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The 2021 Kia Soul has a unique look and is sure to stand out. The automaker claims that the newer models contain “next-level versatility,” but customers aren’t impressed. With a faulty electrical system, defective engine and malfunctioning powertrain, drivers are fed up with the Soul lineup.
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Contents
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Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
---|---|
Engine | |
Unknown Or Other | |
Power Train | |
Electrical System | |
Air Bags | |
Fuel/propulsion System | |
Steering | |
Exterior Lighting | |
Service Brakes | |
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings |
With a well-running electrical system, the drive is enjoyable and relaxing, yet that’s not what the Kia Soul seems to offer.
One NHTSA complaint states, “Had car 1 week – 204 miles. Power steering warning light came on while I was driving 55. Then the tire pressure light. Then all warning lights. Headlights and interior lighting off and on then finally just off. Pulled into parking lot where all systems stopped working. Was not enough power to close sun roof. No power door locks – had to operate manually. Car towed to dealer. Thankfully, I am a strong person and was able to get off the highway and into a parking lot without incident. I am not sure how that happened since I did not even have working hazard lights.”
Kia knows the systems aren’t working right. Service Bulletin # PS703 talks about issues with the voice recognition functionality and Bluetooth connectivity. The issues are reminiscent of the time when people used to ask, “Can you hear me now?”
No one expects the Kia Soul to be a high-powered sports car. Still, there should be some sort of reliable power coming from the engine, but there’s not.
Another NHTSA complaint states, “When I was driving at 15 mph the car completely shut off. So I tried to restart it and when I took the key out everything locked up and it was like that for 5 min in the middle of the road before the car came back on and flashed the engine and oil light.”
Kia had to issue a recall because of the defective engine. NHTSA Campaign Number 21V259000 affects nearly 150,000 vehicles. It turns out that Soul models have piston oil rings that might not have been heat-treated according to company guidelines. If the piston oil rings become unseated, engine damage could occur, leading to a stalled motor. It could also lead to an oil leak, which increases the danger of a car fire if the oil hits the hot exhaust. Maybe Kia should consider transferring some of the “next-level” capability that is bragged about into creating better manufacturing procedures since vital systems are breaking down. Until then, these vehicles will continue piling up in the junkyard.
The powertrain must also be built reliable or customers are going to complain. That’s exactly what’s happening with the Soul.
One Edmunds review states, “I bought a brand new 2021 Kia Soul February 13, 2021. 8 weeks later it is in the shop needing a new transmission. It has been 2 weeks and not one single call from Kia. The transmission is on back order and I am driving a rental car which I am paying $22/day for insurance. I have a case number with Kia, but it is useless because their customer service is absolutely horrible. I wish I had never bought it. I will be filing a lemon law claim.”
Kia has its hands full with powertrain issues. Currently, there are more than ten communications, with more sure to build up as customers continue driving this poorly-made vehicle. Many of the problems seem to be electronic issues with the transmission, further proving that Kia should not be manufacturing this lemon any longer.
Are you experiencing issues with the transmission of your Kia Soul? Find out more about this issue by reading our post on Kia Soul Transmission issues.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Kia pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Category | Engine |
Date | Mar 07, 2023 |
State | NC |
Description | Engine light was on , I was driving the turn off I take the car to kia they're fixed in december, now the is doing the same engine light on, I was driving the car turn off is the same problem the I have before, |
Category | Engine |
Date | Feb 22, 2023 |
State | GA |
Description | 2021 kia soul started making engine noises as it was being driven home. The next day while driving home there was a loud boom and total loss of power while driving. It coasted to a parking lot. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership. We are now awaiting approval for total engine replacement via warranty. Vehicle has less than 50k miles. Oil changes were done with synthetic oil. |
Category | Engine |
Date | Feb 20, 2023 |
State | TX |
Description | Car began sputtering in the middle of the road, all the symbols on the dash started lighting up. I went to make a turn and car stopped moving came to a sudden slow down and rolled to the side. I put it in park. It would not start and sputtered. |
Category | Engine |
Date | Feb 13, 2023 |
State | MO |
Description | Turning left onto busy street, engine stopped, car stuck in incoming traffic lane, would not go momentarily. |
Category | Power Train |
Date | Feb 13, 2023 |
State | TN |
Description | I own a 2021 kia soul with 34,130 miles. Purchase brand new in 5/21. I just had it serviced on 2/3/23. On 2/10/23, I was driving toward home on I-40 east, near mile marker 418 and the rpms suddenly started to jump up and down from 1000x to 6000x and the car had no ability to go anywhere close to the speed limit. There was a whistle noise coming from under the car. I took the I-81 north interchange to try to get the 80 or so miles back home but could not get the vehicle to go more than 15 mph. I was terrified I was going to get hit by the 18 wheelers whizzing by me. I got in the break down lane and limped to exit 8. The car began to shake violently and barely move. I got off the exit ramp praying no one would rear end me. I called kia roadside and they towed it to the closest dealership in moristown because they only tow up to 50 miles, unless I paid the requested 0+ to take it the extra 30 miles to my dealership where I bought the car. The service department called on 2/11/23 to tell me it was being evaluated now, but I have heard nothing else since. I had to sit at the dealership in moristown until my sister could drive from lexington ky to take me home. I have severe walking impediment due to broken neck from a car wreck. This whole experience was terrifying. |
Category | Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly |
Date | Feb 01, 2023 |
State | CA |
Description | Heading to work on hwy 140, there is no trees nothing that could fall on my car the nearest car was at least half a mile away, it's 30something degrees outside and as my driving I heard a loud boom I opened up the cover to my sunroof and it was shattered, there's nothing that could have landed on it the glass was pointing upwards like it exploded out. That stretch of road I was on has nothing around that could cause that and if it had been a rock it would have hit either the front of my car or my windshield and neither were hit or anything of that nature. The only conclusion I have is that it was the temperature difference. |
Category | Engine |
Date | Jan 30, 2023 |
State | SC |
Description | On or approximately january 6, 2023 my 2021 kia soul with isg technology began to display check engine light. Took to autozone where they hooked to analyzer and came up with p0017 code. Notified local kia dealership (galeana in columbia, sc) and was told could not get appointment until 01/24. Told if engine light no blinking could continue driving. No overt issues when driving at that time. Reset light by disconnecting negative battery terminal but immediately reappeared. On 01/19/23, engine began cutting out and running rough, turning off when brake applied. Was able to crawl home. Had towed into local dealership. Now told my "engine is bad" and that it has been escalated to "tech case" with kia central. All maintenance up to date and no current recalls active. Noted that case very similar to those for which class action lawsuit was filed. This could have caused a real issue in traffic with it stalling at lights and ultimately stopping. |
Category | Engine |
Date | Jan 12, 2023 |
State | IA |
Description | On 12/29/2022, the check engine light came while driving to work on my 2021 kia (25k miles). I called the dealership right away and made an appointment for inspection the next day. At lunch time the same day, I got into my car and went through a local drive thru. On the way back, the vehicle stalled out while driving. It stalled out repeatedly driving the 3 blocks to my office. Knowing the vehicle was unsafe, I had it towed to the dealership. The dealership has had my vehicle for two weeks. Changing all the emission parts, and tried to tell me I had no oil in the car (regular maintenance through them is up to date). Now they keep telling me, they are waiting for the kia hotline to contact them. I do know this, the car was burning excessive oil. Parts of the engine were gunked up from this. Engine started stalling out. It's the exact description of the recalled 2021 kia problems, yet they claim not mine it was not part of the recall. These engines are dangerous. Kia is doing nothing to resolve the issue. |
Category | Engine |
Date | Jan 07, 2023 |
State | FL |
Description | On 12/28 at approximately 5:00 pm my vehicle shut off 2 times within a span of 30 minutes while I was driving it. It happened on approach to a highway. It was not the stop-start system. My car was moving while it happened. My car lost all power, and every warning indicator flashed in my dash and I even lost my power steering. I took my car to kia and they categorized this as my car âstallingâ, but I wouldn't say that is accurate. My car's computer seems to have malfunctioned or was hacked. Indeed kia's repair document shows that they performed a software update on my car to solve this. My car's engine was certainly malfunctioning while driving on 12/28 after both events of losing all power to my car. It sounded like my engine was in the wrong gear after these events. I didn't drive my car after that episode and kia refused to tell me what was wrong after they ârepaired itâ and performed a software update. This article yesterday about kia/other auto's breached is unnerving. I don't feel safe driving the car and wish I had the ability to cut off kia's api to my car while driving. They should only be allowed to perform software updates or access the car's computer remotely while the car is stationary and the driver should be alerted that kia or a third party is accessing the car's computer and/or engine, etc. I just want to make sure if I get in a serious accident that this is on record. Https://www. Cyberscoop. Com/car-hackers-vulnerabilities-research/ |
Category | Air Bags, Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings |
Date | Jan 05, 2023 |
State | FL |
Description | While crossing an intersection a jeep gladiator ran a red light causing my vehicle to hit it broad side. Front and side airbags did not deploy. The frontend was damaged is buckled, hood about 6", fenders crushed and the grill was destroyed. Driver's door wouldn't open. The seatbelt didn't restrain my wife enogh to keep her from hitting the steering wheel. This caused bruises on her leg , abdomen and chest areas. |
Category | Electrical System |
Date | Oct 24, 2022 |
State | OH |
Description | Horn fails to operate. 2nd time for this car. 1st time was repaired by dealer as warranty. Now failed again. Car only has 14000 miles on it. |
Category | Engine, Power Train, Unknown Or Other |
Date | Oct 21, 2022 |
State | TX |
Description | The engine is consuming increasingly high amounts of oil with no leaks, far surpassing the one quart per 1000 miles. Oil pressure lamp has illuminated on 1-2 occasions, only briefly, and shortly before I took it to the dealership. Unusual noises coming from the engine while accelerating and also after I stop. I had my oil changed 1 week ago, unusual noises have not improved. Currently awaiting inspection at the dealership for manufacturer warranty coverage for repair of this issue, but seems to have all the earmarks and the production date (9/20) that line up with the piston ring recall, though they say my vehicle is not covered by the recall. |
Category | Engine |
Date | Oct 10, 2022 |
State | CO |
Description | I believe my specific vehicle should also be assigned the recall no. 21v259000. My vehicle experienced engine stall, loss of power and leaking oil onto hit components which could have resulted in fire. I was stalled and in traffic and could also have been in hit by another vehicle. The engine is now having to be replaced at the dealership. I am told my car is not part of the above mentioned recall even though the motor in my vehicle matches the motor on the recall. |
Category | Electrical System, Service Brakes, Unknown Or Other |
Date | Sep 21, 2022 |
State | TX |
Description | When exiting the highway, I pushed on brake to slow down and car accelerated at fast speed and had to use emergency brake. |
Category | Engine |
Date | Jul 09, 2022 |
State | PR |
Description | Good day my kia soul consumes excessive oil. I have noticed it since the last three oil changes and when you turn it on you can hear a slight knocking in the engine. I took it to the dealer but they demand a deposit of 300 dollars to check it and they do not guarantee original parts. I think it is unfair that they demand three hundred dollars to check it when my kia soul has 25,600 miles and has a guarantee and I demand that my guarantee be honored and my safety be guaranteed. Thanks for your attention |
Category | Engine |
Date | Jun 30, 2022 |
State | GA |
Description | The contact owns a 2021 kia soul. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v259000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
Category | Unknown Or Other |
Date | Jun 29, 2022 |
State | SC |
Description | On may 15, 2022 my house burned and all my belongings and the home were a total loss. The fire origination specialist brought in by my homeowners insurance company reported the back left of the garage was the origination spot and that my 2021 kia soul was parked face in on the left side of the garage. The car was charred and the chrysler 300 parked next to it was also damaged but recognizable. The kia had been unused for 24 hours plus. Both the auto and home owners insurance companies are investigating the kia as the source at a salvage company in lumberton, nc. |
Category | Unknown Or Other |
Date | Jun 15, 2022 |
State | OH |
Description | After stopping on a grade and after the engine shuts off, and you take your foot off the accelerator pedal to move forward, there is a lengthy pause (sometimes) before the engine restarts and proceeds forward. If there is a vehicle behind you it can be unnerving and if they are real close it could cause an accident. I had the dealer check it and they could not find any service bulletins on that issue. This has happened on multiple occasions. |
Category | Air Bags |
Date | Jun 09, 2022 |
State | VA |
Description | Airbags didn't deploy with hard frontal contact. Vehicle is being held by insurance company so it can be looked at. Vehicle has been inspected by insurance company as total loss. Front end is destroyed and frame is bent. |
Category | Engine |
Date | May 23, 2022 |
State | AZ |
Description | I was driving into work and when I got off the expressway my car started rattling loudly. I finished my drive into work and parked the car. I asked a co worker to see if he could see if my muffler was still connected and he mentioned that the noise was coming from my engine. The two weeks previous to this my car would shut off if I slowed down or was pulling into a parking space. I just thought it was my auto shut off when the engine was on low idle. |
Category | Engine, Fuel/propulsion System, Unknown Or Other |
Date | Mar 21, 2022 |
State | NJ |
Description | I am very concern with the 2021 kia soul that I drive presently. The vehicle is in my son's name; however, I pay the monthly payments and I am the primary driver for this automobile; this is also listed on my insurance policy as well. I have been experiencing some dangerous mechanical conditions with the car. Please find a copy of my uploaded document summary. I have an appointment tomorrow, tuesday, on march 22, 2022. |
Category | Engine |
Date | Mar 09, 2022 |
State | GA |
Description | The contact owns a 2021 kia soul. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v259000 (engine) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall repair. The dealer replaced the piston rings; however, the piston ring noise sensing system (pnss) software was not updated as it was not available during the recall repair. The contact stated while driving 35-45 mph, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and she was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred the next day. A warning message illuminated, indicating that the auto collision was about to be deactivated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the next availability was in april. The contact also called several unknown dealers who advised that the next availability was in april or may. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the completion of the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,100. Parts distribution disconnect. Kia's lack of ability/failure to address and fix the vehicle's recall in a timely manner. |
Category | Air Bags, Unknown Or Other |
Date | Dec 28, 2021 |
State | AL |
Description | My daughter was driving her 2021 kia soul s and a chevy silverado suddenly pulled in front of her. The crash report says impact was at 50 mph. My daughter survived the crash; however, the vehicle immediately caught on fire and flames entered the cabin from what was left of the engine compartment. Her airbag inflated, but did not deflate. She punched the airbag to make enough room for her to try and exit the vehicle, but her driver's door would not open using the handle even after manually unlocking the door. Only after repeated black belt level martial arts' kicks and elbow thrusts did the door open and my daughter was able to exit before the car was consumed by flames. A police report and picture will be sent. Please investigate - no one should have to suffer fate of burning to death. |
Category | Power Train |
Date | Nov 27, 2021 |
State | AZ |
Description | The vehicle started loosing power. The engine would rev up but the car wouldn't go. The car had to be towed to the dealership because the vehicle would not engage into drive or reverse. The dealership is replacing the transmission. It is the ivt transmission |
Category | Unknown Or Other |
Date | Nov 04, 2021 |
State | WI |
Description | The plastic ignition switch for my vehicle is an invitation to steal my car. Which is exactly what happened. I could have been harmed had I seen this happening. Many people on the streets of milwaukee could have been harmed as well, because my stolen vehicle ended up in a police car chase and caused almost ,000 worth of damage. Kia knows this is happening to their customers. This component have been inspected by the police and insurance company. Their was no warnings of this known problem with the ignition. I would not have bought that problem. I wasn't aware of this until my car was stolen. This is not fair and something should be done. People could die because so many of these kia car thefts end up in a police chase through the city. Also, I could have been hijacked or worse. This is not a safe car to be on the road. |
Category | Unknown Or Other |
Date | Oct 20, 2021 |
State | ND |
Description | I put my car in park, turned off my car, and it lit up with an alarm saying that my car was not in park. It doesn't happen every time but it has happened twice. |
Category | Unknown Or Other |
Date | Oct 14, 2021 |
State | NY |
Description | Over the course of 24 hours car would not accelerate when depressing the pedal, although the engine was revving. This occurred 3 times at intersections when the car was stopped at a light. The car only has 3,500 miles on in it; it was purchased in april 2021. On the way to the dealer it was also bucking and stuttering. Very concerned about the safety of the car. |
Category | Unknown Or Other |
Date | Sep 28, 2021 |
State | WI |
Description | Car was stolen using a known design flaw. Now both of my cars are in the shop because of this |
Category | Engine |
Date | Jul 20, 2021 |
State | TX |
Description | The contact owns a 2021 kia soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled on several occasions. There were no warning lights illuminated. The engine failure message was displayed. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v259000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was no oil in vehicle. Additionally, the contact was informed of an oil flow failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 8,000. Parts distribution disconnect. |
Category | Engine And Engine Cooling |
Date | Jul 19, 2021 |
State | FL |
Description | The contact owned a 2021 kia soul. The contact stated that soon after purchase of the vehicle, she discovered both low coolant and low oil levels upon inspection of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on two separate occasions. On her second visit, the contact stated that the dealer informed her to bring the vehicle back in 1,000 miles to check both oil and coolant levels to monitor the issues. The contact called the dealer back the next day to inform them that the coolant level had already begun to run low. The contact also stated that the auto start feature failed to operate by stalling upon depression of the accelerator after coming to a complete stop, without warning. The dealer offered the contact a trade-in. The contact was placed in another vehicle. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The contact no longer owns the vehicle. The failure mileage was 2,416. |
Category | Unknown Or Other |
Date | Jun 23, 2021 |
State | MI |
Description | My vehicle has stalled several times. I was speeding up to merge on the freeway, pressed my foot hard on the gas, it went slow and a lot of smoke came from the back of the vehicle. I took my vehicle to a kia dealership and was told that has nothing to do with the recall. I was there less than 30 minutes and feel like my issues were not taken seriously. |
Category | Power Train |
Date | May 11, 2021 |
State | FL |
Description | I I was on the interstate and my car started making a loud noise and decelerated. It seemed to lose power, I turned around and started home as I was very frightened. The car accelerated without pressing the gas, decelerated without pressing the brake. The tachometer was swinging around wildly. The car most of the time seemed to have no power. I was afraid of a rear end hit by another car or flyling into the back of the car in front. I was trying to limp it in to the dealer. The car only had 3400 miles on it and I had had it for 7 months. At one point I had to stop for a red light and the car would not move. I put on the warning flashers and tired to edge to the side of the street as there was a bit of slope. I turned the car off and restarted it and was able to get it to the dealer about 2 miles away with very little power. They told me it has to have a new transmission. They said they are replacing the transmission with a different kind and it will be safe not to worry, though confidence in the vehicle is diminished. I understand that the ivt transmission that kia developed in 2020 has been giving problems. |
Category | Power Train |
Date | May 07, 2021 |
State | CA |
Description | Vehicle was parked on a slight slope parking space backing to a one-way public road in national park. It was a designated parking space. The vehicle was running and in the p mode of gear selection. I exited the driver's door for few minutes. Then opened the driver's side door with the intent to shut the engine. The car started rolling back, crossed the road, and stopped by a sandy embankment. I was thrown off by the open door on the sandy bank. The engine stopped and I observed the vehicle in d mode by itself. I was able to start the car in the p mode and was pulled out with help of several people who observed this near-miss serious accident. This was a rental car. No further problems observed. Car returned to the rental company. |
Category | Lane Departure: Assist |
Date | Apr 19, 2021 |
State | AZ |
Description | Driving 75 mph speed limit on I-19 (4 lane divided) northbound near green valley az. Dry clear. Is new car with 400 miles on it and I was using the lane keeping assistance hands free. Clearly visible painted lane lines. Worked fine until lane markings diverged at slight curve and at off ramp. The car drove directly into/onto the "v" between right lane and off ramp until I manually steered back to traffic lane. No alarm or vibration sounded before I had to manually steer back to traffic lane. |
Category | Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Steering |
Date | Apr 05, 2021 |
State | TN |
Description | Had car 1 week - 204 miles. Power steering warning light came on while I was driving 55. Then the tire pressure light. Then all warning lights. Headlights and interior lighting off and on then finally just off. Pulled into parking lot where all systems stopped working. Was not enough power to close sun roof. No power door locks - had to operate manually. Car towed to dealer. Thankfully I am a strong person and was able to get off the highway and into a parking lot without incident. I am not sure how that happened since I did not even have working hazard lights. |
Category | Engine, Fuel/propulsion System, Unknown Or Other |
Date | Mar 05, 2021 |
State | OH |
Description | Two major issues. I have heard a very loud ticking sound coming from the engine which started about three days ago. Before then the car ran silent. Car is it approximately 8000 miles on the odometer. The clicking started getting louder and then the car stalled twice right in the middle of driving! One was on a street going about 45 miles an hour! The otherwas on a side street going approximately 25 miles an hour. The ec oh mode was on in the car. Also' when you turn on the heater fan on high it started making a high-pitched squealing sound. The car is at the dealership right now as it will not work properly. |
Category | Fuel/propulsion System, Service Brakes |
Date | Jan 11, 2021 |
State | NV |
Description | I was going to get my mail attempting to park where I always park. I hit the brake and the car sped up and hit two mailboxes. I couldn't get it to stop. I do not know how fast it was going when I hit the mailboxes |
Category | Engine |
Date | Nov 19, 2020 |
State | TN |
Description | When I was driving at 15mph the car completely shut off. So I tried to restart it and when I took the key out everything locked up and it was like that for 5 min in the middle of the road before the car came back on and flahed the engine and oil light. |
Category | Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Visibility/wiper |
Date | Oct 30, 2020 |
State | NC |
Description | While driving down the road in wet weather conditions. The vehicle lost all power, lost wipers and headlights. Happened on interstate while traveling at 65 mph. Vehicle stated key wasn't detected in car. While in motion using other vehicles headlights was able to get over to the side of the highway thankfully. Vehicle was towed to dealer for assessment. |
Category | Steering, Suspension, Wheels |
Date | Oct 28, 2020 |
State | NC |
Description | Vehicle keeps pulling. Vehicle pulled to the right. Performed a steering angle relearned, and wheel alignment. Cross rotated tires and now the vehicle pulls to the left. Told nothing else can be done at this time. Car is constantly. Fighting itself with steering assist. |
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of bad manufacturing and run-arounds from auto companies. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
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