What 512 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Soul

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the contact was advised by the dealer that her vehicle could not be repaired at the moment. The contact stated that she had been waiting to receive an appointment date to have the vehicle repaired for over a year. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11447369

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, however, declined the authorize the repair. The manufacturer provided no further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.

NHTSA ODI 11445562

2012 Kia Soul there is a recall sc176 but my car is not on the recall? Around September 2021 my Motor running hot engine light is on and is flashing acts like it has low compression won’t go when I give it gas sometimes . Engine light came on again in november2021 and did not go off My car bogged down I was going 60mph 0mw to work traffic behind me and all sudden car went down to 40 then 20 mph then came To complete stop in highway I was almost rear ended. I would give it gas but it wouldn’t go . Big puff of gray smoke came Out of tail pipe then smoke started coming out from under hood I raised hood and hot water was bubbling and splashing out of motor. Now there is no air or exhaust coming from my tail pipe car will crank but will not go smelt like wires burning . I don’t understand how the same year make and model have recalls but mine doesn’t , I’m having the same problem as the recall I’m without transportation now please help me with this matter I have a appointment on Jan 31 2022 at Kia dealership but my vin doesn’t show recall idk what to do I had someone look at it they told me it was the Catalic converter malfunctioning this is very dangerous it could have caused a wreck or caught on fire leaving me Stranded on side of road is very unsafe for a woman ant time especially at night .

NHTSA ODI 11445266

While attempting to accelerate on the interstate (around 70 mph),car would not accelerate  engine began to knock. No warning lights were illuminated. Took the vehicle to a local automotive repair and was informed that it had completely burned through the oil and the engine would need to be replaced.  This would be the 2nd Engine I replaced Engine 2 years ago. 

NHTSA ODI 11443746

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the catalytic convertor replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the check engine warning light illuminated for a second time. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the high-pressure sensor and the fuel pump to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the check engine warning light was illuminated for a third time. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 189,299.

NHTSA ODI 11441914

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and had the engine repaired. The contact stated that she experienced the failure for the second time in August 2021. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11440741

Sound coming from the engine check engine light on , I took the car to the Kia dealership and they refuse to fix it even with that recall SC176 , thank you

NHTSA ODI 11438743

Approximately six months ago, my check engine light came on and I took my car to a local mechanic. He said that I needed an oil change and my oil level seemed a bit low even though it wasn’t at the 5000 mile mark yet, so I should keep an eye on oil consumption. Around 3500 miles after this oil change, my check engine light came on again. I took my car back to the mechanic at Midas and he informed me that my car was consuming oil due to faulty seals around the pistons, and I would need to make a warranty claim to KIA. The dealership immediately knew what the issue was and agreed to make an appointment to replace the engine, but called back and informed me I needed to do an oil consumption test and would have to pay for an additional oil change from the dealership. I agreed and after driving 1000 miles I brought my car back. The dealership confirms it is burning over a quart of oil every 1000 miles, but now they claim the engine will not be covered unless it seizes up while I am driving. Their suggestion is I replace the engine on my own dime or put more oil in every few thousand miles until it seizes and causes a potentially fatal accident. As I have been researching online, I have found several people with similar issues, and many who’s cars HAVE seized while they were driving highway speeds. It seems as though KIA’s plan to keep costs low is to hope anyone with an engine claim dies in the crash when it inevitably seizes up. Burning over a quart of oil every 1000 miles and suggesting I pump more oil in to get burned up is hardly environmentally friendly or healthy for the air we breathe. There should be a recall for Kia engines because this is obviously a widespread and well known issue, but for some reason KIA was allowed to get away with recalling a fraction of the cars they should and letting the rest of us risk our lives waiting for our engine to seize up going 75MPH!

NHTSA ODI 11438456

While attempting to accelerate on the interstate (around 70 mph), the engine began to knock. No warning lights were illuminated. Took the vehicle to a local automotive repair and was informed that it had completely burned through the oil and the engine would need to be replaced. The technician advised that there is a technical service bulletin out for the issue in question as it relates to excessive oil consumption for affected vehicles. The engine could have failed at any point and we were advised it was unsafe to drive. As stated earlier, there were no warning lights and no reason to believe anything was wrong with the car prior to this incident as it has had routine oil changes and maintenance. The problem was detected at a Tires Plus location but the car is being towed to the dealer to confirm the issue this week. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone else.

NHTSA ODI 11438146

The rod punctured the engine block and caused a fire around the fuel pump area. Signs on the positive battery terminal of jumping backwards. Kia believes the cause of the fire was the engine falling apart. I had been travelling free of worry when I heard a high whirring sound then a bang coming from the engine. I pulled over immediately and upon opening the hood discovered a fire. Good samaritans pulled over and put the fire out, there were 3 females in my car who could've burned alive had the others not stopped. The car needed a new engine at the cost of $7,404.08 I sold this car to Carvana and am waiting for Kia to get their act together and refund the cost of potentially killing 3 people. I have all paperwork from Kia regarding the incident.

NHTSA ODI 11436472

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph when the engine began to knock. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing engine replaced but was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) however the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that their vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000

NHTSA ODI 11436437

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ESC sensors needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the engine started knocking. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull into a nearby gas station. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine, and Engine Cooling) since the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11432801

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 55 mph, a abnormal noise and odor appeared from the rear both driver and passenger side of the vehicle. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the road, turn the vehicle off, wait for about 15 minutes, attempted to turn the vehicle back on when the noise became louder and the check engine warning illuminated. The vehicle then was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the command rod fractured and went through the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not drivable. In addition, a visible leak was noticed by the technician. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that no recalls were under the VIN. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V12000 ( Engine, engine coolant ) as a possible solution to the failure however the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximate 90,600.

NHTSA ODI 11430641

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the mechanic cleared the warning light. There was no code for the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired however, the recall was closed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000.

NHTSA ODI 11428000

Our catalytic converter on our 2012 Kia Soul Base is not functioning properly. We cannot get the car inspected and it is not listed as a recall. The VIN is [XXX]. It is the same problem that other Souls are being recalled for. Why not ours? PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11426300

Engine failure on 2012 Kia Soul GDI engine on June 21, 2021. Crankshaft had been replaced last year by a Kia dealership under TSB PO335, for which I was charged $427.29. I had never been advised of any potential problems with this vehicle's engine nor advised of any alternative measures to prevent the loss. Engine failed in heavy traffic. Triple AAA mechanic gave a diagnosis of engine failure and suggested engine replacement. No one has inspected the vehicle other than the AAA mechanic in Asheville, NC. No warning lamps came on to indicate a problem.

NHTSA ODI 11421886

I purchased the 2012 Kia Soul on 12-18-20 and I had vehicle less than a week and it was losing power so I parked it until I could get it looked at on approx 02-03-21 the engine was disassembled by mechanic and found catalytic converter stopped up and piston failure after that time I found out about recall we contacted Kia about issue and was told they would not look at it because it is not driveable to take to Kia and they would not honor recall because cop ecu was not updated well engine already failed so we couldn't drive it there and recall said they would inspect vehicle and repair up to changing engine if necessary but they wouldn't even look at this one because engine had already failed and my vin number is under recall. I don't think this is right.

NHTSA ODI 11417818

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS EXCESSIVELY CONSUMING ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER AND STALL WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD THE SPARK PLUGS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD PLACE A REQUEST WITH THE LOCAL DEALER TO PERFORM A FREE OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER DECLINED TO HONOR THE REQUEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11417427

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER THAT WAS DATED ON APRIL 6,2021 FROM KIA THAT MY CAR NEEDED TO COME IN FOR UPDATE TO THE ENGINE TO PROTECT FROM EXCESSIVE ROD BEARING DAMAGE. UPON GETTING THE CAR FROM THE COLLEGE CAMPUS AND ON THE WAY TO BRING IT BACK INTO THE AREA TO GET THE WORK DONE, IT BLEW THE ENGINE. KIA IS NOW STATING THAT THEY WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE I WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE CAR THERE TO HAVE THE WORK DONE BEFORE THE DAMAGE HAPPENED. THE ENGINE BLEW ON MAY 1,2021 LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THEIR LETTER WAS DRAFTED. THIS IS A CAR THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEPT UP ON ITS REPAIRS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF THE CAR AND JUST SAID THAT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT MAKING IT IN TO THE SHOP, EVEN THROUGH THAT'S WHERE I WAS GETTING IT TO. THEY IN THEIR LETTER STATE THAT HAD I BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN IT WOULD HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 150,000 MILES, THE CAR ONLY HAS 107,000 ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. EVEN THROUGH THEY SENT A LETTER STATING THAT THEY SOLD ME A CAR WITH FAULTY PARTS NOW THEY WON'T COVER THE DAMAGE. DAMAGE THAT LUCKILY DIDN'T END IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT BUT DID TOTAL MY CAR. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ROD BROKE OFF AND WENT THRU THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11416175

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A RATTLING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH SHE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11415244

THE ENGINE IS MAKING A TICKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS CLICKING WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO HAD 3 OPEN RECALLS. TOOK IT TO ALL STAR KIA IN SAN BERNARDINO FOR 3 RECALLS AND THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT COMFORTABLE WORKING ON THE CAR, THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE TICKING SOUND WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT DUE TO CATALYTIC COVERTER OVERHEATING IT COULD CAUSE ROD KNOCK. I EVEN TOLD THEM THE RECALL WAS SC176.

NHTSA ODI 11415032

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE AND LOSE FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 40 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO SOUTHWEST KIA - DALLAS (39650 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY, DALLAS, TX 75237, (972) 283-9797) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CONNECTING ROD FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA ODI 11414287

VECHICLE STALLED AT A STOP LIGHT ON A BUSY STREET WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR ANY INDICATION ANYTHING WAS HAPPENING. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT GO BY GIVING IT SOME GAS BUT IT WAS STILL SUPER SCARY.

NHTSA ODI 11407760

MY VEHICLE'S MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND IT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER OFF AND ON GOING DOWN THE TURNPIKE. SINCE THEN, IT SOMETIMES WON'T START EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO. IT CONTINUES TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL WAS HOOKED UP TO IT, IT BROUGHT UP THE FOLLOWING CODES: P0420 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD), P0336 (CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR "A" CIRCUIT RANGE/PERFORMANCE. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE RELATED TO RECALL #19V120000.

NHTSA ODI 11406877

TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON LEVEL HIGHWAY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING STARTED TO SLOW DOWN LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY SPARKS COMING OUT FROM UNDER VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER AND GOT PULLED OVER BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO OIL AND SPARKS UNDER ENGINE COMPARTMENT KIA SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT

NHTSA ODI 11405641