2020 Kia Soul Engine Problems

Your engine is stalling while driving, and a dealer has confirmed there's an internal engine problem likely involving the piston rings. This defect causes oil loss and engine damage, which could stall your vehicle unexpectedly in traffic and create a safety hazard. Your check engine light came on before the stalling began. Fixing this will likely require engine repair or replacement to address the piston ring defect.

Since the first year of ownership, I have noticed that the vehicle burns oil excessively. I reported this issue to the Kia dealership, but I was told that “it is normal to add a quart of oil every other week.” Despite this statement, I believe this is not normal and points to a defective engine design consistent with the piston ring problems known in similar models and engines.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at a very low speed, the vehicle's speed increased independently. No warning lights were illuminated.

According to Ray Skillman Southside Kia, located in Greenwood, Indiana on [XXX], the “exhaust engine lock pin” broke inside the engine causing metal to shear inside the engine causing engine failure and needing engine replacement. Prior to this diagnosis the car was stalling during running in the middle of traffic potentially causing an accident or collision with other vehicles.

Check engine light code P1327 According to what I have read on the internet, it says that this code is usually associated with improperly heated rings. This causes excessive oil use and oil leaking and possible fires if the oil leaks on the exhaust. It can also causes shaking or knocking which leads to the engine knock sensor sending a code to the computer.

My engine stalled out as I was heading up a hill after taking a right turn. There were cars coming up behind me and could have had a rear end collision. A day or two before, the check engine light came on but it was not flashing.

My wife had went to the store and came out and went to pull out and the vehicle jerked forward and died. I went to see if it was a dead battery the vehicle would not jump. I called a tow truck and realized that the engine had completely failed.

I am submitting this formal complaint regarding Kia’s failure to honor engine-related recall repairs on my 2020 Kia Soul. Despite these recalls being publicly issued by Kia and clearly applicable to my vehicle, I have encountered significant obstacles in obtaining the necessary repairs. I have made multiple attempts to have the recall issues addressed.

2020 Kia Soul with 55,000 miles on it had the check engine light come on. The car was promptly taken to the dealership where was determined that the combustion chamber had filled with oil which had soaked the spark plugs, causing the pistons to misfire and completely ruin the engine.

Engine failure while driving, only 51,000 miles on the vehicle. I was driving on the interstate and fortunately was in the right lane so I could pull over immediately and it did not cause an accident. I was driving approximately 45 miles per hour to pull onto the interstate when a loud noise and engine failure occurred.The engine light and oil light came on when I heard the engine stalling.

In the timeframe of 1 oil change had to add 3-4 qts of oil to my car and still have 1000 miles left before I have to have an oil change. It is a 2020 2L kia soul. The car has no leaks and has been properly maintained.

My husband was driving down the street in our 2020 Kia soul when under the hood of the car started to smoke profusely and a fire broke out under the hood of the car the engine was affected the car no longer turns on or turns over there was a recall for the engine overheating however we took it into a Kia location and June and they said nothing was wrong we took it in in May for recalls they said nothing was wrong they deleted all of the codes in the vehicle and one month later this happened in the car is no longer operable.

On August 15, 2023 my 2020 Kia Soul's engine over heated causing a fire under the hood. There after the car smoked and would not turn back on or turn over.

I was driving down the road when all of a sudden the engine started to sputter and shake violently. I couldn't get it to accelerate. I pulled the vehicle to safety and shut it off.

Hello, I purchased a 2020 Kia Soul S in Oct. Soon after I received a letter noting an engine recall in relation to the oil pistons. This manufacturer defect causes the engine to stall, and if left long enough, can cause oil to leak onto the engine and potentially catch fire ().

Engine shuddering violently, losing power and shutting off around 6500 miles causing loss of power and near accidents. The check engine light came on and remained solid during the duration of the incident. Oil level was found to be around 2.5 quarts low after being observed resting at a healthy level just 1000 miles prior during fluid checks by owner.

In may 2020, four months after leasing new car, car stalled while driving it (wheel locked and engine shut down). Luckily only on a residential road and not highway. Car made slight engine sounds, but no dashboard lights indicators at all at any point..

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (LIFETIME KIA 4170 US-64, MURPHY, NC 28906;(828) 835-9200) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED HOWEVER NO REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THAT WHILE THEIR SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, WHEN THEY HEARD A POP NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN LOSS ALL POWER AND A NEARBY DRIVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE DRIVER COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE THEN BEGAN TO GROW FAIRLY QUICKLY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAD SPOKEN TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. *DT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED 10 DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *BF

Your engine consumed all of its oil well before the scheduled oil change interval, leaving you with no oil in the engine. You took the car to the dealership, which submitted a claim under your extended warranty, but the claim was denied despite the problem being mechanical and supposedly covered.

Car was purchased used in November 2024. Driven minimally through 2025. July of 2025 engine began stalling at low idle or when pulling into a stop and repeatedly stalling out.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood.

Was driving home from work and the car started smoking and making nose. Full power loss but was able to safely pull over to side of the ride. Had vehicle towed to mechanic and a piston had blown a hole through the engine.

Piston oil ring failure resulting in needing a complete new engine. Known recall issues on other years same model/engine(2.0L). Car would lose oil pressure and stall while driving at any speed.

The engine totally failed while driving without any warning. Zero warning lights came on and the car would not restart. I had it towed to the dealership where they reported that I needed a new engine which is not covered under warranty or recall repair even though its been recalled several times and half the people who own 2020 KIAs seem to have almost the same exact problems.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the check engine, low oil, and battery warning lights were illuminated.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact pulled over. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that there was no engine oil in the vehicle.

I have a certified pre owned 2020 Kia SOUL. It has roughly 29,000 miles on it. I have had 2 instances where the check engine light starts blinking with no warning and I have had to have the car towed.

While driving, the engine started to knock shortly before stalling. The car was restarted and then stalled again while to safely get it into a driveway. The check engine light did not come on until after the first stall (code P0014).

Car stalls constantly. Tires plus inspected and did diagnostic early March. Kia dealership inspected and did diagnostic recently

Rod bearing pop while driving on highway. Car stalls out. Only warning was oil light and battery light appearing.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. The contact stated that there were no visible leaks.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH on the driveway, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with thermostat failure.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, there were several unknown warning lights illuminated.

Car started running rough and stalling at stops. Replace crankshaft sensor and vvt solenoids. Found out there was a recall and sent to dealership for recall.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle lunged forward and stalled.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced.

I brought my vehicle in for the open recall as my engine seized: manufacturer safety recall issued NHTSA: #21v259 recall: #sc209a sc209a ecm update (piston-ring noise) kia is refusing the repairs and has not completed the recall, which includes the following remedy: kia will inspect and if necessary replace the engine at no cost to you.

I had software installed for piston rings. Got car back with check engine light on. Brought it back and was told I need a new engine which I need to pay for.

The contact owns 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated.

The car had transmission failure at 44000 miles.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact was driving at approximately 35 MPH when the check engine warning illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and she was able to pull over and restart the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The following day, while the contact was driving, and in route to take the vehicle to the dealer, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled.

My check engine light is on. I took to mechanic and the diagnostic code that came up as p1327:00. Piston Ring Noise Sensing System".

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.

Apparently the engine according to the dealership. The engine has been stalling a slow speeds usually in stop and go traffic. No because they told me they will only drive it about a half a mile and not in the same conditions as I explained.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at slow speeds or while idling, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to coast the vehicle off the road and restart the vehicle.

While at a red light the vehicle stalled out and would not restart. The vehicle was pushed into a parking lot and the battery life and oil were assessed. It was then determined that there was no oil in the engine by checking the dip stick.

there were a series of recalls on my 2020 kia soul , one of the recall notices stated that they installed non heat treated piston rings in the engine that went into my. the recall was singed off at a dealership in north carolina without making any repairs or recomendations. the engine has not yet failed but is consuming oil with no leaks.

Car stalled while driving,

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started overheating. Additionally, the piston rod had gone through the engine block.

The dealership installed the knock sensor in my car in November 2022 due to recall. Yesterday 12/12/22 when I left work, my car knocked so loudly the whole car was shaking. The car slowed and the check engine light came on.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the vehicle started jerking. The check engine warning light illuminated.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and accelerating to 50 MPH, the vehicle began to make an abnormal sound. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while she was at a stop light, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated.

Contact has 2020 Kia Soul bought from Beaumont Texas at Classic Kia. Contact was driving to school to attend a class of speeds approximately 20-30 MPH, when the engine light kicked on and the car stalled. Contact immediately called Classic Kia in Beaumont to speak to service department.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that he became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine) and the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer did not complete the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle started decelerating independently.

The supposed remedy for SC209 on my vehicle only included a test as per the Kia certified techs on 10/27/2021. In June 2021, while the vehicle still had warranty remaining, my Kia soul stalled out at a traffic light near Towson, Maryland. The check engine light illuminated, as well as oil pressure.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the dealer could not duplicate the failure.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled while the oil change, battery, and check engine warning lights illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to dealer where it was diagnosed that the ECM computer upgrade was needed.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia SOUL. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road and restart the vehicle.

Engine still uses oil and the issues is getting worse. Now there is a knocking sound coming from the engine and KIA refuses to acknowledge it. Mechanic told me that there was not a noise that was not unusual for a KIA Soul.

The car has the auto stop engine feature. Randomly, when ever I stop the car the engine will turn off because of the auto stop feature. But when I shift the car into park, the car won’t turn back on.

The contact owned a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while she was at the stop light, the vehicle inadvertently stalled and lost power. The check engine warning light illuminated.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and lost power while she was stopped at a traffic light. The oil pressure warning light and two other unknown warning lights were illuminated.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, a fluttering sound was present coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle would drive very poorly and occasionally stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure.

Cause Unknown . I was driving my Kia Soul at 35-38 MPH on a busy city street. The engine suddenly and completely shut off.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate.

My car has been at Classic Kia in Beaumont TX with the exception of 2 days since May 5. It stalled and died repeatedly. They said they fixed it and I picked it up may 19th.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. There was an abnormal ticking sound detected.

The car stalled in traffic while I was at a stop light. I put the car in park, and the engine re-started. The car had 6,595 miles on the odometer, and the first service was due at 7,500 miles.

Tl* the contact owns a 2020 kia soul. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was not driving properly.

The engine lights came up and the 2020 kia soul lost power. Car top speed was 8 MPH. Dealer charged me $137 for repairs.

The car was purchased new from a kia dealer in june of 2020. In march of 2021, with about 12,300 miles the following happened. Was driving the car not on the freeway and the car stopped in the middle of the street.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at undisclosed speeds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. There was an abnormal, fluttery sound detected before the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was due to the crankshaft and camshaft. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no warranty coverage for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 135,864.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. Additionally, the engine was leaking oil. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine); however, the failure recurred. The contact's friend diagnosed the vehicle with a code reader and retrieved DTC: P0017, P0301, P0302, P0303, and P0304. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

I believe my car has been burning oil. The oil was empty at our last oil change only about 60,000 miles on car and we have had to keep adding oil to the car since then. I got extra concerned also when I saw alot of kia souls same year have gotten recalled for oil consumption, yet my vin number wasnt included... I have dropped a document in the comments with what the dealership said about it as well.

My car suddenly cut off while I'm driving putting me and others at risk in traffic and then my mechanic confirmed that its due to a defect in the engine with the piston. When I looked it up there is a recall for this on my type of car but not for my specific car VIN

My car is burning oil and showing signs of blow-by. I suspect it is due to the faulty piston rings that prompted your engine recall SC209. I brought the vehicle into the dealership in 2020 at 2,100 miles for the recall and they said it "passed." I recently became aware that this vehicle is burning oil at a significant rate, which is the date I reference below as "date this incident occurred." I opened a case with Kia Customer Care on 1/31/26. On 2/3/26 I began an oil consumption test at the local Kia dealership and I will return at or near the 1,000-mile mark to determine how much oil was burned and to see if the oil has turned black, signifying the blow-by. Attached is the Letter of Fact that I provided to the dealership when I took the vehicle in to initiate the oil consumption test, so they have that on record, as does Kia Customer Care. I may be in touch with you if I believe my vehicle has burned more than a quart of oil during the consumption test and they decline a next-step for addressing the defective pistons.

I purchased my 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line brand new in October 2019. The vehicle was later subject to a Kia oil piston ring recall, which was performed by an authorized Kia dealership in July 2021. Rick Case Kia - Duluth, Georgia Despite the recall being marked as completed, the engine has now suffered catastrophic failure. An authorized Kia dealership (Nalley Kia, Lithonia, GA) performed an inspection and documented the following diagnosis: “Engine has loss of compression in 3 of 4 cylinders due to piston ring failure.”  This confirms that the engine failed due to piston ring failure, the same defect addressed by the recall. The vehicle is currently inoperable and unsafe to drive due to engine failure and loss of power. Despite identifying the cause of failure, the servicing dealer and warranty administrator are refusing to process warranty coverage unless I personally pay $1,949.56 for a complete engine teardown. The cause of failure has already been documented by the dealership, making the teardown demand unnecessary and unreasonable. I do not consent to teardown at my expense. This appears to be a case of failed or ineffective recall remediation, resulting in engine failure and creating a serious safety risk due to loss of engine power. I am requesting NHTSA investigation into the effectiveness of Kia’s oil piston ring recall remedy and post-recall engine failures.

My 2020 Kia Soul has around 135,000 miles on it. When accelerating it sounded like a rod or piston was coming through the engine wall. Then began the chugging and loud knocking noises along with engine shutting off. Glad we were not on a railroad track or something like that. We could have easily been killed. No warning lights or sounds at all.

Oil is getting past the piston oil rings, causing oil to get into spark plugs/coil area of engine. Mechanic printed recall paperwork for this exact issue, but no recall found for my VIN. According to recall, this is a very dangerous issue that can stall car at any time or may be more likely to cause fires. I need this to be addressed in my car, please. Especially since it's a known issue.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle indicated that the oil level was low. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that the dipstick was dry. The contact was concerned because oil had been added to the vehicle four months earlier, in October 2025. The dealer was not able to determine the cause of the failure. The oil level was topped off. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,637.

The car is at the shop. My mechanic says engine needs to be replaced. It failed rapidly, in one evening, it started running ruff and check engine light came on. It stalled more than 5 times. The car stalled in an intersection and had to coast to a stop to restart. The next morning drove to O'reilly's to get the engine code. They identified the code as engine block. When leaving O'reilly's the car stalled in middle of the street and was almost hit by Semi tractor trailer that stopped barely in time. The mechanic reported finding metal shaving in the oil when diagnosing the problem. There was not any warning lights or issues before that evening outing. We would love to have the manufacturer address this issue. Engine failure at 52,800 miles on a 2020 KIA Soul needs to be addressed.

On August 3, 2025, I was in Erie PA - Presque Isle Park when the check engine light came on. It was a Sunday, so dealership was closed. I was over 3 1/2 hrs from home. Had no choice but to drive home and pray that I made it. On Monday, dealer said OK to drive if light is not flashing. If anything happens, have it towed here (that was comforting). First appt available was 8/26. On 8/26, I went to service area, they said several codes coming up relating to engine issues. They would have to keep the car - not safe to drive - they had no loaners - someone would drive me home. So when I was told OK to drive 3 weeks earlier - that was not true. I live on my own and what would I do if stranded somewhere. Dealer called me later and said that KIA would not honor my 10 yr/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. It was initially in husband's name but he passed away 4/29/2024. PA DMV required me to change the title to my name. The dealership also would not honor their Extended Warranty my husband had purchased for $2000. Meanwhile, the KIA was 5 yrs 8 mos old with only 28,400 miles. The codes that came up in the car were: P030400 Cylinder 4 Misfire P001400 Exhaust Cam Timing Over Advanced P000B00 Cam Position Slow Response Engine Timing Chain Assembly is Stretched - removed and replaced engine timing chain assembly Removed and replaced Exhaust Camshaft Removed and replaced Exhaust CVVT Removed and replaced Intake Camshaft Removed and replaced intake CVVT Removed and replaced the Timing Chain Tensioners I did not receive the KIA back from the dealership until DECEMBER 12, 2025 - YES they had my car from 8/26 to 12/12. Luckily, I had another car I could access since I had no loaner vehicle. After being strung along...making phone calls to the dealership weekly...contacting KIA corporate...and listening to excuse after excuse why they would not honor the powertrain warranty - I HAD IT WITH KIA. I went to a Subaru dealership and signed papers for new car on 12/17/2025.

The car is frying my battery. I had a Duralast Platinum that should last approx 4 years. It killed one at 26 months. I replaced it, free of charge per the warranty, and 6 months later the brand new one is testing low again. Also, at 127k miles a flashing check engine light came on, I took it for a pre-check at a local shop and the tech identified that there was 0 oil in the reservoir. I had him change the oil just so I could get it out of there and took it into the dealership a day later. After charging me $250 for a diagnostic the dealerships response was that the cylinder walls and piston rings were damaged causing excessive oil consumption and that I need to replace my engine. $9,000 for a new engine at 127,000 miles is ridiculous. Apparently just about every other model but mine was recalled. I had to take it in for a recall last year.

Car is suddenly stalling without warning during idling or slow acceleration. No check engine light initially appears. When the stall happens a check engine light comes on. When the car restarts there is not a check engine light. Car will sometimes mar a funny sound like a loud fan and jerking motion before acting “normal” but when idling at a light again will suddenly turn off. Car will start back up again, no warning lights, no check engine, etc. when doing a read of the computer there are no codes to determine any issues.

Component that failed: The engine (2.0L Nu MPI) suffered a sudden internal mechanical failure. A connecting rod broke and punctured through the engine block. The failure was catastrophic and occurred without any warning lights, oil pressure warnings, overheating messages, or performance symptoms beforehand. Safety risk: The vehicle stalled instantly and lost all power while I was driving, which put my safety at risk. A sudden engine failure at speed can cause loss of control, a crash, or the inability to move the vehicle off the roadway. This type of failure is a serious safety hazard. Inspection and confirmation: The failure was confirmed by Kia of Riverdale on November 13, 2025. Their mechanic documented that the engine rod blew through the block due to internal damage. The dealer stated the vehicle is no longer drivable and needs a full engine replacement. Manufacturer response: Kia declined assistance because I am the second owner and the warranty has expired, even though this type of failure is consistent with known engine defects in Kia’s 2.0L engines involving connecting rods, oil starvation, and internal bearing failures. Kia did not inspect the vehicle beyond the dealership diagnosis and did not offer goodwill repair. Warning signs before failure: None. No warning lamps, noises, or messages appeared prior to the incident. The engine failed suddenly without any advance symptoms. Best assessment of cause: Based on the dealer inspection and Kia’s documented history of engine defects, the failure appears related to the same connecting rod and internal lubrication issues affecting similar Kia engines from nearby model years. Although my VIN is not currently included in an active recall, the mechanical failure matches the defect patterns described in existing Kia engine recalls. The vehicle remains unsafe and completely inoperable.

On my morning commute the engine light popped up and I started feeling a rumbling in my car when idle and gliding after accelerating. I suspect the issue is consistent with the recall for 2.0L Nu MPI engine due to a fire risk caused by faulty piston oil rings. Some sources say this is for 2020-2023 models and others report it being 2021-2023 so I am unsure if my car falls under this recall or perhaps this recall needs to be expanded.

The check engine light came on and took in to have checked and am told I need a whole new engine. When Kia is contacted they are saying that they do not honor 100,000 mile warranty as I am not the first owner. I would like this to be honored because it is ridiculous that an engine would fail this soon. I have kept up on all oil changes and services since I have owned the vehicle

The engine stalled. I was in a left turning lanev(which there's 2 left turning lanes and I was in the far left turning lane when the vehicle stalled and I had to get out in heavy traffic and push the vehicle to the gas station to the right of me. Cars were coming so close to me and I was so scared) I've spoken to the dealership and they said twice that someone would call me but no one has yet. The engine light came on and when I pressed the gas to go, it wouldn't move. Once I got the vehicle into the gas station, a gentleman told me to let it sit for 5 minutes and turn it back on. I did, the vehicle started but, would only allow me to drive around 35 mph until I was able to park it back in my driveway. Im terrified to drive it now.

While I was parked, I got into the vehicle inserted the key and turned the vehicle on as it was started five seconds later the vehicle shut off instantly and the check engine light came on. I tried to keep starting the vehicle a couple of times. When it finally started, I had no warning lights on the dashboard so I took it a parts store who checked it out with a handheld diagnostic machine.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact previously received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where an inspection was performed, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had passed the inspection.

So the actual oil piston ring problem started with the 2020 Kia soul, I had a recall and I took it to the Kia dealership, over 3 hours away and they performed their noise test and checked it over, I complained about burning quite a bit of oil and they said they would have to do a oil consumption test, so I agreed and they changed my oil and guess who had to pay for that, yes me, so I drive back home 3 hours and I decided to check my oil in the morning, they purposely over filled the oil, was half an inch over the fill level, but needless to say nothing was done about anything just like the 2021-2023 models, now I'm seeing a bunch of transmissions dieing out with the same model and yes my transmission died out a few weeks ago and nothing is being done about it, we're does it end with these car companies, extremely disappointed in the care and service I received from Kia, hopefully the transmission issue can get taken care of soon and hope that future models don't have to go through the same thing

Vehicle: 2020 Kia Soul VIN: [XXX] Component: Engine What happened: My 2020 Kia Soul experienced sudden engine failure at around 130k miles. I was driving when the oil light turned on, and within seconds the engine seized and locked up. The check engine light came on afterward.

First issue started in February when check engine light came on for camshaft position sensor A circuit. Took to Shawnee Mission Kia and was told that I just needed an oil change. Not even a mile away and the check engine light came back on.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine); however, the dealer informed the contact that the recall repair could not be performed because the test used to check the piston rings was faulty. The vehicle was remained at the dealer.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. While the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's daughter noticed an abnormally loud knocking sound coming from the vehicle. Additionally, there was smoke coming the exhaust and the vehicle was erratically shaking.

The contact owns a 2020 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 local dealer was contacted.

2/7/25 went to Dublin CA KIA dealership requested engine diagnostic for engine light and burning oil @76,621 mileage they found code for catalyst efficiency PO42000, upper O2 sensor has failed, verified Cat Comb had no damage and wasn't clogged.

Error codes possibly 3 times diagnose. Crankshaft - camshaft 1 correlation bank b .Could be timing chain being stretched vigorously. Still have excessive oil consumption after getting piston rings replaced.

I brought the vehicle in for the open recall, which clearly states that the dealership would conduct a thorough inspection of the engine. Not only did they inspect the engine as required by the recall, but they refused to complete the recall altogether and told me that I needed to purchase a new engine.

While driving the vehicle on the highway I lost speed slowly..pull over an car made a rattling noise an stop running..Took to dealer.they have had my car going on three months..last I talk with them I had to agree with the next step which could cost me.to take apart.to see if I kept up with my oil changes...no offer of a rental car...I have almost lost my job twice..an I been there fifteen years..

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was discovered that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil.

I was driving to work this morning and my check engine light started flashing.I took it to O'reilly's and plugged it in and it said something wrong with my engine.I just had it serviced and everything was fine and tell all of the sudden.This happened?Time this happened.I had to have 4 new engines put in my Kia.This has to be a recall

Engine using oil at only 45,000 miles. It's been less than 500 miles since last oil change and today had to put 1/2 quart of oil. Had all recalls done.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was unable to pull to the shoulder of the roadway but was able to restart the vehicle.

The engine burns all oil out within 1000 miles of driving. No leaks, but oil disappers.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. Despite the failure, the contact was able to coast the vehicle back to the residence.

I had transmission changed out in May of 23 and then in November the check engine lights starts blinking and now I need a new engine, prior to needing a new engine the car would cut off it was loud and it wasn’t taking off like it should.

The engine when it heats up drives so rough. Then the car completely shuts off. This creates such a dangerous situation when on the freeway.

The engine was damage and the Kia Wesley chapel. Does not want to respond and is within the warranty and has less than 100,000 miles . The car broke do2n on the express and it turned off .

I bought this car in November of 2022 and it didn't make it its 3rd oil change. The car averaged a quart low at each oil change but that didn't seem to outrageous to me. It drove perfectly until June when the check engine light randomly came on and started flashing.

I had a noise for 2 days when I made right turns. Then my check engine light came on July 30 2023. On July 31 2023 I went to where I received the car from which was century 3 Chevrolet and they told me to go across the street to century 3 kia.

While driving down the street the car turned completely off. Had aaa Try to jump it…aaa guy said it looks like there might be a problem with the engine…it has been sitting at the car dealership for the last 3 weeks.

massive oil consumption engine knocking and needs to be replaced 3 weeks and kia can't tell me why this an issue hasn't fixed engine issue

Compete engine failure at just over 100,000 miles. Driving down a busy road and vehicle suddenly lost engine power. Had to unsafely travel at well below speed limit to local Kia dealership.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The cause of the failure was not yet determined.

The vehicle was in perfect operating condition than began knocking. Less than two miles down the road the vehicle engine seized and a piston oil ring sheared. Shortened timeline: Jan 15 - engine knock, engine seized during transport (Jan 26) Jan 15 - Call to Lithia Kia in Anchorage, spoke to Brian (Service manager) confirmed on recall.

Engine oil consumption after 1000 miles of oil change at dealership.

Recall not being fixed

There was recall before I purchased this at certified Kia dealer but they didn’t mention anything I found out about it on your website. I took this to Kia they said it’s not part of recall it’s not effected vehicle according to Kia.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vibration was felt throughout the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The contact stated that the manufacturer declined the recall repairs because the vehicle was in Puerto Rico, and was not a state, but a U.S.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine) however, the dealer advised the contact to call back in two months to set up a recall repair appointment since the dealer was already booked for repair dates. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while she was at the stop light, the light turned green, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The vehicle failed to exceed 2 MPH while driving.

2020 kia soul consumer writes in regards to safety recall related to engine oil. The consumer stated the vehicle consumed oil too quickly. The vehicle was repaired but, the failure persisted.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number:21V259000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer who stated the parts were not available.

Took the vehicle in for oil consumption issues earlier this year. Kia cooperate stated the consumption was abnormal, but within parameters and would not fix the problem. The recall came out for the oil piston issue and I took the vehicle on for repair.

Bought the car in august of 2019 when the 2020 model was first released. Around 20,000 miles started to experience a heavy stutter in the engine at low rpms. Eventually it progressed over about a week, and the car would die at a stop light/sign.

TEST DROVE THIS WITH 8K MILES, AND FOUND COOLANT IN THE ENGINE OIL, AND A EMPTY COOLANT RESERVOIR WITH 2.0 NON TURBO. PURCHASED A DIFFERENT 2020, WITH NO VISIBLE COOLANT IN OIL(NEW OIL) BUT VERY LOW COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR WITH ONLY 5K MILES. ALSO A 2020 2.0 NON TURBO. POSSIBLE LINKED TREND OF ISSUES

BOUGHT NEW IN FEBRUARY 2020, AS I WAS COMING HOME DOWN CITY STREETS, FROM WORK IN OCTOBER 2020, I NOTICE A KNOCKING PINGING RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.. WHEN I GOT HOME THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA OF PALM SPRINGS CA TO TAKE IT IN. THEY TOLD ME AN APPOINTMENT WOULD TAKE WEEKS TO TAKE IN OR DROP OFF AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT 4 DAYS TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I DECIDED TO DROP IT OFF AS THE CAR WAS STILL MOVABLE, DROPPED IT OF WITH NO APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER CALLED ME ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND COULD NOT FIND A REASON FOR THE NOISE AND WOULD KEEP CHECKING. ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK INTO THE ISSUE WE WERE TOLD THE ENGINE FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. TO DATE, AND WOULD TAKE 3 TO 4 WEEKS TO RECEIVE A NEW ENGINE AND ANOTHER 2 WEEKS FOR INSTALLATION. WE ARE NOW IN DECEMBER AND HAVE NO CAR AND HAVE HAD TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON OUR CAR LOAN. I HAVE COMPLAINED DIRECTLY TO KIA MOTORS AND EVERY TIME I HAVE CALLED THEY SEEM TO NOT BE ABLE TO SATISFY OUR COMPLAINT AND THEY KEEP PASSING THE BUCK TELLING ME THAT MY CASE WILL HAVE TO BE ESCALATED TO A HIGHER AND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE NO ONE HAS AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISION UNLESS WE GO THRU THEIR PROCESS OF ESCALATION AND EACH TIME SAY THEY WILL CALL ME AND I HAVE TO CALL THEM. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION AND REGRET HAVING BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE.

I JUST PURCHASED A 2020 KIA SOUL IN DECEMBER AND IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 5,000 MILES ON IT YET. WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. I TRIED PUSHING ON THE GAS TO SEE IF IT WOULD GO AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE FLASHING. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED RUNNING AGAIN. IT WAS SUCH A CRAZY EXPERIENCE. IT'S REALLY SAD THAT I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR AND IT CANNOT EVEN KEEP ME SAFE. KIA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THE ENGINES AND TRANSMISSION. THERE SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS. I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOW ON FREEWAYS OR ANYWHERE LONG DISTANCE. AND I'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR 3 MONTHS!

TRANSMISSION HAD ISSUES IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 7K MILES

I CAN NOT BELIEVE WHEN I READ MORE THAN 30 COMPLAINTS THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. I PURCHASED A 2020 KIA SOUL IN AUGUST OF 2019 AND BY DECEMBER OF 2019 I HAD ALMOST BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO A LAG IN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS JUST THE ECO SYSTEM AND THAT THEY ALL DO THIS. THEN TO FIND OUT LATER THAT THEY DID ANOTHER TEST ON MY VEHICLE TO FIND OUT THAT IT HAD METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AS TOO MUCH TO MY DISMAY, I FIND THAT IT TAKES OVER TWO MONTHS TO DROP A NEW TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE. THIS IS MY FIRST KIA AND NOW I HAVE NO TRUST IN THIS CAR. NOW I AM REQUESTING TO GET OUT OF THIS LOAN ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE NOW I DO NOT TRUST THIS BRAND.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER (HENDRICK KIA OF CONCORD LOCATED AT 7550 HENDRICK AUTO PLAZA NW, CONCORD, NC 28027) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. AN UNDISCLOSED REPAIR WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,900

Engine stopped do to zero oil no light came on warning me and I checked the oil a month pryer. Had the oil changed two months before.

So my car (despite being regularly maintained) had complete engine failure. At 100,300 miles. I was told the bottom half of the engine had complete shut down due to excessive oil burning.

I have called Kia multiple times about my 2020 Kia soul burning oil. The car is only 5 years old and should not be going through oil like it is. My car takes 5 quarts of oil.

When taken for oil changes, no oil is left on stick and motor will lock and cut off. I have to restart the car to get it to turn on.

Car is making a knocking sound

Pistion Rings

Vehicle shut down while driving

Engine did not restart after Auto/off. Instead, center screen restarted and engine light and battery light came on. Had to restart entire car to get engine back on.

My car is experiencing all issues related to recall SC209 yet it has not been recalled. I am now being told by Kia that a 2020 vehicle with 22k miles has a dead engine from missing 2 oil changes. Please advise.

Engine experienced total failure at 14,510 miles. Kia kept vehicle over 60 days and returned vehicle to me with further damage to body