Safety Score
66
Average
Recalls
1
Complaints
50
NCAP Stars
—
Recalls (1)
| Date | NHTSA ID | Component | Units | Completion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-04-13 | 21V259000 |
ENGINE | 147,249 | — | Details |
Owner Complaints (showing up to 50)
| Date | Component | Crash | Injuries | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-03 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the engine started knocki… |
| 2026-03-16 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The engine seems to be stalling, more than likely being caused by the piston rings being defective. With the piston rin… |
| 2026-03-13 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Owner of 2020 Kia soul experiencing engine failure symptoms including stalling and oil consumption vehicl is associated… |
| 2026-02-28 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. T… |
| 2026-02-28 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The engine burnt through all the oil in it, many miles before an oil change was needed for it.I have taken it to the de… |
| 2026-02-25 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at undisclosed speeds. The … |
| 2026-02-22 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to … |
| 2026-02-19 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | This issue is a significant safety concern. The vehicle intermittently loses propulsion, causing a sudden forward lurch… |
| 2026-02-06 | ENGINE | No | 0 | My car suddenly cut off while I'm driving putting me and others at risk in traffic and then my mechanic confirmed that … |
| 2026-01-20 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | My 2020 Kia Soul is suffering catastrophic engine failure from a known safety recall defect involving the piston oil ri… |
| 2026-01-20 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | Mapping system will not update. Vehicle is dangerous. |
| 2026-01-15 | ENGINE | No | 0 | I purchased my 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line brand new in October 2019. The vehicle was later subject to a Kia oil piston ring… |
| 2026-01-05 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle indicated that the oil level was low. The vehicle… |
| 2026-01-02 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The car is at the shop. My mechanic says engine needs to be replaced. It failed rapidly, in one evening, it started r… |
| 2025-12-17 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Oil is getting past the piston oil rings, causing oil to get into spark plugs/coil area of engine. Mechanic printed re… |
| 2025-12-17 | ENGINE | No | 0 | My car is burning oil and showing signs of blow-by. I suspect it is due to the faulty piston rings that prompted your e… |
| 2025-12-13 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | No | 0 | My car has been acting up almost every winter. Bought brand new and within two years would not start. Triple A had to g… |
| 2025-12-02 | ENGINE | No | 0 | My 2020 Kia Soul has around 135,000 miles on it. When accelerating it sounded like a rod or piston was coming through t… |
| 2025-11-28 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | Vehicle transaxle will start or feel like is slips and wont go pass 40mph on the highway and has become a safety concer… |
| 2025-11-25 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The car is frying my battery. I had a Duralast Platinum that should last approx 4 years. It killed one at 26 months. I … |
| 2025-11-19 | ENGINE | No | 0 | On my morning commute the engine light popped up and I started feeling a rumbling in my car when idle and gliding after… |
| 2025-11-18 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The check engine light came on and took in to have checked and am told I need a whole new engine. When Kia is contacted… |
| 2025-11-17 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Car is suddenly stalling without warning during idling or slow acceleration. No check engine light initially appears. W… |
| 2025-11-14 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | The engine began to sound like it was missing or sputtering. This occurred for a short period of time, and then the sou… |
| 2025-11-13 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The engine stalled. I was in a left turning lanev(which there's 2 left turning lanes and I was in the far left turning … |
| 2025-11-10 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The problems with the KIa Sol began with the "check engine" light continuously coming on in January of 2025. Took it to… |
| 2025-11-05 | ENGINE | No | 0 | While I was parked, I got into the vehicle inserted the key and turned the vehicle on as it was started five seconds la… |
| 2025-11-03 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Component that failed: The engine (2.0L Nu MPI) suffered a sudden internal mechanical failure. A connecting rod broke a… |
| 2025-11-01 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle was driving sluggish… |
| 2025-10-16 | ENGINE | No | 0 | I believe my car has been burning oil. The oil was empty at our last oil change only about 60,000 miles on car and we h… |
| 2025-10-05 | ENGINE | Yes | 1 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at a very low speed, the vehicle's speed increa… |
| 2025-10-02 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal … |
| 2025-09-29 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Engine stopped do to zero oil no light came on warning me and I checked the oil a month pryer. Had the oil changed two … |
| 2025-09-29 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Second engine installed in the car ceases to fire. Condition does not change with new sensors for camshaft nor cranksha… |
| 2025-09-08 | ENGINE | No | 0 | According to Ray Skillman Southside Kia, located in Greenwood, Indiana on [XXX], the “exhaust engine lock pin” broke in… |
| 2025-08-26 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact previously received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Eng… |
| 2025-08-20 | AIR BAGS | No | 0 | Immediately after purchase, the Passenger Airbag warning light illuminated. An authorized Kia dealer confirmed that the… |
| 2025-08-20 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | Kia initially refused to honor engine-related safety recalls on my vehicle (including Recall No. 21V259). Only after I … |
| 2025-08-15 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Since the first year of ownership, I have noticed that the vehicle burns oil excessively. I reported this issue to the … |
| 2025-08-13 | ENGINE | No | 0 | My engine stalled out as I was heading up a hill after taking a right turn. There were cars coming up behind me and co… |
| 2025-08-13 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Was driving home from work and the car started smoking and making nose. Full power loss but was able to safely pull ove… |
| 2025-08-03 | ENGINE | No | 0 | On August 3, 2025, I was in Erie PA - Presque Isle Park when the check engine light came on. It was a Sunday, so dealer… |
| 2025-07-29 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | Paint bubbling on both side of the car. Kia claims there is no defect in their paint however it seems to be a known pro… |
| 2025-07-24 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Car was purchased used in November 2024. Driven minimally through 2025. July of 2025 engine began stalling at low idle … |
| 2025-07-11 | ENGINE | No | 0 | To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally submit a complaint regarding the handling of my vehicle recall and rep… |
| 2025-07-07 | SERVICE BRAKES | Yes | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her son was driving at approximately 35 MPH and going u… |
| 2025-07-05 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power … |
| 2025-06-30 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The c… |
| 2025-06-22 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Vehicle: 2020 Kia Soul VIN: [XXX] Component: Engine What happened: My 2020 Kia Soul experienced sudden engine failure… |
| 2025-06-22 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | Complaint Regarding Mechanical Failure and $315 Service Charge on Recent Vehicle Purchase I’m writing to formally expr… |