Kia has never disappointed us with its stylish yet value-for-money vehicles and the Soul is one of the best examples out there. The NHTSA has recorded a total of 148 complaints along with a single recall for the 2020 Kia Soul where a majority of the reports were regarding the powertrain of the vehicle. Apart from that, the vehicle faced a few complaints regarding other aspects such as the exterior lights and the safety systems. The 2020 Kia Soul starts at a base price of $18,485, putting it within the affordable price group. The vehicle rivals the Nissan Kicks, the Mazda CX-3, and the Chevrolet Trax.
Kia Soul user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Transmission issues: Plenty of buyers were affected by this issue. All the complaints mentioned almost similar faults with the transmission such as a sudden and complete failure after driving a few thousand miles. Prior to the failure, the transmission would cause the engine to hesitate while accelerating and the rpm would fluctuate heavily as well. In several instances, the transmission was replaced. But in some cases, the replacement transmission was either faulty or failed by giving similar issues to the earlier unit.
- Engine stall and excessive oil burning: There are several complaints lodged regarding these issues for the 2020 Kia Soul. The reports regarding the engine stall issue stated that while driving, the engines of the affected vehicles stalled. In some instances, post the engine stall check engine light, oil change light, and battery warning light came on. In the reports regarding the excessive oil burning issue, the owners complained that after covering a few thousand miles, the engine would consume abnormally high levels of engine oil. In several cases, the engine stalled or lost power due to a lack of oil.
- Engine failure: Several owners complained that their Soul’s engine failed randomly. Before the failure, there were symptoms such as vibrations while driving and losing motive power as well.
- Idle start-stop system malfunction: A few owners were affected by this fault. The reports stated that while driving, the auto start-stop system would activate and deactivate randomly and when not required. This would cause the engine to stall, causing serious safety issues as well.
Safety problems
- Airbag failure: A couple of complaints were registered regarding this issue. In one instance, while the vehicle was involved in a collision the front passenger airbag failed to deploy while the driver's airbag deployed. In another case, during a collision, the driver's airbag failed to deploy resulting in injuries.
- Faulty steering: Several complaints regarding the steering of the 2020 Kia Soul were lodged by the owners. A majority of the complainants reported that their vehicle’s steering system got stuck disabling the ignition system as well. In a few cases, the steering system failed and required a replacement.
2020 Kia Soul recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
April 13, 2021 |
21V259000 |
Improperly Heat-Treated Piston Oil Rings |
A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, the oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire. |
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began on June 11, 2021. |
Should you buy a used Kia Soul?
The Kia Soul is an intuitive-looking vehicle that attracts plenty of young buyers and its compact size makes it a great city companion too. In the recent past, the vehicle has faced several hurdles regarding its reliability aspect such as facing serious problems regarding its powertrain, catalytic converter, and safety features. Buying a used example would require exceptionally high levels of scrutiny and a trusted used car dealer since the chances of ending up with a faulty Soul are high.
