2018 KIA SOUL Complaints

I have A 2018 Kia Soul I have been having problems with my oil running low and my oil and engine light coming on after I have had an oil change this has been going on since 12/21:2023 inhace taken my car to the dealearship over and over only for them to tell me I don’t have oil leak they have done oil consumption test and still said nothing was wrong with the vehicle continued to take to get oil change and same thing has kept happening finally paid for diagnostic after months of being told my car was fine to find out the oil was leaking to my catalytic converter now my catalytic converter has gone out on my 2018 Kia Soul and dealership quoted me A $5400 repair price I have 2 warranty and none cover exhaust repair Kia has given me the run around and also said my car wasn’t under recall but I am experiencing all the recall symptoms related to the 2018 Kia Soul base mode 1.6 engine

My vehicle recall is to do with electrical issue that not only may have affected the air bag, but the electrical system shorting that’s burning the bulb holders that holds all of the brake and tail lights bulbs on this vehicle. These brand new bulbs consistently burn or short out within 1 to 2 weeks. This expense has grown expeditiously over the years of ownership, and because there is nothing in the information center to warn us, we are constantly due to no fault of our own, unknowingly driving with no brake light. Having to drive regularly on interstate 4, with traffic stopping warning, this is a great safety concern. Brake light are very very essential driving in sudden stopping traffic. Kia should be liable and responsible for correcting this traffic hazard. Thank you notes.

While driving the vehicle, with no warning, the engine failed. The second cylinder lost all pressure, with the remaining 3 cylinders at the lowest passable pressure. This was on the highway, and the car began jerking and shaking, not allowing to follow flow of traffic. There is supposedly a recall for this issue, however Kia is refusing to cover the car, as it has 120,000 miles and is past the power train warranty. Kia dealership told me it was covered, while Kia is stating it is not. So now I have a 6 year old, $30,000 lawn ornament.

I have a 2018 Kia Soul Base Model with a 1.6 L engine. At the moment, the engine is making a loud knocking noise when the car is running. Also, upon checking the vvt solenoid there were metal shavings as well, which is a common symptom of engine failure. The safety of mine as well as other drivers are at risk as the engine can stop automatically while driving without any warning. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer and has not been inspected by others. There are no warning lamps or messages besides the loud knocking noise and metal shavings found.

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle stalled and was unable to be restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 111,000.

The contact’s daughter owned a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while her daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, another driver honked the horn to inform the driver of an issue with the vehicle. The contact was informed to pull over. The contact stated that the vehicle started jerking and the driver started seeing smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that her daughter’s hair was singed by the fire. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated once the driver saw smoke coming from the vehicle. The driver pulled over off the highway and exited the vehicle and saw smoke coming from under the vehicle before the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been serviced and there were no issues found with the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department. The contact was unsure whether a Fire report or a Police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed from the scene and was deemed totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where an oil consumption test was performed, and the mechanic determined that the test was positive for excessive oil consumption. Additionally, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the oil valve was replaced under an unknown Manufacturer Recall Campaign Number; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

I am the owner of a 2018 Kia Soul. On May 19, 2024 I broke down on a highway in a dangerous construction zone. Just prior to this my oil light came on, so i put some in to be safe until I got home to let engine cool. No other warning lights or messages came on. Got a little further down the road and the light came back on with the engine now making noise. I managed to find an emergency pull off and as soon as I pulled off the car died. I had it initially towed to my mechanic but when they looked at it they said had to go to dealership it was the Engine and possibly under recall. Had towed to dealership on May 21, 2024. They were backed up and unable to look at it until after the holiday. They finally got to look at it on June 3, 2024. It does meet the requirements for the Kia Engine Recall. Here is where the plot thickens, Kia, not dealership, denied the recall work because the update was never done. I just received the update notice the end of March 2024. Due to me being disabled and I had some doctor appoints to keep I just cleared my schedule to make the appointment and was planning to do that when broke down with no warning. I called Kia customer service and they said because I did not have the update done it has to fall under the Class Action Settlement and they will not cover it. Now under the Class Action Settlement, you need to pay out of pocket and then seek reimbursement. However, the work has yet to be done and I am disabled and on a fixed income. It is now June 10,2024 and the Kia dealership still is not getting a straight answer from the warranty company on whether they will accept the claim and cover it or not. Meanwhile, I am putting a friend out to help me. What is a person to do?

Update to case 11587168: Ian (Service Writer) at HW Kia told me 3 weeks ago Kia was approving engine replacement, he was ordering the engine & to provide all service records so they have them on file. I provided receipts for 2 oil changes I had done by a non-Kia dealership auto service. All other service records are accessable via KIA & CarFax as Napleton Kia St. Peters & Plaza Tire Service had done all other oil changes/ maintainence on the vehicle. The Thursday before Memorial Day I get an email from Ian that now Kia is denying the engine replacement. I am now waiting to get a contact from the RPSM (Regional Parts & Service Manager) as to why since I provided proof the vehicle was properly maintained. This is a wrongful denial in my opinion.

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving on several occasions in one day at various speeds, the battery and check engine warning light flashed on for five seconds. Additionally, the contact observed a light knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was stopped in a parking lot and turned off. The vehicle was restarted and the battery and check engine warning lights illuminated. The failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that cylinder #3 needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,750.