Page 8 of 8 · complaints 351–388 of 388

2020 Kia Soul complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2020 record →

Engine
Filed Feb 25, 202016,000 milesKY

I NOTICED MY CAR WAS ACCELERATING DIFFERENTLY AND SEEMED TO NOT BE SHIFTING RIGHT. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY ADVISED ME TO PUT FUEL CLEANER IN IT. I DID SO AS ADVISED. A FEW DAYS LATER I WAS MAKING A TURN ACROSS A HIGHWAY AND MY CAR REVVED UP REALLY HIGH AND THEN DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP AND WE GOT IT OUT OF THE ROAD BUT IT WAS NOT RUNNING RIGHT. THE NEXT DAY WE GOT IT IN THE SHOP AND THEY TOLD US IT NEEDED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 17,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN NEARLY A MONTH IN THE SHOP.

Power Train
Filed Feb 20, 202010,533 milesGA

CAR IS ON SECOND COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 10,500 MILES. 1ST FAILURE AT 10,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN BUSY INTERSECTION COMING OFF MAJOR INTERSTATE. KIA DEALER INFORMED ME IT NEEDED COMPLETE NEW TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAD UNIT FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. I HAD IT BACK 5 DAYS FROM DEALER REPAIR AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP ON MY AGAIN IN MIDDLE OF ROAD PULLING OUT FROM STOP SIGN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING TOWARDS ME. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER 45 MIN TO HR OF DRIVING WHEN TRANSMISSION GETS HOT. TODAY I AM MEETING WITH DEALER TO BUY UNIT BACK. I FEEL THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND THESE TRANSMISSION FAILURES ARE A HUGE SAFETY CONCEN THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE THERE IS SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE.

Power Train
Filed Feb 15, 202017,801 milesOH

ON DECEMBER 30 MY KIA SOUL BEGAN ACTING AS IT WAS CUTTING OUT AND IT WAS USING A LOT OF FUEL THE RPM WOULD SHOOT UP A TAD BIT FINALLY THE RPM RED LINED AND THE CAR STOPPED MOVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MPH. WE SAFELY EXITED AND MADE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHICH LUCKILY WAS ONLY ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY. HAD 17607 MILES ON THE CAR THEY KEPT MY CAR FROM 12/30/2019 TO 1/31/2020 WHILE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD MY CAR BACK FOR 2 WEEKS AND TODAY 2/15/2020 THE CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER AND HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING SPEED I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN I WENT TO PULL AWAY THE CAR DID NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. I SHIFTED INTO PARK WHEN IT MADE A LOUD BANG AS YOU WOULD HERE IF YOU PARKED ON A INCLINE AND PUT A CAR INTO GEAR ONLY 3 TIMES AS LOUD. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A PARKING LOT AND CALL FOR A TOW AT 5.45 AM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SENT A TOW COMPANY 2 HOURS AWAY FROM ME AND ITS NOW 3:18 PM AND MY CAR HAS YET TO BE TOWED TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALER . CAR NOW HAS 17801 MILES ON IT. WOUNDER HOW LONG THEY WILL HAVE IT THIS TIME. WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE ABOUT LEMON LAW. THE CAR AT THIS POINT HAS PROVED IT IS UNRELIABLE VERY DISAPPOINTING AS I REALLY LOVE THIS CAR BUT NEED DEPENDABILITY.. MANUFACTURER DATE WAS 3/19

Engine
Filed Feb 13, 20208,697 milesGA

ON 12 FEB 2020, I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 75S IN GA AND LOST ALL ACCELERATION TO THE VEHICLE WHILE SURROUNDED BY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOORBOARD AND HAD 0 RPMS. PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR IT RAN FINE UNTIL I GOT OFF AT MY EXIT AND STARTED AT A RED LIGHT AGAIN NO ACCELERATION 0 RPMS HELD MY FOOT ON THE FLOORBOARD AND IT FINALLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SONS KIA DEALERSHIP IN MCDONOUGH. DROPPED THE CAR OFF HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RAN AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA HQ TO REPORT THE ISSUE. GUESS I'LL DRIVE IT TILL IT FAILS COMPLETELY.

Power Train
Filed Feb 5, 20205,000 milesIL

THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE DAY I TOOK MY KIA SOUL IN FOR THE 2ND TIME FOR SURGING AND JERKING. I FOUND OUT THE 3RD OF FEBRUARY THIS PAST MONDAY IT HAS A BAD TRANSMISSION AND NEEDS REPLACED. THEY ORIGINALLY WANTED TO SEND ME HOME YET AGAIN AFTER THIS PROBLEM UNTIL MY DAD STEPPED IN AND TOLD THEM TO FIGURE THE PROBLEM OUT AND JUST DOING SOME "ADJUSTMENT " TO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ISN'T GOI NG TO FIX THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES NOW AND I'VE HAD A LOANER IN TOTAL OF 10 DAYS SPLIT BETWEEN ALL THE ISSUES WITH MY "NEW" CAR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I LOVED IT AND NOW I CANT STAND IT THINKING I MIGHT GET STRANDED WITH MY KIDS SOMEWHERE IN THE COLD. I WANT MY MONEY BACK OR A NEW CAR. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I'M POSTING A PROBLEM ON HERE THE FIRST TIME WAS BECAUSE OF THE RADIO GOING IN AND OUT OF A BLACK SCREEN AND FREEZING. I TOOK IT IN FOR THAT AND ALL THEY DID WAS AGAIN HIT A RESET BUTTON AND SHOWED ME HOW TO RESET IT MYSELF SO I DONT HAVE TO BEING IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SAME ISSUE. SORRY BUT IT'S NOT MY JOB TO FIX THIS ISSUE I WASNT HAPPY WITH THAT STATEMENT EITHER. AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE IN TWICE FOR THAT AND NOT TO MENTION ALL THE LIES I'VE CAUGHT THE DEALERSHIP SAYING TO ME. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH AND KNOW PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY I DONT TAKE BEING LIED TO FOR EASILY WHEN I'M SPENDING OVER 25 GRAND ON SOMETHING. I HAVE VIDEOS TO PROVE WHAT WAS GOING ON SINCE THEY WERE SAYING IT WOULDN'T REPEAT THE PROBLEM BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO ATTACH THEM HERE.

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Feb 2, 202012,000 milesAL

GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK WE RAN THROUGH THE END OF THE HOUSE. THIS HAPPEN WHILE TURNING IN OUR DRIVEWAY

Engine
Filed Jan 29, 2020MN

I CAN NOT BELIEVE WHEN I READ MORE THAN 30 COMPLAINTS THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. I PURCHASED A 2020 KIA SOUL IN AUGUST OF 2019 AND BY DECEMBER OF 2019 I HAD ALMOST BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO A LAG IN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS JUST THE ECO SYSTEM AND THAT THEY ALL DO THIS. THEN TO FIND OUT LATER THAT THEY DID ANOTHER TEST ON MY VEHICLE TO FIND OUT THAT IT HAD METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AS TOO MUCH TO MY DISMAY, I FIND THAT IT TAKES OVER TWO MONTHS TO DROP A NEW TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE. THIS IS MY FIRST KIA AND NOW I HAVE NO TRUST IN THIS CAR. NOW I AM REQUESTING TO GET OUT OF THIS LOAN ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE NOW I DO NOT TRUST THIS BRAND.

Power Train
Filed Jan 28, 20205,600 milesWA

I BOUGHT A 2020 KIA SOUL S AUG 30 2020 DECEMBER 23, 2020 I FOUND OUT MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING 5600 MILES ON CAR. DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE 2 TO 3 MONTHS AS THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER, CHECKED INTO LEMON LAWS, CALLED KIA OF AMERICA A WEEK LATER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WAS GOING TO TAKE TO GET FIXED, THE NEXT WEEK I GOT A CALL FROM KIA OF AMERICA SAYING MY CAR WOULD BE DONE THE NEXT DAY AS IT WAS. THE ODD THING IS KIA OF A OFFERED ME A GOODWILL OFFER FOR MY INCONVENIENCE. I AM DEBATING WHETHER TO ACCEPT IT OR NOT AS THERE ARE LEGAL PAPERS ATTACHED TO IT. I AM JUST HOPING THE NEW TRANSMISSION HOLDS UP WITH NO OTHER ISSUES. OTHERWISE I REALLY LIKE THE CAR.

Power Train
Filed Jan 26, 20202,000 milesVA

ON DECEMBER 23RD THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WHEN IT DROPPED TO 1ST GEAR AND RPM'S INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE OFF RAMP TO A PARKING LOT BUT THE CAR NEVER CAME OUT OF 1ST GEAR. WE TRIED TO USE THE MANUAL OPTION BUT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE. WE LET THE CAR SIT AND TRIED AGAIN AND IT SEEMED TO BE BETTER BUT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES OF DRIVING IT DROPPED INTO FIRST GEAR AGAIN AND NEVER CAME BACK OUT. WE CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY KIA DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 35DAYS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS ON BACKORDER AND THE DEALER HAS ONLY 1 CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT CAN WORK ON THE 2020 SOUL. WE LEASED THIS CAR IN OCTOBER AND IT HAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON IT AND WE HAVE HAD A RENTAL FOR OVER A MONTH. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE SAME TRANSMISSION THAT COULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND CONCERN FOR US.

Engine
Filed Jan 24, 20207,800 milesFL

VEHICLE RPM BEGAN FLUCTUATING WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL IN RAINY WEATHER. SWITCHED TO MANUAL (SPORT MODE) CONTROL AND THE PROBLEM LESSENED. VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AND WAS SHIFTING RANDOMLY BETWEEN GEARS AUTOMATICALLY, EVENTUALLY REDLINING WHILE MAINTAINING 74MPH. A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AND NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION ON INTERSTATE 10 AS MY SPEED FELL DRAMATICALLY. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE NEAREST EXIT BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR. WE WERE STRANDED IN A THUNDERSTORM FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO HELP. AAA SAVED THE DAY, GOT THE VEHICLE BACK, AND THEN THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ISSUE A RENTAL CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, THE RISK OF INJURY IS HIGH AND DO YOUR BEST TO GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE. DEALERSHIP HAS SINCE ISSUED A RENTAL CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT A TRANSMISSION WOULD BE RE-MANUFACTURED. FOR MY VEHICLE. I AM NOT AFRAID TO DRIVE A BRAND NEW VEHICLE ANYWHERE AWAY FROM HOME.

Power Train
Filed Jan 24, 20209,200 milesGA

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 9,200 MILES. CAR LOCKED UP COMING OFF INTERSTATE EXIT RAMP AND WOULD NOT TAKE GEAR AT ALL. VERY STRONG SMELL OF BURNING TRANSMISSION. UNIT NEEDED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION. HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR OVER 6 WEEKS.

Engine
Filed Jan 24, 20207,900 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER (HENDRICK KIA OF CONCORD LOCATED AT 7550 HENDRICK AUTO PLAZA NW, CONCORD, NC 28027) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. AN UNDISCLOSED REPAIR WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,900

Power Train
Filed Jan 24, 20208,100 milesMD

2020 SOUL EX WITH ABOUT 8100 MILES. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND SUDDENLY TACH REDLINED AND LOST ACCELERATION/POWER. LIMPED CAR INTO DEALER A COUPLE MILES AWAY, WHERE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DIAGNOSTIC WARNING APPEARED ON DISPLAY. DEALER CONFIRMED LATER THAT DAY THAT TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ETA ON REPLACEMENT.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jan 23, 20204,500 milesIL

1-13-2020 DRIVING WHEN A LITTLE ROCK MADE A CHIP IN MY WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN SECONDS A CRACK ABOUT 8 INCHES LONG APPEARED AND NOW THE CRACK IS A FOOT LONG. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WE WERE TOLD OUR WARRANTY WOULD COVER EVERYTHING, BUT WHEN WE TOOK IT IN THEY INFORMED US WE ONLY GOT BUMPER TO BUMPER MECHANICAL. THE PERSON WE GOT IT FROM LIED TO US ABOUT WHAT WE WERE GETTING AND WE THOUGHT WE COULD TRUST HIM. WE HAD TO RESET THE RADIO BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T, THEN MY BACKUP CAM WOULDN'T WORK IF THE RADIO WAS ON THE FRITZ. STARTING 1-17-2020 MY KIA STARTED SURGING OR CHUGGING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HOPEFULLY THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. THIS IS MY FIRST BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE SELLERS OR THE VEHICLE SO FAR. AND NOW MY WINDSHIELD WONT BE FIXED BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE COULD TRUST THE PERSON WE BOUGHT FROM AT THE KIA IN MOLINE, ILLINOIS CAUSING THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND OUR DEDUCTIBLE IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT WOULD BE THAT TO JUST PAY OUT OF POCKET.

Engine
Filed Jan 23, 20202,230 milesNC

I PURCHASED A NEW 2020 KIA SOUL LX WITH 16 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. 2 MONTHS LATER, MY CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER SUDDENLY. THE ENGINE INCREASED RPM AS I'VE LOST POWER. THE CAR WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 25 MPH. I DROVE IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY CAR STAYED IN THE DEALERSHIP SHOP FOR TWO MONTHS AWAITING A TRANSMISSION THAT WAS ON BACK ORDER.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 20, 202015 milesVA

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I HEARD A LOUD BANG. I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HIT THE ROOF OF MY CAR. I OPENED THE SUNROOF COVER AND DISCOVERED MY SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED BUT STILL INTACT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THERE WAS NO SIGN OF DEBRIS HITTING THE SUNROOF OR ANY PART OF THE ROOF. THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED, WHICH I NEVER KNEW IT COULD DO, BUT READING FURTHER ON THE INTERNET IT CAN AND DOES HAPPEN.

Power Train
Filed Jan 13, 2020NE

CAR HAD ISSUES ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING ON THE AUTO ENGINE SHUTOFF . 24 NO LIGHTS CAME ON. 12 HOURS LATER DRIVING ON INTERSTATE RPMS REDLINED WHILE GOING ABOUT 60-65 . I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE . AT THE STOP LIGHT DIRECTLY OFF THE INTERSTATE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, SMELT HEAVILY OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. ROADSIDE PICKED ME UP. DEALERSHIP SET ME UP IN A RENTAL AND TOLD ME SEVERAL HAD THIS ISSUE AND A MISSIONS ARE ON BACK ORDER.

Power Train
Filed Jan 8, 20202,681 milesMO

WE DRIVE A 2020 KIA SOUL GT-LINE 2.0 WITH 2681 MILES AND BUILD DATE 06/19. I WAS TRAVELING AT 75MPH WHEN THE RPM'S STARTED SURGING ABOUT 300 BACK AND FORTH IN THE STANDARD AUTO MODE. IT WENT AWAY IN MANUAL SHIFT MODE. MY GAS MILEAGE WAS SHOWING 21MPG. I PROCEEDED FOR ABOUT 30 MORE MILES IN MANUAL (7TH) THEN THE RPM'S REDLINED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I LET IT SIT 5 MINUTES AND MADE IT 2 MILES ON THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE TO THE NEXT EXIT AT ABOUT 30 TO 40MPH IN AUTO MODE. THAT IS ALL IT WOULD DO. IT WAS A SLIGHT CLIMB AFTER THE RAMP. THE SOUL STRUGGLED. I TRIED TO SHIFT INTO MANUAL AND IT SAYS IT IS IN 5TH, AND IT WILL NOT SHIFT. I FIGURED I WOULD ADD THIS WHILE CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE TOW. THIS SOUL WAS NEVER DRIVEN HARD. IT WAS ABOUT 95% HIGHWAY MILES. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF FAILURE BEFORE THIS. THIS HAPPENED QUICKLY.THE SOUL WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS 3 HOURS FROM HOME, AND HAD TO RENT A CAR TO DRIVE HOME. THE OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS IS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WE'RE WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT, WHICH COULD TAKE 6-8 WEEKS.

Seats
Filed Jan 5, 202020 milesPR

I PURCHASED A 2020 KIA SOUL BARELY 3 WEEKS AGO. FIRST ISSUE IS THE FRONT LIGHTS. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY FOGGY AND WITH HUMIDITY. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INITIALLY TOLD THAT IT WOULD CLEAR UP ONCE HIGH BEAMS ARE TURNED ON FOR 30 MINUTES WHICH IS UNREALISTIC AS YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR HIGH BEAMS ON WHEN THERE ARE CARS IN FRONT OF YOU. WAS THEN TOLD THEY SUBMITTED A TICKET TO KIA AS THIS IS THE SECOND UNIT THEY HAD WITH SAME ISSUE. SECOND ISSUE IS THE FRONT SEAT HEADRESTS. THEY PUSH THE HEAD TO FAR FORWARD AND CAUSES CONSTANT HEADACHE AND NECKACHE. THIS CAN'T BE ADJUSTED.

Engine
Filed Jan 4, 20203,500 milesTX

WHILE DRIVING ON A SOUTHEAST TEXAS 2 LANE ROAD WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70MPH, I WAS FOLLOWING A TRUCK GOING LESS THAN 50MPH. WHEN VISIBILITY WAS CLEAR, I PULLED OUT TO PASS THE TRUCK. AT ABOUT 3/4 THROTTLE, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO PROVIDE MORE POWER BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN THE ONCOMING LANE OF THE ROADWAY ABOUT HALFWAY AROUND THE 18 WHEELER. AT THIS POINT, I STARTED TO SEE ONCOMING VEHICLES, AT WHICH TIME, I APPLIED WOT. THE ENGINE LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND FLASHED 3 TIMES AND THE CAR FELT TO BE SPUTTERING AND IN SOME TYPE OF LIMP MODE. I MADE A SPLIT SECOND DECISION TO BRAKE HARD AND SQUEEZE BACK IN BEHIND THE 18 WHEELER TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE SITUATION WAS MADE WORSE BY A VEHICLE BEHIND ME SIMULTANEOUSLY TRYING TO PASS THE 18 WHEELER. STOPPING AT THE NEXT GAS STATION I NOTICE SPUTTERING EVEN IN PARK AT EVEN VERY LIGHT THROTTLE. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE HOPING THAT THE ECU NEEDED TO RESET. IT DID RESET AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. HAD I NOT MADE THE DECISION I DID WHEN PASSING AND HAD THE PERSON BEHIND ME NOT ALSO APPLIED THE BRAKES QUICKLY, I WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN IN SOME TYPE OF COLLISION WHETHER IT BE HEAD ON OR HAVING TO SWERVE OFF THE ROADWAY COMPLETELY TO AVOID ONCOMING VEHICLES.

Engine
Filed Jan 1, 2020IL

THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AND I WILL START IT BACK UP IT WILL CRANK THEN SHUT BACK OFF AND TO BE CLEAR IT HAS PLENTY OF OIL SO THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM

Power Train
Filed Dec 30, 2019300 milesVA

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW WITH APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES ON IT. ON DAY 34, WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE RURAL ROAD THE RPMS BEGAN GOING UP AND DOWN WILDLY, A STRONG SMELL (WHICH I NOW KNOW IS TRANSMISSION) AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. BEING IN AN S CURVE WITH FLASHERS ON, I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A CAR COMING AROUND THE CURVE. TWO MORE VEHICLES WERE BEHIND THE FIRST ONE AND STOPPED, HELPING ME PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. AS THE NIGHT THIS OCCURRED WAS CHRISTMAS EVE, IT TOOK 3 HOURS TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED FROM. I AM TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATES KIA CORPORATE WILL SEND A NEW TRANSMISSION AND HAVING THAT PERFORMED IS MY ONLY OPTION.

Child Seat › Tether › Strap/Webbing
Filed Dec 18, 201911,500 milesNY

THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCHES ARE INACCESSIBLE AS THEY ARE BURIED IN TIGHT UPHOLSTERY. I CAN'T ALWAYS SUCCESSFULLY LATCH THE CAR SEATS INTO THE CAR AND WHEN I SUCCEED IT IS ONLY WITH THE HELP OF SOMEONE VERY EXPERIENCED AND TAKES UPWARDS OF HALF AN HOUR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO KIA AND WAS ADVISED THEY WILL TAKE NO ACTION UNTIL THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY PROFESSIONAL REVIEWERS: HTTPS://WWW.CARS.COM/ARTICLES/HOW-DO-CAR-SEATS-FIT-IN-A-2020-KIA-SOUL-GT-403604. "SOME MUSCLE" IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US FOUR TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS STATIONARY.

Power Train
Filed Dec 12, 201919,000 milesSC

WHILE DRIVING MY 2020 KIA SOUL GT, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND NOT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHERE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER.

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 12, 20192,298 milesMO

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTO STOP/START. WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT THE AUTO STOP/START ENGAGED, AND BEFORE THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED THE AUTO STOP/START DISPLAYED AN ERROR IN THE DISPLAY INDICATING THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE SHIFTED TO P OR N AND RESTARTED AS THE STOP/START FUNCTION ENDED AND ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY OFF. REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM SEEMED TO FIX THIS. NOW THE SAME VEHICLE DISPLAYS THE SAME ERROR (ENGINE STOP/START IS OFF) AS THE VEHICLE IS BEING PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE AND BEFORE THE ENGINE IS PHYSICALLY TURNED OFF (THE BRAKE IS BEING ENGAGED, AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO PARK AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAPPENED IN BOTH MY VEHICLE AN EX MODEL, AND A 2020 S MODEL (RENTAL CAR). MY VEHICLE HAS PUSH BUTTON START/STOP, AND THE S MODEL IS A KEY START MODEL. THIS BEGAN ON 082919 WITH THE EX, AND LASTLY ON 120619 WITH THE S MODEL.

Power Train
Filed Dec 7, 20191,800 milesNV

WITH JUST UNDER 1800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY SHIFTED INTO 5TH GEAR AND THE RPMS JUMPED UP. AS WE SLOWED AND PULLED OVER THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT DOWN SHIFT AND REMAINED IN 5TH GEAR AS WE CAME TO A STOP. PUT IT INTO PARK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THEN STARTED THE CAR, PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND IT WAS STILL IN 5TH GEAR. TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED 5 MINUTES, WHEN WE TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE CODE DESCRIPTION WAS "SPEED INPUT SENSOR DOES NOT MATCH THE SPEED OUTPUT SENSOR". TOOK IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAVE HAD IT EVER SINCE. THEY ARE AWAITING AN ARRIVAL OF A TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE IT.

Engine
Filed Nov 29, 20196,000 milesAL

WHEN USING THE AUTO START AND STOP FEATURE WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE CRANKS BACK I HEAR A STRANGE NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CAT SQUALLING WHEN THE ENGINE STARTS. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN YOUR NOT USING AUTO START. PLUS WHEN YOU SHIFT INTO PARK WHILE STOPED IT DOESN'T MAKE THIS NOISE. MY WIFE ALSO HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH HER CAR SAME YEAR MODLE AND MAKE. NO CLUE I FEAR THIS MAYBE RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. AS WHEN PLACING IN PARK IT DOESN'T MAKE THE NOISE WHEN YOU RELEASE THE BRAKES. MY WIFE'S CAR HAS LESS THAN 12000 MILES AND MINE HAS 6000 MILES AND IT'S STARTING TO MAKE THE NOISE. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN HARD BRAKING OCCURS . SOUND IS COMMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 19, 201914,900 milesOH

MY CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT WITH 28 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 15614 MILES ON MY 2020 KIA SOUL. I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THAT THE HORN, A MAJOR SAFETY FEATURE, INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. WHEN THE HORN STOPS WORKING IT INCLUDES THE STEERING WHEEL DEPRESS AND THE KEY FOB 'LOCKED' SIGNAL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AS A HORN CAN BE THE LAST RESORT NOTIFICATION SOMEONE NEEDS BETWEEN LIFE OR DEATH.

Power Train
Filed Nov 18, 201911,200 milesOK

AT 11,200 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY MALFUNCTIONED IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. RPM WOULD SHIFT WILDLY FROM IDLE TO REDLINE, AND THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERED HARD AND LOST ALL POWER. I HAD TO MERGE FROM THE INSIDE LANE OF A 65MPH HIGHWAY TO THE OUTSIDE, NEARLY GETTING INTO A COLLISION IN THE PROCESS. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED IMMOBILE AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON A NEW TRANSMISSION TO BE INSTALLED. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THIS VEHICLE SHARES A POWER TRAIN WITH THE 2019 KIA FORTE. THAT MODEL HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT FAILED TRANSMISSIONS, AND I SUSPECT MY MODEL WILL AS WELL.

Steering
Filed Nov 12, 20194,000 milesFL

STARTED CAR "PUSH BUTTON" ONE EVENING AND FOUND THE STEERING WAS INOPERATIVE. SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED AND ALL WAS FINE. IT ONLY DID THIS ONE TIME.

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 11, 2019702 milesPR

MY 2020 KIA SOUL, I ONLY HAVE IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND THE FOG LIGHTS GOT WET AND FOGGY, I TOOK THE CAR THE DEALER AND SPOKE TO SERVICE, AND ORDER NEW PARTS, TO INSTALL IN THE CAR, IT REALLY CONCERNS ME THAT A BRAND NEW CAR GET THESE FOG LIGHTS WET, WHICH CAN CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH THIS LIGHTS FOGGY, DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO HUMIDITY.

Engine
Filed Nov 7, 2019325 milesSC

PROBLEM WITH IDLE STOP/START SYSTEM-WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE, I HEAR A LOUD GROAN SOUND, AND THE CAR SHUTTERS BEFORE EVENTUALLY MOVING FORWARD. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SOUND THEY HEARD WAS "NORMAL", BUT IF IT CONTINUED TRY TO GET A AUDIO RECORDING OF THE SOUNDS I WAS HEARING, AND THEY WOULD LOOK IN TO IT. RIDICULOUS! I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 2 MORE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. RIGHT NOW I TURN THE FUNCTION OFF AS SOON AS I GET IN THE VEHICLE, WHAT GOOD IS IT IF YOU CAN'T USE IT?

Steering
Filed Nov 7, 201932 milesSC

VEHICLE PULLS SHARPLY AND ABRUPTLY TO THE RIGHT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45-50. WHEN I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, I MENTIONED TO THE SALESMAN THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT, OF COURSE HE DIDN'T FEEL IT, BUT WOULD HAVE IT CHECKED. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN APRIL, AND OWNING IT ABOUT 7 MONTHS, THIS PROBLEM IS WORSE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL DUE TO THE LANE KEEPING ASSIST FUNCTION. IF THIS IS THE CASE THIS IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS A VERY SHARP AND ABRUPT PULL TO THE RIGHT, WITH NO WARNING.

Engine
Filed Oct 29, 20195,000 milesTX

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2020. I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM IN JULY. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IDLE STOP AND GO FEATURE, AS IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THIS IT IS BEING USED. WHEN I COME TO STOPS AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. WHEN I RELEASE MY FEET OFF THE BREAKS THE CAR MAKES A DULL QUAKE LIKE NOISE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 7 DAYS ALREADY. THEY CHANGED THE BREAK BOOSTER THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS NOT. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SCHEDULE SOMEONE AT THE DEALERSHIP TO RIDE WITH ME FOR A FEW MINUTES TO LISTEN TO THE NOISE. ABOUT A WEEK AND HALF AGO I GOT AN REPLY TO AN EMAIL TELLING ME TO HOLD OFF ON THAT, BECAUSE ANOTHER CAR HAS COME INTO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THEY WILL CONTACT ME WHEN THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN GOING ON WORKING ON 5 MONTHS NOW.

Engine
Filed Oct 13, 201915 milesCA

THE IDLE STOP - START SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE BROKEN. WHENEVER I PULL UP TO A LIGHT AND STOP THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THEN, WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE STARTS BUT THE CALIBERS LOCK UP ON THE DISC CREATING A LOUD GROANING SOUND. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUTTER AND BARELY GO FORWARD. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR CONSISTENTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE DEALER, KIA OF IRVINE, TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT FO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 9, 2019200 milesCA

PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED - APPROX 45MPH. SEVERE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DID HAVE A NEW-ENOUGH MACHINE TO ALIGN THE CAR. HOW CAN KIA OF IRVINE, NOT HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO FIX THE CARS THEY SELL? INSIDE REAR COWLING THAT GOES AROUND THE SMALL PORTAL WINDOW ON THE RIGHT WAS WARPED FROM THE FACTORY. CAR WAS NOT MOVING. GOT A REPLACEMENT PART; HOWEVER, IT WAS A POOR INSTALL JOB AND THE FRONT PART OF THE COWLING DOES NOT ALIGN WELL WITH ITS LOWER CONNECT PIECE. RIGHT FRONT TIRE IS BECOMING SEVERELY WORN BECAUSE OF ALIGNMENT ISSUE THAT CAN'T BE FIXED. EXTERIOR PLASTIC COVER ON LEFT-SIDE A-FRAME PILLAR CAME FROM THE FACTORY SCRATCHED AND LOSE. KIA OF IRVINE WILL NOT FIX IT - THEY ONLY WANT TO BUFF THE PLASTIC. NOT A PROPER FIX BECAUSE THE PART IS STILL LOSE.

EngineFire
Filed Jun 21, 2019600 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED 10 DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *BF

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 20, 2019500 milesVA

I LEARNED THE CAR HORN ON MY 2020 KIA SOUL DID NOT WORK WHILE ON A HIGHWAY AND CLOSE TO BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. I TRIED TO USE HORN TO ALERT THE OTHER DRIVER AND IT FAILED. I CONTACTED DEALER SERVICE DEPT FOR ASSISTANCE AND HAD TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT AND THEY ADVISED ME THE HORN SYSTEM FAILED AND SENT ME HOME WITH MY CAR AND NO HORN. I COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MGR AND THEY GAVE A LOANER AND TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THEIR SERVICE AREA UNTIL THE PARTS COME IN. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE PART WILL TAKE 4 WEEKS TO COME IN, THEY CAN'T TAKE THE PART FROM THE OTHER 2020 SOUL ON THE LOT AS THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME FAILED HORN SYSTEM.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2020 Kia Soul → · Every Soul year → · How the figures are calculated →