Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2020 Kia Soul has 150 NHTSA engine complaints and 1 engine-related recall.
150
Complaints
1
Recalls
2
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 10, 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...
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2026 | ENGINE | The engine seems to be stalling, more than likely being caused by the piston rings being defective. ... |
| 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 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 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 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 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 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... |
| Nov 18, 2025 | ENGINE | The check engine light came on and took in to have checked and am told I need a whole new engine. Wh... |
| Nov 17, 2025 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Car is suddenly stalling without warning during idling or slow acceleration. No check engine light i... |
| Nov 13, 2025 | ENGINE | The engine stalled. I was in a left turning lanev(which there's 2 left turning lanes and I was in th... |
| Nov 5, 2025 | ENGINE | While I was parked, I got into the vehicle inserted the key and turned the vehicle on as it was star... |
| Nov 3, 2025 | ENGINE | Component that failed: The engine (2.0L Nu MPI) suffered a sudden internal mechanical failure. A con... |
| Nov 1, 2025 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle w... |
| Oct 16, 2025 | ENGINE | I believe my car has been burning oil. The oil was empty at our last oil change only about 60,000 mi... |