2021 KIA SOUL Complaints

The vehicle burns oil. The first incident occurred when the car stopped running. Fortunately I was in a residential area and was able to pull into a parking lot. My mechanic confirmed it was lack of oil in the engine. I have taken it to the dealership and had it tested, but they said it was not enough, and then with the recall, they again said it was not the problem. It continues to burn oil and I have to check it at every gas refill to check the level.

I am filing this complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Soul due to repeated engine and powertrain failures and concerns about the quality and safety of the repairs. While my vehicle was under Kia's 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, I repeatedly brought it to the dealership for excessive oil consumption and transmission problems. Despite multiple visits, the dealership performed minor repairs or claimed they could not identify the transmission issue. I also contacted Kia Consumer Affairs but received no assistance. Shortly after my warranty expired, Kia determined both the engine and transmission required replacement. The repairs were completed as a "good faith" repair rather than a warranty or recall repair, using remanufactured components. Since then, I have continued experiencing problems. The replacement engine appears to have been installed improperly, including stripped motor mount bolts/pins and a missing bracket. Within months, I also developed radiator and coolant reservoir problems, raising additional safety concerns. I understand Kia has issued recalls and service campaigns involving similar engine and powertrain defects. When I previously checked my VIN, I recall it showing an engine-related recall. However, a recent search showed no open recalls. Regardless, my vehicle experienced the same failures and required replacement of both the engine and transmission after I repeatedly sought repairs while still under warranty. I believe these repeated failures and the apparent improper installation of the replacement engine warrant investigation. I have repair records documenting my complaints, the repairs, and the continuing issues.

Nothing happened - YET. I'm reporting a manufacturing error. Refer to my upload. I wouldn't be suprised that this defect has been the root cause of some accidents though.

My vehicle has been in the shop 7 times for misfire in all cylinders over a 2 1/2 year span Kia dealer refused to replace the engine, 8 months after I threatened to sue the dealership for saying they fixed the misfire in all cylinders issue and 8 months later I’m getting misfire in 4th cylinder. As the engine light came on again and I have a high end car diagnostic tool attached to the car which is giving me that code and previous codes of misfire in all cylinders. First misfire in all cylinders started at 16,000 miles bought car brand new and it continued all the way to 37,067 miles . The Kia dealership keep saying it’s this or that and it’s been fixed but the lights come on the previous 7 times after a week or less after taking it home from the dealer and then saying it’s fixed last time I wanted a new engine a Kia representative said it doesn’t need a new engine. I talked to a technician there about reading about this issue in alot of same vehicles he said I was right but Kia doesn’t want to pay for a new engine so they give excuses or just reset or clear the codes which doesn’t resolve the problem , Kia has changed the fuel tank, changed the spark plug wires, the spark plug cables the assembly,ecm which never resolved the problem

The first incident occurred on November 2, 2025. I was driving down a state road. I missed my turn so I pulled into a parking lot to turn around. Once I was able to pull out, I put my foot on the accelerator and felt no resistance. The car rolled out of the parking lot onto the road. I kept pressing the accelerator hoping the gas would return but my car rolled along without picking up speed. I was able to turn into a gas station to get my car off the road. I turned the engine off. When I turned it back on, all of the lights on the dashboard came on, before the only one that remained lit was the check engine light. I had the car towed to my local mechanic who after diagnosing, told me my car over consumed oil which resulted in the engine shut down. I was due for a change in a 400 miles. He said it was a known problem with Kia Souls and advised me to take it to a Kia dealership for inspection, which I did. I've taken it to Kia Danvers. Since 11/2/25, the issue has persisted. On 3/27/26, my car shut down 4 times while driving. Each time I would hear a loud noise coming from the engine, and I could feel the power draining from the steering wheel and pedals before the engine would shut off. After a minute or two, the car would restart. The problems continued on 3/29/26 where it happened 8 times. I was able to get it to Kia Danvers on 4/1/26 for a diagnostic exam and an oil change. They suggested an oil consumption test which I did on 5/4/26. They said my oil reduction was normal. On 5/7/26, while driving, my car began violently shaking with the shaking occurring in the engine. The check engine light came on. I pulled over and immediately called the dealership to explain what happened. The said to come in but I wasn't able to get it towed. When I took it in for scheduled service on 5/27/26, they noted the car consumed a lot of oil and suggested another oil change, and a combustion chamber cleaning.

I took my 2021 Kia Soul to the dealership for a piston ring recall; they ran their standard test and said it passed, but my car is still showing a misfire fault. I replaced the ignition coil, spark plug, and fuel injector, yet the problem persists. I’ve taken it back to the Kia dealership twice, but they refuse to inspect it because it already passed their test.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while checking the engine oil level, the contact noticed that the vehicle was consuming excessive oil. Upon inspecting underneath the vehicle, the contact's husband did not find any leaks. No warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the piston oil rings needed to be replaced, and the engine was consuming excessive oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (ENGINE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall due to the vehicle mileage. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.

States having problems with oil lost, but only inside the motor as if the rings are faulty

On XXX My car was stopped at a light, the vehicle shot down, and would not restart. I had the car towed to Galeana Kia, [XXX]. Upon isnpection at Kia it was found that the engine oil was three quarts low. I was shocked. There had been no warning lights on the dashboard. I had a synthetic oil change 9,000 miles previously. Galeana Kia charged me $315.96. There was a subsequent recall 25V099. "The piston oil ring(s) in your vehicle may have been manufactured incorrectly...This may lead to increased oil consumption..." On April 16, 2025, subject to the recall, Galeana Kia replaced the engine block. I requested a refund of the $315.96 for the work done on November 25, 2024. Galeana Kia refused. Because the repair work done in November 25, 2025 obviously relates to the subsequent recall, I request that you have Kia reimburse me. See Kia case XXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Initial Breakdown: July 2024, my 2021 Kia Soul (under 40,000 miles) idled roughly and stalled while in motion. It restarted, but as a precaution, I towed it to Kia Greenbrier Chesapeake while it was operable. After diagnostics, the vehicle would no longer start. Warranty Denial: The dealer blamed engine sludge from two missed oil changes in 2022 and quoted $10,000 for a new engine. In August 2024, I appealed the decision but was denied (Exhibit A & B). There were no recalls active for the 2021 model at this time, but there were recalls for the 2018-2020 models for identical symptoms. Third-Party Repair: I paid $3,017 out of pocket to an independent shop for a new timing assembly to make the vehicle safe and drivable again (Exhibit C). Because my daughter is disabled and requires transportation, getting repairs was imperative. A new valve kit, fresh synthetic oil, and filter service were completed by the third-party repair shop. I also returned to Kia Virginia Beach for several subsequent oil changes (Exhibit D). In April 2025, Kia Corporate issued an official safety recall for my exact vehicle (Exhibit E). Before that, in March 2025, I attempted to have the newly issued recall (25V-099) performed, but the dealer turned my vehicle away, claiming a lack of parts. Final Failure: In May 2025, the night before a rescheduled recall appointment, the car became permanently inoperable (at only 47,500 miles). Due to extreme financial hardship and health concerns, I am without my vehicle and without an option. Complaint: The Kia dealership refused to perform the safety recall remedy, verbally citing the same 2022 maintenance gaps from the previous year. The dealership violated federal recall regulations for a known defect. I was left stranded, resulting in a financial charge-off of my auto loan.