Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2020 Kia Soul has 1 recall, 337 complaints, and a 4-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.
1
Recalls
337
Complaints
★★★★★
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 8, 2026
21V259000
ENGINE
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 no...
Overall
★★★★★
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2020 Kia Soul SUV FWD
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2026 | ENGINE | The engine seems to be stalling, more than likely being caused by the piston rings being defective. ... |
| Mar 13, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | Owner of 2020 Kia soul experiencing engine failure symptoms including stalling and oil consumption v... |
| Feb 28, 2026 | ENGINE | The engine burnt through all the oil in it, many miles before an oil change was needed for it.I have... |
| Feb 28, 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the... |
| Feb 25, 2026 | ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at undis... |
| Feb 22, 2026 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the... |
| Feb 19, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | This issue is a significant safety concern. The vehicle intermittently loses propulsion, causing a s... |
| Feb 6, 2026 | ENGINE | My car suddenly cut off while I'm driving putting me and others at risk in traffic and then my mecha... |
| Jan 20, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My 2020 Kia Soul is suffering catastrophic engine failure from a known safety recall defect involvin... |
| Jan 20, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Mapping system will not update. Vehicle is dangerous. |
| Jan 15, 2026 | ENGINE | I purchased my 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line brand new in October 2019. The vehicle was later subject to a ... |
| Jan 5, 2026 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle indicated that the oil level w... |
| Jan 2, 2026 | ENGINE | The car is at the shop. My mechanic says engine needs to be replaced. It failed rapidly, in one ev... |
| Dec 17, 2025 | ENGINE | My car is burning oil and showing signs of blow-by. I suspect it is due to the faulty piston rings t... |
| Dec 17, 2025 | ENGINE | Oil is getting past the piston oil rings, causing oil to get into spark plugs/coil area of engine. ... |
| Dec 13, 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | My car has been acting up almost every winter. Bought brand new and within two years would not start... |
| Dec 2, 2025 | ENGINE | My 2020 Kia Soul has around 135,000 miles on it. When accelerating it sounded like a rod or piston w... |
| Nov 28, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Vehicle transaxle will start or feel like is slips and wont go pass 40mph on the highway and has bec... |
| Nov 25, 2025 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | The car is frying my battery. I had a Duralast Platinum that should last approx 4 years. It killed o... |
| Nov 19, 2025 | ENGINE | On my morning commute the engine light popped up and I started feeling a rumbling in my car when idl... |