What 898 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Soul EV

Catalytic converter, slipping gears, slowing down on hywy putting me at risk for rear end collision . Has been inspected by manufacturer and been confirmed. Saw recall on this on cars.com Engine light started 1 yr ago.

NHTSA ODI 11457072

Brought car to dealer because of recall SC176 and engine making noise. Which kia refuse to honor.

NHTSA ODI 11448530

Driving the car up the 101 Cuesta Grade and lost acceleration. The speedometer went to zero and as the car died I pulled to the right side of the freeway / grade. Smoke started to enter my vehicle. A car stopped in front of me and one behind and the people ran from their cars to tell me to get out of my car as my front engine underneath was on fire. I got out of the car and opened the back hatch to remove my belongings as the engine burst into flames. This car has been maintained by KIA and by a personal mechanic and we were up to date on all recalls. We were NOT included in the most recent engine fire recall. The car is completely destroyed.

NHTSA ODI 11436178

The connecting rod bearing failed resulting in the engine failing. The engine is still in the car at the dealership awaiting approval from KIA to replace it (they are currently refusing). The engine failing while the vehicle was being operated placed me and other motorist in danger had I not been able to get it off the road immediately. The connecting rod bearing failure was confirmed by the dealership. No, the vehicle has not been inspected by anyone else besides the service techs at the dealership. It is unknown if any warning lamps or messages appeared before the failure.

NHTSA ODI 11423357

CONTRACT 100K MILES/10 YEARS. CURRENT MILEAGE 92388. STILL WITHIN WARRANTY CONTRACT. WHILE DRIVING, 12/6/2020, MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING AFTER A BRIEF WARNING ON THE DASH. CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, I HEARD A NOISE, AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THERE WERE NO OIL LEAKS OR ANY FLUIDS UNDER THE CAR. I TOWED THE CAR HOME. I TOWED TO RAY BRANDT KIA IN HARVEY LA 12/7/20. A MONTH LATER, I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE FAILED. BY 1/4/21, I WAS ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE FOR INSPECTION. 1/8/21 BRIAN MURRAY,SVC MGR. SAID VALVE COVER TO BE REMOVED FOR INSPECTION. FIDELITY WARRANTY/RAY BRANDT KIA APPROVED REPAIRS RE: RO101874. PER VICKY, THE INSPECTOR DIRECTED THE TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT. ON 1/13/21, TEST RUNS DONE TO SEE IF IT FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT NO COMPRESSION. NO ACTION TAKEN ON RECALL 20V750. PER VICKY, RAY BRANDT RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENGINE. USED ENGINE FOUND FOR REPLACEMENT WITH APPROX. 42K MILES. PER VICKY AT RAY BRANDT SVC DEPT. I RECEIVED RECALL LETTER DATED 1/25/21 BY MAIL. CALLED VICKY ABOUT RECALL. SHE CONFIRMED IT ON HER COMPUTER. RAY BRANDT CALLED DAYS LATER TO SAY FIDELITY DENIED MY CLAIM. THEY STOPPED ALL REPAIRS. TOLD I HAD TO CALL FIDELITY FOR DOCUMENTATION. CALLED BUT NO RESPONSE. AFTER SENDING A CERTIFIED LETTER 3/9 TO LEGAL. NANCY BEAUSEJOUR CALLED. SHE SENT A REPLY DATED 4/7. FIRST TWO INSPECTIONS REVEAL OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS ARE GOOD AND NO SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THIS WAS PRIOR TO TWO MORE INSPECTIONS WITH DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS. FINAL INSPECTION SHOW ENGINE WARPED. DUE TO IGNORING THE RECALL, NO ACTION ON SERVICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS AND TEST RUNS WITHOUT REPAIRS, THE ENGINE WARPED. BEFORE THIS FAILURE, I HAD NO ENGINE OVERHEATING. SINCE 4/22/21, AFTER 5 CALLS TO KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CTR.,CALLED. MAY 12, 2021

NHTSA ODI 11416341

WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL ALL OF A SUDDEN THE IT BEGAN TO SMELL LIKE IT WAS OVERHEATING. THEN CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AN STALLED OUT. I PULLED OVER LET IT SET FOR A GOOD 30 MINS. I CHECKED ALL THE FLUIDS EVERYTHING WAS GREAT. SO I STARTED THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS HESITANT BEGAN DRIVING DID GREAT FOR ABOUT 15 MINS. AND THE SAME SMELL PLUS SOME OTHER SOUNDS CRAZY BUT EGG SMELL OCCURRED AND I PULLED OVER ABOUT 4 MINS AFTER I BEGAN TO NOTICE IT WAS RUNNING STRANGE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AN NOW THIS VEHICLE MISSES AND DOES NOT RUN CORRECTLY. I CHECK THE FLUIDS AND TIRES EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY. I WENT TO HAVE THE CODES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON AFTER THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. IT GAVE ME SEVERAL ISSUES THAT WASNT THERE AT ALL BEFORE WHATEVER HAPPENED HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11414803

MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WILL NOT SHIFT

NHTSA ODI 11406407

I HAD MY CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR UNKNOWN OIL LOSS, THE CAR WAS NOT BURNING IT OR LEAKING. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON IT. THEY TOOK THE ENGINE APART AND TOOK PICTURES TO SUBMIT TO KIA FOR ADVICE. KIA REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE THEM TO FIX THE ENGINE. ON MY WAY HOME ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CAR THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING WHEN ACCELERATING, THE CAR LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 111000 MILES AND IT'S BEEN SITTING FOR 2 YEARS NOW BECAUSE IT NEEDS THE ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTED REPLACED. I HAD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR TO DRIVE. I HAVE PERIODICALLY CALLED CAR TO SEE IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO A RECALL ON THE 2.0 ENGINE LIKE THEY DID FOR THE 1.6 BECAUSE THE 2.0 WAS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. IT BEEN 2 YEARS AND FINALLY I GOT A RECALL LETTER THAT THEY NOW HAVE THE RECALL. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO SUNTRUP KIA TO GET A NEW ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE KIA COMPUTERS HAD BEEN HACKED AND THEY COULD NOT GET APPROVAL TO FIX THE ENGINE. THEY HOPED IT WOULD BE UP NEXT WEEK. NEXT WEEK CAME AND THEY CALLED AND SAID THEY FIXED THE RECALLS. I ASKED IF THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT QUICK. THEY SAID NO MY CAR DID NOT FAIL SOME TEST THEY DID. I CALLED KIA TO GET THE ISSUE RESOLVED AND THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THERE COMPUTER'S WERE DOWN AND HAD NO ETA ON WHEN THEY WOULD BE BACK UP. NOW I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME AGAIN. SUNTRUP KIA RECOMMEND ME NOT TO DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ODI 11398167

CHECKED MY OIL AND THE DIPSTICK WAS SHOWING NO OIL AT ALL, 2 QUARTS HAD BEEN ADDED 2 WEEKS PRIOR. NO SIGN OF AN OIL LEAK ANYWHERE. 2 DAYS LATER I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS IDLING VERY HARD THEN DIED, I WAITED THEN STARTED IT BACK UP. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT IT DIDNT DIE AGAIN. IT HAS SINCE CONTINUED TO RUN VERY ROUGH. THIS STARTED AT ABOUT 90,000, OIL CONSUMPTION IS RIDICULOUS. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM HERE, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE MAKING COMPLAINTS AS WELL!!

NHTSA ODI 11390744

AT 88K MILES CAR BEGINS TO DRIVE SLUGGISH CAUSING A ACCELERATION ISSUE. YOU CAN ALSO HEAR A WHISTLING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE WITH A FAINT KNOCKING SOUND. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND IT WAS SAID TO BE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OR TRANSMISSION. BOTH WERE CHANGED AND VEHICLE IS STILL DRIVING SLUGGISH.

NHTSA ODI 11389939

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT AND ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAITED TEN MINUTE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE RELEASED THE BRAKES, THE NOISE WOULD STOP BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE STATIONARY, THE SOUND RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECENTLY THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BERWYN KIA (7050 OGDEN AVE, BERWYN, IL 60402) WHERE THE REPAIR OF AN UNKNOWN RECALL WAS COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,947.

NHTSA ODI 11387549

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE FOR MONTHS NOW. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE PARTS REPLACED THAT CLEARLY ARE RELATED TO THE ENGINE , CAN NOT DRIVE IT AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP . THEY CORRECTED TWO RECALLS , BUT DID NOT CHECK FOR PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE. THEY DID A DX TEST HOWEVER DID NOT DRIVE IT TO CLEARLY SEE IT STILL HAS SAME ISSUES AS WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN , BUT WORSE THAN BEFORE NOW. MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN 20V750 WITH CODE SC200. MY VEHICLE IS ALSO BURNING OIL , TWO TIMES I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THEY ARE SURE IT HAS TO DO WITH ENGINE ISSUES. I CALLED THEM BACK AND ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS AFTER LEAVING WITH IT THE SAME PROBLEMS AS BEFORE AND WAS TREATED AS IF I WAS MAKING UP THE ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH THE VEHICLE . DUE TO I AM THE 2ND OWNER THEY DID NOT WANT TO USE MY WARRANTY I HAVE ON THE ENGINE TO REPAIR OR EVEN CHECK INTO THE ENGINE FOR PROBLEMS . NOW I AM HAVING TO WAIT UNTIL THE MANAGER COMES BACK TO WORK IN TWO DAYS TO GET A RESOLUTION, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR TOW CHARGES FOR THE 2ND TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11385254

WHEN AT COMPLETE STOP IDLING IS VERY ROUGH AND ENGINE WILL CUT OFF. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP SHIFTING IS VERY DELAYED AND HARD, ONCE GEAR SHIFTS THEN IT ACCELERATES TOO FAST AT ONCE. WHEN MAKES A LEFT TURN FROM STOP LIGHT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CODE WAS P0420 ABOUT CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

NHTSA ODI 11354524

CAR WHILE BE DELAYED IN SHIFTING GEARS AND THEN ALL THE SUDDEN ACCELERATE TOO FAST AND JERKS THE CAR, OIL KEEPS RUNNING REALLY LOW AFTER PUTTING OIL IN BUT NO VISIBLE LEAKS. ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON READING CODE IS P0420 STATING PROBLEMS WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER. RECALLS ARE IN PLACE FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T SHOWING UP EVEN THOUGH I'M HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL!!*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11354529

VEHICLE OUT OF NOWHERE WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY STARTED TO DECELERATE I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER SAFELY AND NOTICED THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD WERE ILLUMINATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ENGINE OIL LIGHT. I TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVOLINE OIL EXPRESS AND THEY CHECKED MY CODES CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS BUT CAR STILL SPUTTERS AND POWER IS LOW LIGHTS ARE DIM I HAVE IT NOW AT A KIA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE ENGINE OR SOMETHING IN THE POWERTRAIN. NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE SINCE I'VE PURCHASED IT.

NHTSA ODI 11352055

IN 2017 WHILE GOING STRAIGHT ON HIGHWAY UPHILL, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED LOUD PINGING AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING, NO WARNING LIGHTS. I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED, KIA TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. SAID NO OIL IN ENGINE AND ENGINE FAILED. THIS WAS SERVICED BY SAME DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS PRIOR. KIA REPLACED THAT ENGINE. 2019 CAR IN BEING SERVICED AND AFTER I WAS TOLD SAME SEAL IS BAD AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED. 2020 CAR IN BEING SERVICED AND WAS TOLD SAME SEAL WAS BAD A THIRD TIME. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR WHEN NOT LUBRICATED DUE TO FIRE ISSUE WITH SOULS.

NHTSA ODI 11348658

2015 KIA SOUL + HAS JUST BEEN CHECKED BY OUR DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR NOT ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING PROPERLY. DEALER PERFORMED TRANSMISSION SERVICE AT 106,768 MILES ON JUNE 30, 2020, AND THIS DID NOT CLEAR THE ISSUES, 2ND SERVICE INSPECTRION ON JULY 1, 2020 RESULTED IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYING THE ISSUES ARE WITH A PLUGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH HAS BEEN A POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE ONGOING NHTSA INVESTIGATION OF ALL KIA SOUL MODELS WITH THE 2.0L NU ENGINE. WE ALSO NOTED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, BUT THEY HAVE DECLINED STARTING AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY WILL COVER REPAIRS, AND ALLOWED US TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE VEHICLE IN POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONDITION, WITH NO REMEDY OTHER THAN US PAYING FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I WANT TO HAVE MY COMPLAINT ADDED TO THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION, AND CAN PROVIDE AND ENCOURAGE OTHER KIA SOUL OWNERS TO ALSO ADD THEIR SIMILAR ISSUES,M WHICH ARE WELL DOCUMENTED ON LINE IN FORUMS AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

NHTSA ODI 11337168

CAR WAS IN MOTION GOING DOWN STREET THEN ENGINE STOPPED FROZE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING THROUGH MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. TRIED TO RESTART CAR ONCE IT STARTED AGAIN ENGINE BEGAN A LOUD GRINDING NOISE LIKE PISTONS WERE READY TO EXPLODE. I DROVE HOME WITH THE ENGINE MAKE THE LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND STALLING CREATING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. I SEE THAT THERE IS A 2015 KIA SOUL RECALL FOR GDI ENGINES BUT THE KIA HEADQUARTERS ARE SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL. THE CAR IS AT THE KIA SERVICE CENTER NOW AND THE FIRST THING THEY SAID IS THAT WE MAY NEED A NEW ENGINE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE IN THIS CAR AND I AM AFRAID OF KNOWN KIA SOUL ENGINE DEFECTS COULD PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331167

CAR BURNS OIL EXCESSIVELY. HAS STARTED MAKING BAD ENGINE NOISES. VISITED A KIA DEALERSHIP MECHANIC. WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT DUE TO DAMAGE. NOISE IS WHEN IN MOTION. STANDARD DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327267

HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES/90 MILES WHEN WE WERE COMING TO THE SUMMIT OF STEVENS PASS ON HWY 20 EAST-BOUND. THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED RUNNING ROUGH SO WE PULLED TO THE SHOULDER JUST IN TIME FOR THE ENGINE TO STALL AND ALL DASH LIGHTS TO COME ON. TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE WHEN A PUFF OF SMOKE ERUPTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND A BYSTANDER ALERTED US TO VISIBLE FLAMES. THANKFULLY, A PASSER BY HAD AN EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326906

THE CAR IS NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY AND NOT CHANGING GEARS CORRECTLY AND AUTOMATICALLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND IS RUNNING SEVERAL CODES. IT MAY BE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR STARTED PUTTING AND NO ACCELERATING PAST 60MPH. IT MAKES THIS LOUD CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TRY AND GO FASTER AND ALSO IT SOUNDS REALLY LOUD LIKE A LAWN MOWER.

NHTSA ODI 11319937

2015 KIA SOUL. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED AND THE ADAPTIVES WERE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11302051

IT HAS BEEN TROUBLED FOR COUPLE OF YEARS. MAIN ISSUE IS WHEN I START ENGINE RPM HIT OVER 3,000 AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. VERY FIRST TIME BRING THE CAR DEALER SHIP, THEY JUST RESET ECU BUT SAME SYMPTOM OVER AGAIN DEALER SHIP CHANGED ECU. DURING A YEAR IT WAS OKAY BUT RECENTLY SAME PROBLEM COME UP AGAIN

NHTSA ODI 11301143

MY KIA IS BURNING OIL AND STARTED THIS HESITATION FEELING !! MY CAR SMELLS BURNT INSIDE AND OUT OF THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11299651

WHILE DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET THE OIL LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY THEN REMAINED BLANK NOT LIGHTING UP AGAIN. VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WITHIN A TENTH OF A MILE, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED, COULD HERE CLICKING FROM ENGINE, VEHICLE THEN STALLED. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED THE OIL AND NOTICED NO OIL REGISTERING ON THE DIP STICK. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE OIL SHOWING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE OR UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE OIL WAS CHANGED AT JIFFY LUBE, STORE #2375, ON EMERSON AVE., INDIANAPOLIS, IN. MILEAGE AT OIL CHANGE WAS 100,973 PERFORMED ON JULY 27, 2019 (SEE ATTACHED). NEXT OIL CHANGE DUE AT 105,973. OIL USED WAS PENZOIL SEMI-SYNTHETIC 5W20. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE AT TIME OF BREAKDOWN 105,490. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO BECK'S AUTO SERVICE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN. WAS TOLD SOMETHING BROKE LOOSE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS NOW SITTING AS I STILL OWE $5,000.00 ON IT AND DO NOT HAVE THE $6,200.00 THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST FOR REPAIRS.*DT LICENSE PLATE XX-XXXXXXXX '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).'*JB

NHTSA ODI 11280485