2019 Kia SOUL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
135 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 86 of 135 complaints (63.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 20 | 14.8% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 12.6% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 9.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 86 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Seat Belts | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
Engine: 86; Unknown Or Other: 19; Air Bags: 15; Electrical System: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Seat Belts: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 90 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 46 |
| 2026 | 17 |
2019: 11; 2020: 6; 2021: 6; 2022: 11; 2023: 17; 2024: 21; 2025: 46; 2026: 17
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 20 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11288532 · 2019-12-11 (December 11, 2019)
THE VEHICLE STALLS AND NO RESPONSE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, AFTER ABOUT 4 OR 5 SECONDS THE ENGINE RESPONDS TO GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 5 MPH WHEN TURNING OR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WHEN TURNING ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND IT HAPPENS, THEN IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT TAKEN VEHICLE IN TO DEALER YET.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11378534 · 2020-12-08 (December 8, 2020)
VEHICLE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST AND THE EXIT HIGHWAY VIA OFF RAMP. DRIVER CONTACTED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PARKSIDE KIA IN KNOXVILLE, TN. INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED FAILED IGNITION COIL ON CYLINDER #1 AT APPROXIMATELY 22,300 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11378534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11190832 · 2019-03-22 (March 22, 2019)
WHEN IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE IN NORMAL POSITION, CAR OCCASIONALLY JUMPS AND INCHES VERY SLIGHTLY FORWARD. TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING DRIVER MUST BE PRESSING VERY VERY FIRMLY ON BRAKE TO THE POINT WHERE DRIVER FEELS TENSION IN HER LEG. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN TIMES SINCE CAR PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11190832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11192614 · 2019-03-30 (March 30, 2019)
WHILE BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS GOING TO THE FLOOR BOARD: SCARY. NOT EVERY TIME--INTERMITTENTLY. WHAT IF THE BRAKES FAIL ALTOGETHER? WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND WITHIN THE FIRST 400 MILES EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. IT WAS IN THE SHOP FROM 3/16 TO 3/21 THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. THEY FINISHED IT JUST IN TIME FOR MY HUSBAND'S PLANNED VACATION. THE VACATION INCLUDED DRIVING THE KIA OVER 2000 MILES. ON THE WAY BACK, STILL OVER 700 MILES FROM HOME AND JUST PRIOR TO TRAVELLING THROUGH THE SMOKEY'S, THE BRAKES HAVE THE SAME…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11192614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11378418 · 2020-12-08 (December 8, 2020)
I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON RTE 13 WITH MY 4 CHILDREN. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55MPH AND THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IS BETWEEN 55-60 MPH...WHICH IS THE SPEED I WAS DRIVING. AS IM APPROACHING TO PROCEED PASS INTERSECTION RTE 13 & EDEN ALLEN RD THERE'S A CAR AT THE STOP SIGN WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR RTE 13 TO CLEAR BEFORE ENTERING. THE DRIVER DECIDED TO DASH OUT TO GO ACROSS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS AND TRIED AVOIDING COLLISION BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TIME. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING MY UPPER BODY TO SLAM AGAINST STEER…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11378418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11418886 · 2021-05-28 (May 28, 2021)
I was backing out of a parking spot. As I tried to brake in order to slow down and turn my car around to leave the lot, the brake seemed to be stuck against the floor and wouldn't work, the steering wheel also locked, and I couldn't shift from reverse to drive or park. Before I knew it, my car had rolled back and came to a stop on a metal pole, causing moderate damage to the back corner of the driver's side.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11418886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11470026 · 2022-06-20 (June 20, 2022)
The dash had a electrical burn smell then smoke started coming out. There were children in the car. Unsure if the dash was on fire we stopped and started removing the area the smoke was coming from. The knob that controls the fan speed for the heat/ac had burnt and melted the plug the sensor to the knob as well as inside the back of the knob. We immediately unplugged it to prevent further damage or fire. After checking the internet I saw many forums stating the fan would only blow if they fiddle with the knob between setting 3 & 4 which is how …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11470026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11526523 · 2023-06-12 (June 12, 2023)
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was not driven for 3–4 days and the battery drained and failed to retain a charge. The vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact jumpstarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the battery; however, the failure recurred. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11526523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11572277 · 2024-02-16 (February 16, 2024)
Dct transmission, actuators . Design flaw. Electrical problems.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11572277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11627644 · 2024-11-27 (November 27, 2024)
My Kia 2019 soul has been giving me several problems with the engine jerking and the light coming on and then goes off and then come on I had it diagnosed several times even when I first got it and they said it was nothing wrong but I can tell it was something wrong it just like revs up or jerk or have these issues when I drive like it didn't want to pull but I kept asking and asking is something wrong with this car when I purchase it at Clay Cooley in Irving Texas they told me no they checked it out gave me a rental now I just bought that car …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11627644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11633489 · 2025-01-01 (January 1, 2025)
The systems that failed while I was driving in the White Mountains of NH on [XXX] is my Kia Soul 2019 vehicle engine with 124,000 miles currently on my Kia Soul which I purchased brand new 02/2019 from a Kia dealership and some sort of vehicle belt that made my vehicle’s car swerve on the highway as I used my car brakes. The belt slipped forward and made the vehicle swerve each time I used my brakes while driving. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety, my husband [XXX] ’s and other drivers who drove near our car drive …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11633489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11672843 · 2025-07-11 (July 11, 2025)
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic receiving an undercoating, the independent mechanic performed an inspection of the vehicle. The contact stated that during the inspection, the independent mechanic identified that there was severe corrosion on the fuel tank straps. The contact was informed that the fuel tank straps needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was scheduled for inspecti…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11672843 at NHTSA ↗