2018 Kia Soul

The engine seized up at 165,000 miles. According to one [XXX] at Trinity Automotive in Fairfield, Ohio, it's a known issue. According to [XXX] at PrebCo in Eaton, Ohio, the issue is related to low-pressure piston rings. Compression tests showed between 0 psi in one cylinder and between 55 and 58 psi in the other three cylinders. These issues have been verified at Matt Castrucci Service Center. With a GDI engine, I had been chasing down the usage of too much oil for several months. I get oil changes at 3,000 miles, and I would be 1/2 quart to 1 quart low at 3,000 miles. Dealership service staff in Beavercreek, Ohio, said that Kia considers the usage of one additional quart of oil per 1,000 miles to be "acceptable" - that makes zero sense. I was told that they would do a piston soak, and they directed me to a formal procedure on Kia's website. I used this process, and it definitely cleaned out all of the carbon. This did not fix the issue. Taking my youngest daughter to a dinner following her high school national honors society induction, I experienced an engine knock as I accelerated onto the I75 north. It felt like a strong jolt back. The 2018 Kia Soul Plus has been a 3,100-pound roadside decoration since November 2025. I still owe $14,000 on this loan, and I cannot afford an additional car payment. Replacement of the engine will be $8,500. Kia customer service told me this is an out-of-pocket expense as their warranty ended at 150,000 miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY Purchased 8/5 from reseller, who had driver it over 200 miles with no issues. Had it inspected that day and no issues found. Scheduled appt w/ Clay Cooley Kia to drop off 8/12 to have warranty recalls addressed. Clay Cooley inspected and found no issues, verified in good shape; work completed 8/14. On 8/18, after driving it less than 183 miles, the vehicle COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN on the highway. The check engine light came on immediately before the car shut down, but that was all. It was incredibly dangerous. Searched online and discovered that this has been a know issue with Kia Souls. Discovered online that this was a known issue, and had previously been the focus of a class action lawsuit. Contacted Kia corporate who mandated I take it back to Clay Cooley Kia. Clay Cooley Kia refused to repair it, and Kia Corporate refused to handle further.

Unknown...the car goes into limp mode suddenly...my battery was boiling an shot liquid out of it, prior to this my other battery leaked an the alternator was bad ....when this happens suddenly you have no steering, an if course the boiling battery may explode....I've had this car checked over several times since begining of January with everything checking out fine but this still happening

I am submitting this complaint regarding failure to complete a federally mandated safety recall and the subsequent release of my vehicle in an unsafe condition after prolonged dealer custody. Vehicle Information provided above Safety Recall Information Recall Type: Federal airbag safety recall Recall Notice Received: 2023 Summary of Safety Concern I delivered my vehicle to authorized Kia dealerships for completion of a federally mandated airbag safety recall. The vehicle remained in dealership custody for approximately seven months without completion of the recall. During this period, the dealerships demanded payment for diagnostics and asserted that recall-related issues were “warranty-related” or “customer responsibility,” which effectively blocked completion of the safety recall. Despite my continued communication and willingness to proceed with recall repair, the recall was not completed. Kia declined to authorize repairs necessary to complete the recall. Vehicle Released Unrepaired and Unsafe The dealership ultimately demanded that I remove the vehicle without completing the safety recall. Upon retrieval of the vehicle, I discovered: Missing and/or altered vehicle components Extensive interior water damage These conditions were not present when the vehicle was delivered and occurred while the vehicle was in the dealership’s exclusive custody. The vehicle was released in a materially worse and potentially unsafe condition. Ongoing Safety Risk The federal safety recall remains unresolved. Electrical systems and safety components may be compromised. The vehicle is currently unsafe to operate, and repair is no longer a reasonable remedy. Basis for NHTSA Review This complaint concerns: Obstruction and noncompletion of a federal safety recall Improper conditioning of recall repairs on payment Release of a recalled vehicle without repair Potential compromise of safety systems while in dealer custody

A Kia franchise dealership demanded payment for diagnostics in order to perform a federal airbag safety recall, which I refused. After the dealer’s involvement, the vehicle’s diagnostic/OBD port became unreadable, preventing recall completion. A second Kia dealer states they cannot complete the recall and wants thousands of dollars just to attempt diagnosis. The vehicle has been out of service for over six months with an open safety recall. I believe the recall process has been obstructed.

The clear coat peeled off of the driver and passenger side mirrors in the beginning of 2024. The white paint started chipping off in a one inch straight line where the red roof meets the white side panel on both sides. You can tell it is where a strip of tape was that maybe separated the two paint colors in the process of painting. This began at the end of 2024. Then in early 2025, the white paint on the hood started flaking off in random spots all over the hood of the vehicle. The paint is completely gone in those areas and the gray body is now showing through where the white paint used to be.

Description of the Problem: My 2018 Kia Soul has a recurring and unresolved safety issue involving sudden loss of power while driving. The check-engine light repeatedly comes on, and at times the vehicle will hesitate or lose acceleration unexpectedly, creating a risk of being unable to maintain speed in traffic. Chronology: This issue has been occurring for over a year. I have taken the vehicle to the Kia dealership multiple times for the same problem. Each time, the dealership has either been unable to diagnose the cause or has returned the vehicle stating the issue was repaired, but the problem returns within weeks. Most recently, the dealership kept the vehicle for over a month and still could not identify or resolve the cause of the power loss or the recurring check-engine light. They then instructed me to pick up the car and drive it until the warning light comes back on, despite my reporting that the vehicle loses power while driving and is unsafe to operate. Safety Concern: The loss of power happens without warning and can leave me unable to accelerate or maintain speed. This has made it unsafe to drive in normal traffic conditions, such as merging onto highways or crossing intersections. I cannot safely operate the vehicle in its current condition. Attempts to Resolve: All service has been performed at the same Kia dealership since the car was purchased new. Despite multiple repair visits, including a month-long stay at the dealership, the problem remains unresolved. Kia Customer Care has been contacted, but the issue continues with no effective resolution or repair. Reason for NHTSA Complaint: Because the malfunction involves sudden power loss and repeated failure of the authorized dealership to diagnose or repair the issue, I am reporting this as a potential safety defect. I am concerned that this may reflect a broader problem affecting this vehicle model.