What 213 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Soul EV

Engine Failure, Started burning oil, within a month of that started knocking, after 4 weeks the connecting rod went through the block. I was driving on a public roadway. Vehicle is in for repair now for a new short block, catalytic converter (oil damage) with the dealership and being repaired by the manufacturer under warranty. Only warning lamp the car has had was about a month prior for an inefficient catalytic converter. No warnings for low oil or engine trouble prior to developing the knock. Vehicle is at Celebration Kia in Delaware Ohio for repairs. The incident date is approximate.

NHTSA ODI 11445253

While driving to work in my 2018 Kia soul on 10/16/21 vehicle has a significant hesitation pulling away from a stop sign/red-light. A very slight knocking noise could be heard. the oil light flickered on and then immediately went off. Next thing I know while doing 65 on the highway the oil, engine, and battery lights all lit up then suddenly power to the vehicle was gone! I managed to get the vehicle off the highway onto the shoulder of the road where I watched smoke pouring out of the engine bay. My vehicle only has 69059 miles. the 2.0L motor that is subject to many other recalls and issues is the same as what is in my Soul. . I've only had this car for less than two years! KIA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!

NHTSA ODI 11442972

At 94,000 miles without warning I have a rod knock. I have maintained oil changes regularly and topped my oil off before this drive. No warning lights no indicators. Just a blown engine.

NHTSA ODI 11442652

I have my oil changed regularly. At about 49,000 miles, upon braking, the oil light came on. When accelerating the oil light would go off. I checked the oil and it didn't even register. I added 2 quarts of oil to bring it to the mid line of dipstick. Took the car in, and had oil changed. 3 weeks later, at 50,000 miles, the oil is now a 1/2 quart low. Took car in to the dealer. They told me that the oil consumption of 1 quart every 1,000 miles is within normal range. This is ridiculous. I should not need to add oil to a 3 year old car between oil changes.

NHTSA ODI 11440153

I went and got my oil changed yesterday. The man at the Kia dealership showed me a water bottle that was about 8 oz full with black oil. He told me that that’s all the oil I had in my car and I probably have engine damage. There were no warning lamps or anything else. And I routinely get my oil and tires maintenance. I am now having sounds coming from my vehicle but still no warning lamps.

NHTSA ODI 11439996

Engine started to knock, then it got louder and finally the engine stopped running. If it would have shut down on the busy interstate, it could have been a disaster. The problem has not been inspected by Manufacture. Trying to report to KIA. Engine has less than 84000. The oil light came on right before it died.

NHTSA ODI 11436700

My engine failed and gasket blew with no signs of over heated and no issues prior to failure car had no issues at all.

NHTSA ODI 11432892

The car started making a squeaky noise checked to see if it was the brakes or anything else, nothing everything appears fine. Hera the noise again have it checked out turns out car has no oil what do ever. I have my car serviced every 3 m as it should be even before the miles I know and have read and other articles about the oil just disappearing, my car only has 53, 000 miles on it.

NHTSA ODI 11428832

Around 65000 miles, While driving the engine just lost power and started knocking. There are a lot of forums with the same model with the same compliant and issue. even the Kia dealship says there is a problem with these engines. They are recommending a new engine I am afraid to have my family in this car.

NHTSA ODI 11428600

While driving to work my engine began to knock, my oil light flickered and went out, and then I completely lost power. I took my 2018 Kia soul to a local mechanic and he confirmed that my engine was blown and would need to be replaced with only 78,388 miles on my vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11422106

I have been a 3 car Kia customer for almost 10 years. In the last 10 months I have had more than a dozen service visits. Starting in August 2020 my engine was losing oil. After first visit, my SA Edwin agreed this is a problem, do the oil consumption test and we’ll be on our way for a repair. Test Done, with a "sorry" we have to do the test again but we replaced the ignition coil. (2nd Coil since I’ve owned car) And again we test. With more "Sorry" it didn't burn enough oil, or you have to come in EXACTLY at 1,000 miles. (This is NOT true; math can be converted at any mileage over the 1,000.) Even when I told them it starts burning at the 2,000 mark after oil change. Over and over again, I miss work to sit in the dealership, or WALK home, as the dealership insisted on these appointments but wouldn't give me a loaner (I have full coverage insurance) Finally in March 2021 they decide they will clean the combustion chamber. Need to leave car: they make me RENT a car saying it will be paid for with my warranty. ADDITIONAL days needed as more problems occurred while in for repair. (Oil switch). Keep the rental they told me, it’s covered. Return the rental and the dealership won’t PAY THE RENTAL. I have now missed over 30 hours of work, repeated oil change costs for the process, Rental Fees, Inspection fees that were never reimbursed. All in avoidance of a repair that was clearly needed to my engine. Go back into a new Kia on 6/1/21 for scheduled oil change, and the Tech tells me there is NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. AGAIN. 10 months later and I still have the same problem. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE and KIA will not address.

NHTSA ODI 11419943

2018 kia soul+ with 2.0l engine has developed a rod knock at 86k miles. Kia customer service was made aware of the issue and has refused to to repair the vehicle. According to a kid certified technician at a kia dealership, the issue is the same as other kia vehicles with a recall for, "connecting rod excessive wear". Customer service was made aware of these findings and still refuses to issue recall. Engine currently runs, but can not be run for very long or driven due to eminent risk of catastrophic engine failure.

NHTSA ODI 11418856

MY CAR HAS 64,700 MILES ON IT. I WAS ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD A POOF NOISE WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AND I LOST ALL POWER

NHTSA ODI 11414714

ON JANUARY 22, 2021, VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATING. SOON AFTER, LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE AND ENGINE DIED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ENGINE FAILURE AT 75K MILES. DEALER STATED SEVERAL ENGINE FAILURES IN THE YEAR MODEL CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED. USED ENGINE WITH 12 MONTH WARRANTY WAS PRICED AT $9100.

NHTSA ODI 11398886

JANUARY 21ST 2021, WENT TO A DEALERSHIP IN MIAMI AND PURCHASED A USED KIA SOUL PLUS. JANUARY 26TH 2021, AFTER LEAVING THE POST OFFICE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND CAME TO A STOP. OIL LIGHT WAS GLITCHING PRIOR TO THAT DAY. CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND COULDN'T SHIFT GEARS TO PARK OR NEUTRAL. HAD TO PUSH THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND SIT. TOOK TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED OIL GASKET. TOOK THE CAR HOME FEW DAYS DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. FEBRUARY 9TH CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN WHILE TURNING INSIDE PARKING SPOT. CAR BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WAS BOTH ON. CAR WENT BACK TO KIA DEALERSHIP THURSDAY 11TH. KIA LOOKED AT THE CAR STATING OIL SLUDGE WAS ALL INSIDE THE ENGINE AND REPAIRS WILL COST $9,000. USED CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11396878

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AND DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL METALLIC SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER WHEN THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECENT OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA OF BOWIE (16620 GOVERNOR BRIDGE RD, BOWIE, MD 20716, (301) 820-7500) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC REFERENCED A RECALL FOR 2014/2015 MODEL YEARS HOWEVER, THE 2018 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WERE NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CONTACT'S MODEL YEAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11394646

I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 KIA SOUL WITH 89,000 MILES ON IT AND ENGINE MADE A RATTLE NOISE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A LOUD CLUNK NOISE OUT OF THE BLUE. DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, AFTER THE NOISE THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY DIES. I COAST INTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE IS LIGHTLY SMOKING AT THIS POINT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TELL ME THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THE SHOP MANAGER ALSO STATES THAT THE 2018 KIA SOUL SHOULD HAVE AN ENGINE RECALL IN HIS OPINION BECAUSE HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE THE 2018 SOUL USES IS THE SAME ENGINE THAT IS IN OTHER KIA VEHICLES WITH RECALLS ON THEIR ENGINE. I HAVE RELIGIOUSLY PERFORMED ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES AT MANUFACTURES PRESCRIBED TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11390399

WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. IT GAVE NO WARNINGS OR MADE NO NOTICES. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA AND CALLED AAA TO COME AND TOW THE CAR TO MY HOME. MY HUSBAND WENT TO START IT AND SAID BATTERY WASN'T GOOD SO WE BOUGHT A NEW ONE, THEN HE STATES THE STARTER WAS BAD SO WE REPLACED IT, THEN WE FINALLY GOT IT TO START ONLY TO HEAR THE CAR MAKE A LOUD SLAPPING SOUND. THE CAR DOESN'T DRIVE AND THE ENGINE HAS FAILED. I AM THE SECOND OWNER SO THE WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 18 MONTHS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE OIL CHANGES AND KEEP IT CLEAN. I HAVE TAKEN REALLY GREAT CARE FOR THE CAR AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE, WHEN IT'S A 2018 KIA. ENGINES SHOULD LAST A LONG TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11389953

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS AS THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES NOW. STILL ON FOR THE 6TH TIME NOW!!!! I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WOULD FIX THIS AND IT HAS NOT

NHTSA ODI 11388931

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

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

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

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

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

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