NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
218 reports73,454 miles · Jan 12, 2021
Engine
I WAS DRIVING MY KIA 2018 SOUL TO MY JOB GOING AROUND 55 AN HOUR AND I HEARD A LOUD CLINK IN THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE JUST GOT FIXED FROM HITTING A DEER AND PASTED INSPECTION. EVERYTHING DONE ON IT WAS COMETIC AND WAS NOT DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE FOR ANOTHER 1,500 MILES. IT COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN WAS TOWED BACK TO WHO REPAIRED IT AND…
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I WAS DRIVING MY KIA 2018 SOUL TO MY JOB GOING AROUND 55 AN HOUR AND I HEARD A LOUD CLINK IN THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE JUST GOT FIXED FROM HITTING A DEER AND PASTED INSPECTION. EVERYTHING DONE ON IT WAS COMETIC AND WAS NOT DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE FOR ANOTHER 1,500 MILES. IT COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN WAS TOWED BACK TO WHO REPAIRED IT AND THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACE. I ONLY HAD IT A YEAR AND IT ONLY HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT. I AM NOW OUT A VEHICLE AS I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ENGINE AND ALWAYS GOT AN OIL CHANGE BEFORE THE RECOMMEND TIME AND MILEAGE. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE A VECHILE SHOULD HAVE IN THE CONDITION IT IS IN!!!!
NHTSA ODI #11387668
68,000 miles · Jan 5, 2021
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER SON'S APARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER KIA OF SOUTH AUSTIN (5306 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX 78745, (512) 444-6635…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER SON'S APARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER KIA OF SOUTH AUSTIN (5306 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX 78745, (512) 444-6635) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
NHTSA ODI #11386699
68,000 miles · Jan 5, 2021
Engine
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 5 MINS AND MY KIA SOUL MADE A RATTLING NOISE THAN 200 FT LATER MY CAR WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE IS GONE ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND GAVE NO WARNING ⚠️ LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND ENGINE JUST CUT OFF
NHTSA ODI #11386695
68,170 miles · Dec 3, 2020
Engine
MILEAGE 68000 - TICKING NOISE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR TWO DAYS (FOR THE HOLIDAY). TWO DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND RAN CODE AND PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE. NOISE CHANGED IMMEDIATELY TO KNOCKING AND SQUEAKING …
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MILEAGE 68000 - TICKING NOISE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR TWO DAYS (FOR THE HOLIDAY). TWO DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND RAN CODE AND PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE. NOISE CHANGED IMMEDIATELY TO KNOCKING AND SQUEAKING AND CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING HOME. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RODS EITHER BROKE, BLEW, OR WERE GOING TO, AND A NEW MOTOR WAS NECESSARY. MY VEHICLE HAS THE 2.0L MOTOR THAT IS SUBJECT TO MANY OTHER RECALLS AND ISSUES BUT YET NOT ON THE RADAR OF THE AUTHORITIES. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 10 MONTHS AND APPROXIMATELY 20,000 HIGHWAY MILES, AND JUST OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD.
NHTSA ODI #11377741
98,512 miles · Nov 30, 2020
Engine
2018 KIA SOUL #3 PISTON AND CONNECTING ROD SHATTERED WITHIN 1.5 BLOCKS OF INITIAL KNOCKING DETECTION WHEN TRYING TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT OFF OF THE STREET.. THE MOTOR SEIZED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED BY OTHER DRIVERS.
NHTSA ODI #11377230
3,638 miles · Oct 5, 2020
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STEAM CAME OUT THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AND FOGGED UP THE WINDOWS. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL GURGLING SOUND COMING FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AFTER THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VISION KIA OF EAST ROCHE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STEAM CAME OUT THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AND FOGGED UP THE WINDOWS. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL GURGLING SOUND COMING FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AFTER THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VISION KIA OF EAST ROCHESTER (201 E LINDEN AVE, EAST ROCHESTER, NY 14445, (585) 249-9000) WHERE THE AIR CONDITION DRAIN TUBES WERE CLEARED. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED FOR A WHILE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,638.
NHTSA ODI #11362737
52,000 miles · Oct 3, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFire
I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 KIA SOUL ON MADISON HWY IN VALDOSTA,GA.L SAW SMOKE COMING OUT MY HOOD SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A CONVENIENT STORE ! THE PEOPLE IN THE STORE CAME RUNNING OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #11362515
61,000 miles · Sep 28, 2020
Engine
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK, VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT THE TOW TRUCK CHARGED THE BATTERY AND WHEN STARTED THE RODS WERE KNOCKING. WE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, REGAL KIA AND THEY DIAGNOSED MY CAR FOR NEEDING A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. IF WE WERE TO DRIVE THE VEHIC…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK, VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT THE TOW TRUCK CHARGED THE BATTERY AND WHEN STARTED THE RODS WERE KNOCKING. WE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, REGAL KIA AND THEY DIAGNOSED MY CAR FOR NEEDING A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. IF WE WERE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW. OIL CHANGE WAS JUST A MONTH BEFORE AT THE REGAL KIA DEALERSHIP SO IT WASN'T DUE TO LOW OIL. THE 2018 KIA SOUL HAD 61,000 MILES AT IT AND ENGINE WAS RUINED.
NHTSA ODI #11361636
47,434 miles · Sep 12, 2020
Electrical System
CAR CONSISTENTLY WON'T START AS IF THE BATTERY IS DEAD. WILL START ONCE BATTERY IS JUMPED. BATTERY, STARTER, AND ALTERNATOR TESTS COME BACK FINE.
NHTSA ODI #11354572
40,000 miles · Sep 11, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
I GOT TOLD BY A KIA MECANIC WELL AT LEAST SEEN IT ON MY DASH CAM THAT I AM SOL THAT MY TICKING PROBLEM IS AN ENGINE DEFECT ON KIA'S PART THAT IS CAUSING ENGINE ISSUES AS WELL AS SOMEHOW MAKING MY ENGINEREV EXTREMELY HIGH WHILE STARTING UP AND SOMETIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO THE POINT IF I DON'T HAVE MY BRAKES ON I WILL GO THROUG…
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I GOT TOLD BY A KIA MECANIC WELL AT LEAST SEEN IT ON MY DASH CAM THAT I AM SOL THAT MY TICKING PROBLEM IS AN ENGINE DEFECT ON KIA'S PART THAT IS CAUSING ENGINE ISSUES AS WELL AS SOMEHOW MAKING MY ENGINEREV EXTREMELY HIGH WHILE STARTING UP AND SOMETIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO THE POINT IF I DON'T HAVE MY BRAKES ON I WILL GO THROUGH A WALL . THAT'S A MENTION SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE AIR CONDITION UNIT/HEATER THAT THE HEATER WILL BLOW EXTREMELY HOT SO HOT THAT THE VENTS BECOME PLIABLE AND THE AIR CONDITIONER AND WON'T COME ON UNLESS I START MESSING WITH BUTTONS OFF AND ON OFTEN ON HIGH AND LOW HIGH AND LOW.I HAVE BEEN IN TO KIA MOTORS FIVE TIMES FOR THE ISSUE
NHTSA ODI #11354380