Engine. Review the 555 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports35 fire reports17 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

56 reports

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78,000 miles · Jul 5, 2019

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER DURING USE, ESPECIALLY WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS.

NHTSA ODI #11229669

10,000 miles · May 28, 2019

Electrical SystemSeatsVehicle Speed ControlInjury

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WHEN I PRESS THE GAS THE VOLTAGE IS HIGH AND AMPLIFIER MY HEART FEELS AS IF ITS GOING TO BURST MY KIDS NOSE BLEED AND THEY GET SICK WHEN AIR IS ON THE SMELL IS BAD IN CRUISE CONTROL AROUND CERTAIN VEHICLES IS SPEEDS UP ON ITS ON...I'VE NOTICED ALTERED PARTS AND THE INSURANCE INFO IS ALTERED MY BOYFRIEND [XXX] BOUGHT CAR 11/2019 FROM KIA OF GREER ONLY ONE OWNER THE MILEAGE ON PAPERS IS WRONG AND SO IT IS ONLINE...I HEAR SOMEONE IN AND OUT CAR AT NIGHTS BOYFRIEND SAID LEAVE IT ALONE MISSING ID SOCIAL BIRTHCERTIFCATES OIT DASH WHEN RUNNING OUT TO SEE WHO WAS AT CAR DOOR WAS LEFT OPENED THE CENTER OF MY HEAD BURNS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME DIZZY 1/2019 ALMOST FEEL ASLEEP THE THING IS THE VEHICLE IS IN HIS NAME NOT MINE BUT INSURANCE HAS HIS DISABLED BROTHER DOWN AS PRIMARY DRIVER MY DRIVERS RECORD IS WRONG MY MOTHER ACCIDENTS OR ON MINE HER PHONE AND BREACHED OLD EMAIL WAS ON THE ACCOUNT ME AND KIDS ARE VICTIMS OF FOREIGN ORGANIZED CRIMES... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11210227

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2019

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY CAR WAS NOT STARTING. I DO NOT DRIVE IT EVERYDAY AND BEGAN TO THINK IT WAS THE BATTERY. I HAD IT TESTED AT THE AUTO ZONE AND THERY SAID IT WAS GREAT NO PROBLEMS. SAID IT COULD BE THE STARTER BUT THOUGHT THAT ODD WITH AS FEW MILES AS ON IT. I ALSO NOTICE THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING ISSUE I WILL SCHEDULE AN APPT FOR. I ALSO HAV…

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NHTSA ODI #11190267

12,398 miles · Nov 21, 2018

Electrical SystemEngineFire

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I WAS GETTING READY TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHEN I HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN I GOT ONTO THE INTERSTATE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND THE ENGINE DIED. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND TWO MEN IN TWO VEHICLES STOPPED AND OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEY HAD WATER AND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND ALSO THREW SOME DIRT ON THE FIRE TO PUT IT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE KIA SOUL TOWED TO DENVER COLORADO TO HAVE THEIR AGENT LOOK IT THE KIA. IT WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS AND WAS NOT AN ARSON FIRE. THE KIA DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH THE KIA SOUL WAS BOUGHT NEVER INSPECTED THE SOUL. ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS DONE ON SCHEDULE BY THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOR THE 9 MONTHS I OWNED THE KIA. IT WAS BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER OF 2016 AND CAUGHT FIRE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NEVER DETERMINED AND KIA NEVER TOOK ANY RESPONSIBLE.

NHTSA ODI #11153156

66,122 miles · Oct 4, 2018

Electrical SystemEngineStructureFire

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CAR WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE SCHEDULE. IT WAS LAST SERVICED ON 7/31/18 WHEN IT PASSED NYS INSPECTION. THE OWNER WAS INFORMED ON 9/18/18 @ 7:03 PM BY DAUGHTER THAT CAR STARTED MAKING A STRANGE SOUND ON 9/17/18. PLANNED TO HAVE DEALER CHECK OUT CAR ON 9/19/18. ON 9/18/18 @ APPROXIMATELY 8:35 PM, WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON THE LOCAL PORTION OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE CAR'S OIL LIGHT BLINKED ON AND OFF. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SMOKE CAME INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE DRIVER, MY DAUGHTER'S BOYFRIEND, PULLED OVER INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, TURNED OFF THE CAR, GOT OUT, STEPPED AWAY FROM IT AND THE ENGINE ERUPTED IN FLAMES. BY APPROXIMATELY 8:50 PM THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR LOOKS LIKE IT WAS FIRE BOMBED.

NHTSA ODI #11133366

1,350 miles · Jul 18, 2016

Electrical System

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DRIVING THIS CAR HIGH SPEEDS (FREEWAY) FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME (30 MINUTES OR MORE PER DAY) FOR MORE THAN 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS AFFECTS MY OVERALL HEALTH AND ABILITY TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT GET CHRONIC HEADACHES, TROUBLE CONCENTRATING, SLEEPING PROBLEMS, DIZZINESS, FORGETFULNESS, EXHAUSTION, AND ANXIETY WHICH AFFECT MY REACTION TIME AND ALERTNESS WHILE DRIVING, AND ABILITY TO MAKE PROPER DECISIONS IN TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, SINCE I DISCONTINUED DRIVING THE CAR AS SOON AS I BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I ALSO WENT TO A DOCTOR WHO CONFIRMED THAT I AM SENSITIVE TO THE BATTERY OF THE VEHICLE (SEE ATTACHED). I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE LOCAL KIA SERVICE DEPT., BUT THEY SAY THE BATTERY IS WORKING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #10885663

Official recalls

19V120000 · Engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor

Feb 22, 2019

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 rod failure.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine

Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor

17V608000 · Steering

Sep 29, 2017

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA21003 · Engine Fires

Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

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. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia. The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio. The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires. In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS. It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension. For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied. Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates. To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years. In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires. Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis. Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.