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

Engine complaints

555 reports

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Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2020

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

CATILAC CONVERTER. KIA REFUSED TO FIX SAYS NOT A RECALL. BUT 2017 KIA MANUFACTURING SAYS IT'S A RECALL AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS AND THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED

NHTSA ODI #11361223

124,000 miles · Sep 8, 2020

Engine

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WHILE DRIVING MY KIA SOUL ON A CITY ROAD I PULLED OVER TO LET A CAR PASS. I WAS STILL IN GEAR AND ONCE THE CAR PASSED I WENT TO PULL BACK ON TO THE ROAD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I THEN NOTICED THAT IT HAD STALLED. WE TRIED TO START IT AGAIN BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. NO LEAKING OIL AND THE OIL WAS FULL. I DO A FULL SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE EVERY 3-4000 MILES. WE THEN TOWED IT TO OUR KIA DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE ENGINES AND THE PROBLEMS. AFTER 2 MONTHS THEY JUST INFORMED ME THAT IT DOESN'T FIT THE RECALL. EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE CLEARLY FALLS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE CHRONIC PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #11353861

60,000 miles · Aug 20, 2020

Engine

RECALL 19V120000; SC176 EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY AND IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. I AM BEING TOLD COSTS INVOLVED WITH THIS ISSUE ARE NOT WARRANTY AND TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET DESPITE KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11350402

41,050 miles · Aug 18, 2020

EngineFuel/propulsion System

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8/1/20 DRIVING ON HWY 231 AT 65MPH WHEN MY CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS STALLING, PULLED OVER AND TURNED ENGINE OFF.IT WOULD CRANK BUT ONLY GO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH OR REV TO ABOUT 2000 RPM, THEN JUST PUTTER OUT. AT TUFFYS WHERE IT WAS SAID "NOTHING WAS CODING". SAID NEEDED KNEW FUEL PUMP FOR $1600. THAT WAS REPLACED BUT WAS NOT THE ISSUE.HE SAID THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ASSOCIATED W/ CAR AND TO GET IT TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP.I IMMEDIATELY STARTED RESEARCHING AN FOUND RECALL 19V120000, I CALLED KIA 800# AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED W/ CAR AND THAT THEIR SEARCH IS VIN SPECIFIC AND WAS NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON THIS CAR. I CONTINUED TO RESEARCH, CALLED BACK AND YES INDEED THERE WAS A RECALL. CAR ARRIVED THERE FRIDAY 8/7/20 AT 9:30 AM. SPOKE W/ CHUCK AND WAS NOT GIVEN ANY DETAILS THOUGH I CALLED HIM DAILY.FOLLOWING FRIDAY(8/14/20) I SPOKE W/ JARED WHO SAID THEY WERN'T SURE BUT IT WAS LOOKING LIKE POSSIBLY A RECALL ISSUE BUT THAT THEY WEREN'T SURE AND TO CALL BACK AND THEY COULD GET ME SET UP W/ A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIKELY NEEDED REPLACING. AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER A WOMEN LEFT ME A VOICEMAIL ASKING ME TO GET RECEIPTS OF ALL OIL CHANGES DONE ON VEHICLE. I STILL HAD NO EXPLANATION ON WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR.GAVE 2 RECEIPTS BUT WAS NOT REALLY SURE THE PERTINENCE IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURE RECALL. KIA SAYS THE ONLY RECALL WAS FOR A SYSTEM UPDATE. WHEN ASKED HIM IF THIS HAD BEEN DONE HE SAID NO. BUT I HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TOLD BY ROBERT AT 1800 KIA THAT THIS HAD BEEN DONE.I TOLD JARED THIS AND HE SAID "WE PROBABLY JUST TOLD TECH SUPPORT THAT" WHEN I DEMANDED TO KNOW IF SYSTEM UPDATE HAD BEEN DONE HE PUT ME ON HOLD, THEN REPLIED '"OH WELL THAT WAS JUST DONE". HE SAID BUT NONE OF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO W/ UR CAR. WHEN ASKED WTF THE ACTAL PROBLEM WAS HE SAID ENGINE WAS KNOCKING DUE TO MY LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BUT IN NO WAY DUE TO A RECALL

NHTSA ODI #11350152

76,000 miles · Aug 5, 2020

EnginePower Train

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WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT LOST POWER WHILE ON HIGHWAY. CAUSING CARS TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING ME. AFTER GOING TO SHOP FOUND OUT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CAR WAS ALSO BURNING OIL AND MISFIRING. HAD THE 3 AND 4 COIL RELPACED ,SPARK PLUGS , BUT STILL NOT ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT US CAUSING OIL TO BURN. CAR HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES. KIA BASICALLY SAID THAT AFTER I FIX THE COILS CAR WOULD BE FINE . WELL IT'S NOT STILL DOING THE SAME THING. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT JUST NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. KIA HAS REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11343442

70,357 miles · Aug 2, 2020

EngineService BrakesSuspension

IT'S RUNNING DIFFERENT MAKES STRANGE NOISE AND HAS ENGINE LIGHT ON.

NHTSA ODI #11342762

75,000 miles · Jul 30, 2020

Engine

ENGINE LOSES OIL WITHOUT A LEAK OR ANY EXTERNAL INDICATION (SMOKE, SMELL, DRIVER CONTROLS). IT REQUIRES 1-2 QUARTS ADDED BETWEEN SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT CAN SEIZE ABRUPTLY WITHOUT NOTIFICATION. IT IS A CLEAR DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA ODI #11342375

70,000 miles · Jul 30, 2020

Engine

ENGINE LOSES 3 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. STARTED AT AROUND 70K MILES AND IS GETTING WORSE (NOW AT 90K MILES). THERE IS NO INDICATION OF LOW OIL OR PROBLEM IN THE DRIVER CONTROLS. NO SMOKE FROM BURNING OIL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE ENGINE CAN DIE SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. I HAVE TWO OF THESE CARS AND BOTH…

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NHTSA ODI #11342351

105,000 miles · Jul 27, 2020

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE CONTACT DROVE TO HER DESTINATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED A WEEK LATER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. TROPHY KIA DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES LOCATED AT 1945 S FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007, (213) 342-0802, WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #11341694

66,292 miles · Jul 15, 2020

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT START-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC RETRIEVED A DTC FAULT CODE REGARDING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT A…

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NHTSA ODI #11339546

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.