2020 Kia SOUL: complaints, problems and recalls

I LEARNED THE CAR HORN ON MY 2020 KIA SOUL DID NOT WORK WHILE ON A HIGHWAY AND CLOSE TO BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. I TRIED TO USE HORN TO ALERT THE OTHER DRIVER AND IT FAILED. I CONTACTED DEALER SERVICE DEPT FOR ASSISTANCE AND HAD TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT AND THEY ADVISED ME THE HORN SYSTEM FAILED AND SENT ME HOME WITH MY CAR AND NO HORN. I COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MGR AND THEY GAVE A LOANER AND TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THEIR SERVICE AREA UNTIL THE PARTS COME IN. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE PART WILL TAKE 4 WEEKS TO COME IN, THEY CAN'T TAKE THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221396 at NHTSA ↗

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 MANUFACT…

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221793 at NHTSA ↗

PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED - APPROX 45MPH. SEVERE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DID HAVE A NEW-ENOUGH MACHINE TO ALIGN THE CAR. HOW CAN KIA OF IRVINE, NOT HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO FIX THE CARS THEY SELL? INSIDE REAR COWLING THAT GOES AROUND THE SMALL PORTAL WINDOW ON THE RIGHT WAS WARPED FROM THE FACTORY. CAR WAS NOT MOVING. GOT A REPLACEMENT PART; HOWEVER, IT WAS A POOR INSTALL JOB AND THE FRONT PART OF THE COWLING DOES NOT ALIGN WELL WITH ITS LOWER CONNECT PIECE. RIGHT FRONT TIRE IS BECOMING SEVERELY WORN BECAU…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11230612 at NHTSA ↗

THE IDLE STOP - START SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE BROKEN. WHENEVER I PULL UP TO A LIGHT AND STOP THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THEN, WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE STARTS BUT THE CALIBERS LOCK UP ON THE DISC CREATING A LOUD GROANING SOUND. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUTTER AND BARELY GO FORWARD. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR CONSISTENTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE DEALER, KIA OF IRVINE, TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT FO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 11268199 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2020. I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM IN JULY. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IDLE STOP AND GO FEATURE, AS IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THIS IT IS BEING USED. WHEN I COME TO STOPS AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. WHEN I RELEASE MY FEET OFF THE BREAKS THE CAR MAKES A DULL QUAKE LIKE NOISE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 7 DAYS ALREADY. THEY CHANGED THE BREAK BOOSTER THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS NOT. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SCHEDULE SOMEONE AT THE DEALERSHIP TO RIDE WITH ME FOR A FE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11276852 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEM WITH IDLE STOP/START SYSTEM-WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE, I HEAR A LOUD GROAN SOUND, AND THE CAR SHUTTERS BEFORE EVENTUALLY MOVING FORWARD. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SOUND THEY HEARD WAS "NORMAL", BUT IF IT CONTINUED TRY TO GET A AUDIO RECORDING OF THE SOUNDS I WAS HEARING, AND THEY WOULD LOOK IN TO IT. RIDICULOUS! I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 2 MORE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. RIGHT NOW I TURN THE FUNCTION OFF AS SOON AS I GET IN THE VE…

Owner-reported narrative. 325 miles reported. Look up ODI 11278633 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE PULLS SHARPLY AND ABRUPTLY TO THE RIGHT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45-50. WHEN I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, I MENTIONED TO THE SALESMAN THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT, OF COURSE HE DIDN'T FEEL IT, BUT WOULD HAVE IT CHECKED. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN APRIL, AND OWNING IT ABOUT 7 MONTHS, THIS PROBLEM IS WORSE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL DUE TO THE LANE KEEPING ASSIST FUNCTION. IF THIS IS THE CASE THIS IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS A VERY SHARP AND ABRUPT PULL TO THE RIG…

Owner-reported narrative. 32 miles reported. Look up ODI 11278635 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2020 KIA SOUL, I ONLY HAVE IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND THE FOG LIGHTS GOT WET AND FOGGY, I TOOK THE CAR THE DEALER AND SPOKE TO SERVICE, AND ORDER NEW PARTS, TO INSTALL IN THE CAR, IT REALLY CONCERNS ME THAT A BRAND NEW CAR GET THESE FOG LIGHTS WET, WHICH CAN CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH THIS LIGHTS FOGGY, DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO HUMIDITY.

Owner-reported narrative. 702 miles reported. Look up ODI 11279413 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2021-04-13 (April 13, 2021)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.

Consequence: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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 June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.