What 512 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Soul

While driving down the freeway, the engine began to smoke and caught fire. My husband and kids were in the car but were fortunately able to pull over without physical injuries. Our insurance company held the car and a third party company (hired by Kia) concluded “ the origin of the fire is in the engine compartment at the exhaust manifold. The cause of the fire is internal engine failure resulting in a hole in the block allowing oil to escape and ignite on contact with heated exhaust components”. There were no warnings, check engine light, etc. Kia pointed us towards a class action lawsuit but when you search our VIN # on Kia’s website, there’s are no recalls or issues reported, which is clearly false. Our family escaped serious injury/death but it could have easily been a different story. I will not stay silent and let this happen to other families. I am going to continue to advocate for my family until Kia listens.

NHTSA ODI 11525369

i was driving, all of a sudden my car started losing speed so i got onto the shoulder. then i saw smoke and a fire from under the hood. the door stuck and i hit it with my shoulder to get out. 30 seconds after i got out the engine bay exploded.

NHTSA ODI 11523474

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph a loud popping sound originated from the undercarriage on the driver's side. The contact witnessed smoke coming from the engine compartment and veered to the vehicle side of the road and turned the vehicle off. The contact was then notified by pedestrians, that a fire was originating from the engine compartment, and the contact exited the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the fire department and a report was available. Additionally, the contact stated that the Engine Oil Level and the check engine safety light had been illuminated for three days prior to the failure, and approximately three quarts of oil were added four to five days before the fire. The contact believed that the failure was associated with an unknown recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

NHTSA ODI 11515170

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, she saw smoke exiting the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and after exiting the vehicle, she saw a fire that started under the vehicle. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The contact was unaware if a fire report was filed. The contact stated no one was injured or sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to her sister's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.

NHTSA ODI 11464457

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 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE AS AN UNKNOWN COLOR SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE. AS THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD, FLAMES BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE AS TWO FELLOW MOTORISTS ASSISTED HER WITH THROWING A BLANKET OVER THE FLAMES TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND THE AUTHORITIES WERE NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO TOM DOLAN'S RENO KIA(9455 S VIRGINIA ST, RENO, NV 89511) WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT AN ENGINE ROD HAD BLOWN THREW AN ENGINE BLOCK. THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH ENGINE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,402.

NHTSA ODI 11400128

THE ENGINE MADE A POPPING SOUND AND BURST INTO FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11390200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL TICKING SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED ALSO WITHOUT WARNING. UPON RESTART OF THE ENGINE, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS ALERTED BY A FELLOW MOTORIST THAT HER VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE(FIRE ORIGIN UNKNOWN). THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE CONTACT'S MOTHER BELIEVED THAT A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED BUT WAS NOT CERTAIN; NO INJURIES WERE SUFFERED DUE TO THE FIRE. DUE TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AT THE SCENE AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

NHTSA ODI 11373862

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A KNOCKING NOISE OCCURRED COMING FROM THE ENGINE AS WELL AS SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENGINE AND OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS CLOSED TO THE DEALER AND COASTED INTO SPRITZER KIA CLEVELAND (3414 BROOKPARK RD, CLEVELAND, OH 44134) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A ROD WENT THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERRED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), HOWEVER HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.

NHTSA ODI 11330025

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, AND ALL THE LIGHTS LINING THE FREEWAY WERE OUT. IT WAS PITCH BLACK, AND A COW HAD MADE ITS WAY INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SENT INTO THE AIR, AND FLEW RIGHT INTO MY CAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ONE OF ADOT'S FENCES WERE DOWN THAT WAS CONTAINING CATTLE. I WAS IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS, ALONG WITH MULTIPLE OTHER VEHICLES. I FILED A POLICE REPORT AND HAVE THAT CASE NUMBER AS WELL. I HAVE PHOTO AND VIDEO EVIDENCE PROOF.

NHTSA ODI 11278738

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED RUSTY WALLACE KIA OF KNOXVILLE (701 CALLAHAN DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37912, (865) 688-8886) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MISSED THE APPOINTMENT. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE HER HUSBAND AND SON NOTICED A HOLE IN PISTON NUMBER TWO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STILL REMAINED AT THE SAME DEALER WHERE THEY FAILED TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13379468. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.

NHTSA ODI 11270505

MY 2012 KIA SOUL'S ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE WITH NO WARNING WHILE MY 19 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING HOME ONLY TWO MILES ON A 35 MPH ROAD! THE FLAMES WHERE SO HOT BUT LUCKILY WE LIVE BY A FIRE DEPARTMENT WHICH WAS THERE WITHIN MINUTES AND PUT IT OUT. WAITING ON KIA TO MAKE RIGHT!

NHTSA ODI 11242501

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. CONSUMER STATED ON OR ABOUT MARCH 29, A TAPPING NOISE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE ENGINE, WE HAD THE OIL CHANGED ON APRIL 2ND AND THE NOISE WAS REDUCED. ON APRIL 3RD WHILED DRIVING TO WORK THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A ROD FRACTURED CAUSING A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN WHICH RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. A FIRE INSPECTION REPORT WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE DEALER GOSSETT KIA, 1900 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128, 901-388-8989, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11207234

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, HOWEVER THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE DETECTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHICH LED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER TOWED THE VEHICLE TO CASA KIA 1374 GEORGE DIETER DR, EL PASO, TX 79936 (915) 856-2982 WHERE THE CONTACT WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE RESULTS FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RESULTS WAS SENT DIRECTLY TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THE REPAIRS WERE DENIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 178,000.

NHTSA ODI 11207248

2012 KIA SOUL WITH LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON IT SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS .

NHTSA ODI 11066866

MY 2012 KIA SOUL CAUGHT FIRE AFTER DRIVING IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES. THE FIRE STARTED AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WAS CONSISTENT WITH A PROBLEM WITH FUEL INJECTION. THE WHOLE CAR BURNED DOWN WITHIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10608591

CAR HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS WASHED THEN CAME HOME. CAR'S FRONT DEFROSTER WAS NOTED TO BE STUCK ON AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED TO BILLOW OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. QUICK CHECK UNDER THE CAR NOTED A FLAME THAT WAS EITHER COMING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR REFLECTING IN THE EXHAUST FROM SOMEWHERE ON THE BOTTOM/SIDE OF THE ENGINE. NO FLUIDS WERE SHOWN TO BE LEAKING ONTO THE DRIVEWAY OR WERE VISIBLE. CAR THEN RAPIDLY WENT UP IN FLAMES AND WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10458979