it. I-€™ve replaced battery since this was what we thought the issue was initially. On the 3rd time I-€™ve taken the car to get fixed, i was told that the ECM is the issue. Took a month to get the piece and car fixed. Same day receiving it back, it was doing the same thing where it would not turn on properly and the traction control light is on. And now when driving the engine and traction light are both on more often.

- Spring, TX, USA

problem #373

Dec 202021

Soul

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had the Knock sensor recall updated on my car last year. This installation was faulty so Kia had to create a software for my car for the knock sensor. Recently, my car has starting losing momentum when trying to drive and it's slow to shift almost like it's stuck in safe mode which is what happened after the kds was put in place. I believe the software or the sensor may be malfunctioning. This is affecting my gas mileage and possibly harming my transmission. This could possibly cause me to be in an accident with severe injuries or death.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #372

Dec 292020

Soul

  • miles
Live in Dallas, TX. In MS 12/29/20 when engine failed, no warning. Did not receive recall until 1/28/21. KIA Wilson Flowood, MS kept my Soul until I retuned in person to MS 4/7 and demanded they return my Soul. Admitted they had to finish installing engine. I picked it up 4/9. I knew before I left MS my vehicle was not running as it was before the incident. Took to Central KIA Plano, TX. Kept it several days but was told they found no issues. Soul still not running as before. Went for oil change 11/9 & was informed I had almost no oil. Said appeared oil pan not fitting correctly. Took to Southwest Kia Dallas. When I picked it back up was told oil pan had not been reinstalled property & same for the engine. Said multiple screws & bolts missing.They took pics & sent to their district mgr. I contacted my KIA consumer advocate. Bottom line was told my responsibility to take car back to Wilson in MS for them to correct poor workmanship. I do not feel safe driving my Soul for fear the engine will fail again. If it should happen on Freeway, especially in Dallas, I could easily be struck by another vehicle. I feel KIA should correct their issue & authorize a local Dallas dealer to do so. KIA has put it in my hands to correct. Why would I drive my Soul 456 miles back to dealership that did not repair it correctly in the first place? I have no faith they would correct the issues.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #371

Dec 292021

Soul

  • miles
This vehicle has been a nightmare for half of the time that I-€™ve had it. I first took it back to the Kia dealership in 2019 because of the check engine light and told them it was pulling a 420 code I knew that was a catalytic converter which had been recalled. After a few hours of having my car they told me that no repairs were needed so they marked the recall as complete. I had to continue to drive with a check engine light on for several months. I brought it back again because I needed it to be fixed in order to pass the state inspection for registration renewal. At that point they did put on a new catalytic converter. Ever since then it has been leaking or burning oil. I-€™m not sure how it-€™s gone through so much oil but the oil light has stayed on more than it-€™s turned off despite putting a quart in every couple of days. For the last month I-€™ve been doing 2 quarts at a time. Two nights ago my engine light started flashing on the highway. My car was shaking violently. When I got to my destination my engine completely died and the car started rolling backwards in the street as I went to put it in park. I have since towed my vehicle twice to different auto shops. Currently they-€™re saying that it needs a new engine because of the oil problem and are quoting me $7800. I believe that this was part of the recall and that I should-€™ve received a new engine two years ago. Instead I have easily spent more than $1000 this year on oil alone. And I cannot afford an engine that is worth twice as much as the car itself. I am very lucky that I wasn-€™t stranded on the interstate and even luckier that my car didn-€™t catch on fire. For that I don-€™t credit the car I credit the fact that I slowed down well below the speed limit to finish my route.

- Huntersville, NC, USA

problem #370

Sep 302021

Soul

  • miles
The engine on my Kia Soul blew about 3 months ago. My husband was driving on the highway when the car started acting funny. It lost the power to accelerate and steer. He was able to make it to a gas station where he checked all the fluids. He found there to be NO oil!! There was no indication light or warning! As a matter of fact, we had the oil changed about a month prior to the incident. We also had the car into the dealership for a recall about the knock sensor detection system, maybe 3 weeks before this happened. I'm very upset, Kia will not work with me because the car has a little over 100,000 miles. I just don't understand how the engine could have been bone dry with absolutely no indication of it. There were no oil puddles in the driveway, no smell of burning oil, and above all else NO warning lights!!! Nobody was hurt, but they absolutely could have been!

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #369

Nov 262021

Soul

  • miles
Vehicle is a 2014 Kia Soul with the 1.6L GDI engine. While traveling at highway speeds the engine began to run rough and the vehicle lost power. The check engine light did not illuminate. We pulled off the highway to a Kia dealership in Greensboro, NC with the engine continuing to run & idle roughly. The dealership replaced the spark plugs & coils believing it was a misfire issue, however the engine continued to run poorly. A compression test showed 30 psi in one cylinder with 130 psi in the others. The engine would require replacement at only 72k miles. The vehicle was maintained per the maintenance schedule, and fluids were kept at the proper level. Without any warning this could have caused an accident on the highway.

- Hurt, VA, USA

problem #368

Nov 222021

Soul

  • miles
Engine consuming so much oil it caused several breakdowns while driving, including total loss of acceleration and very bad engine knocking/shaking. Constantly refilling oil to avoid these breakdowns. Integral engine parts failed including catalytic converter and cam shaft sensors. Parts replaced but issue is not resolved. Engine still miss fires and needed 3 oil changes in 3 months, in addition to constant extra oil being added in the meantime. Car isn-€™t safe to drive because breakdowns and miss fires happen without warning, without an engine light or oil light.

- Elgin, IL, USA

problem #367

Dec 022021

Soul

  • miles
2914 Kia Soul with 49,405 miles. Malfunction Indicator Lamp illuminated-No drivability issues were noted outside of a rapid idle at startup. Dealer scan indicated fault code P050A and performed ECU upgrade for $186.51.

- Reading, PA, USA

problem #366

Nov 232021

Soul

  • miles
The front of the car started to smoke (black smoke coming from under the hood) while driving on a highway and caught fire within one minute. The safety of the driver was at risk. He barely had enough time to get out of the car before the whole front of the car burst into flames. The driver had to call 911. The FDNY put the fire out with NYPD present. The fire was so big that there was nothing left to inspect after FDNY put the fire out. This was a total loss and insurance accepted the photos without physically inspecting the car. The car began to sound like it was running on diesel and lost power shortly before the smoke. No other obvious warnings or signs were noted.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #365

Nov 262021

Soul

  • miles
Unknown.

- Anniston , AL, USA

problem #364

Nov 272021

Soul

  • miles
My check engine light goes on and off and its reading catalytic converter there is a recall for that as well on kia souls

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

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