2012 Kia Soul Complaint Log

2012 Kia Soul 4dr wagon engine fail no warning lights sudden strange noise driving on highway with grandbabies. Heard a strange noise under hood then the vehicle lost acceleration and right before shutting down and dying the oil light came on and car went dead. No warning to any problem. Had the oil changed and double checked new oil was replaced. When I opened the hood and checked the oil their was no oil in vehicle it was as if it was drained out yet have no oil leaks to show it leaked out. If the oil disappears and no warning lights show no oil and car just dies on highway that is engine failure and burning up engine leading to fires and danger to drivers and passengers. 2012 Kia Soul 75,262 miles well maintained should not just be driving along engine malfunction and die and oil has disappeared. Let alone possibility needing new engine. Very scary and not safe to drive as the vehicle immediately dies on busy highway so by given no warning till last second the drivers behind me had no warning and luckily no accident was caused but possible it could be a serious problem. Apparently other people are having same engine issue reading online forum that several incidents missing oil and engine failure with little or no warning but hearing strange noise and engine shutting down and oil missing.

STEERING WHEEL JERKS AND MOVES SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 55 MPH, the hood latched inadvertently released and the hood raised up and struck the windshield, causing the windshield to crack. There was no warning light prior to the failure. The hood and upper frame were dented. There were no reported injuries. The driver slammed the hood closed and continued to drive. The contact's husband noticed that the hood latch was fractured. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact after reviewing the photos which were sent, that the latch was damaged due to the latch being pushed to the side by the owner. There was no additional assistance provided. The failure mileage was approximately 134,573.

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph a loud popping sound originated from the undercarriage on the driver's side. The contact witnessed smoke coming from the engine compartment and veered to the vehicle side of the road and turned the vehicle off. The contact was then notified by pedestrians, that a fire was originating from the engine compartment, and the contact exited the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the fire department and a report was available. Additionally, the contact stated that the Engine Oil Level and the check engine safety light had been illuminated for three days prior to the failure, and approximately three quarts of oil were added four to five days before the fire. The contact believed that the failure was associated with an unknown recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Clicking in the steering. Seems to be the flex coupler

We were driving and the car just shutdown, luckily at a stop sign. Wouldn't turn back on, and nothing when we tried to jump it. Had it towed to the nearest service center in town and were told a rod punctured the block and the engine is blown. The service center said they had seen this happen before and to contact a Kia dealership to check on a recall. I talked to the Kia dealership in Topeka, KS and they said Kia had been denying requests to replace the engine, if the recall update had not been done. We never received any information about the car having a recall or needing an update, so therefore it was never performed.

Unknown. Piston rings have blown, oil leaking into muffler.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact retrieved DTC code: P0420 (Low catalyst system efficiency) using a handheld diagnostic tool and drove the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The contact reported that he informed the dealer that DTC code: P0420 (Low catalyst system efficiency) was related to the catalytic convertor. The dealer advised that they would replace the catalytic convertor if he paid for the spark plug replacement. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,951. The contact changed out the spark plugs but was still getting check engine lights for the catalytic converter. The manufacturer denied the contact's request for a rental car. No other assistance has been provided yet.

My car stalls and the engine light frequently stays on, my car is driving sluggish every since I got the recall adjustment my car has declined in performance and the engine light started coming on more frequently up until now, it's loud at and experiencing a great lost of power ,the computer is giving the code PO420 reading as bank 1 oxygen sensor , I had intended changing out both sensors, but wasn't sure if it's a damaged engine effecting the Cadillac converter from the 2019 recall, # 19V120000 giving a false reading.

My 2012 Kia soul base, had this SC176 recall which I took it into the dealer, at that time I really didn't know exactly what the recall consisted of, until months later after researching the performance of my car, my engine lights comes on and stays on for two weeks ,then go off a day and it's back on, my car drives sluggish and it's acceleration power is bad , where it won't get up to necessary speed, and it making a loud noises when I accelerate ,which the mechanic said it's my Cadillac converter which was under recall and most likely damaged , from high exhaust gas temperatures,I do believe it's all under the last recall, my engine was damaged and should of been replaced along with the catalytic converter, I believe the KIA dealership knew of the damages but didn't replace my catalytic converter or my engine, my cars performance has gone down tremendously , month by month because of this recall that didn't work , I loved my car but sometimes I don't feel excited about cranking it up and driving it away from my house, because I'm not sure if I'm going to make it back home safe or maybe have it towed, I'm depending on Kia to do the right thing and fix this recall ,because I could be a returning customer.

Apparently the steering coupler has started to fail in my 2012 Kia Soul. Thousands of reported failures but no recall from Kia? How can this be? When the $5 part fails, the car isn't able to steer. If this happens on the highway you could die.

My steering column, when slightly turning it left and right is clicking hard. This is causing an issue while driving to and from work. As I commute one hour each way 5 days a week. If I hit a bump it jerks the wheel. If I try to drive a little past 65mph it clicks hard and fast. It is getting worse. I have not taken this in to a dealership yet, but I will be soon.

While driving down the freeway, the engine began to smoke and caught fire. My husband and kids were in the car but were fortunately able to pull over without physical injuries. Our insurance company held the car and a third party company (hired by Kia) concluded “ the origin of the fire is in the engine compartment at the exhaust manifold. The cause of the fire is internal engine failure resulting in a hole in the block allowing oil to escape and ignite on contact with heated exhaust components”. There were no warnings, check engine light, etc. Kia pointed us towards a class action lawsuit but when you search our VIN # on Kia’s website, there’s are no recalls or issues reported, which is clearly false. Our family escaped serious injury/death but it could have easily been a different story. I will not stay silent and let this happen to other families. I am going to continue to advocate for my family until Kia listens.

I noticed severe overreaction in steering column to any bumps in the road. Examples are: Jerking of Wheel, Loud Clunking Noises, Ticking Sound when Turning at Slow Speeds. My mechanic immediately said Steering Coupling needs replaced. I then researched on NHTSA website. I have one question: HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE A RECALL IS MADE?

This is a widely known issue with this vehicle. The rubber steering coupler wears out way too prematurely causing the steering wheel to have excessive play in it. This is dangerous. Please require KIA to issue a recall for this issue. Thank you.

My steering wheel clicks while I drive,hit bumps, turn it,it also locks sometimes when I turn it.this scares me to death I'm afraid I won't be able to control it it's going to snap off

It started as a little tapping for about 5 days in the engine compartment when it was running then turned to giant clunking when the gas was pressed as well

Catalytic converter is clogged, car is stalling and engine is damaged which leads me to believe that like the other recalls on this model of vehicle may be also happening to this one, Almost got into an accident due to the stalling. Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire. Kia recall number is SC176

1.Excessive Oil consumption - Yes available for inspection. 2. I'm afraid of where the oil could be going in my engine and what that might cause. 3.Went to Kia and showed proof of oil consumption, employee seemed familiar with the engine problem but I was told there is no recall on this and I should trade the car in. "just not here." he said. 4. Only after 1,500 miles my oil lamp flashed on.

Oil plug loosened and fell out resulting in engine failure.

I had my Kia in the shop for 2 months from August 22, 2022 until about the middle of October because it went into limp mode and they were waiting on Kia consumer to ok a new engine because the dealership heard a knock. I was originally told my Kia had a lifetime warranty on the motor but when it went into limp mode with 156.044 miles on it they then said 150,000 mile warranty so I had to pay out of pocket to have the part fixed. I’ve have my car back less than a month haven’t even put a 1,000 miles on it and it’s went right back into limp mode in the middle of a four lane. Almost got rear ended because the speed bogged down to below 45mph. It’s throwing the same code as it didn’t previously.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that on several occasions while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle inadvertently shut off and required several attempts to restart. The contact then stated that while accelerating, the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH. Additionally, the contact stated that within a 15-mile radius, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was awaiting a call back to schedule an appointment. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

"play" and clicking noises in steering wheel have increasingly gotten much worse and noisier, clicking and clunking on turns. I feel like any moment my steering is going to go out and I am going to put everyone in my car and around me at risk. Called dealership and they said it is a common problem which I researched and found that the coupler in steering wheel fails. Kia used the same part in presvious years same model and even years afterward and those years were recalled but not my year. Makes no sense. The next issue was I was driving on the highway at 70 and all of a sudden lost power and car would not accelerate beyond a speed of 45 mph. Black smoke came out of my tail pipe and I limped home at 20 mph. Mo engine warning lights but I could smell something was hit like melted plastic. After letting the car sit a couple hours, I started it and it sounds like there is a hole in the exhaust all of a sudden. There lots of black ish grey soot under my car as if a balloon burst with soot in it from underneath the car somewhere. I called the dealer and described the issue and all they did was look up my vin and tell me there is no recall and that I must have gotten bad gas somewhere.

Recall 19V120 was received on 4-12-19 for our 2012 Kia Soul. We had the COP ECU logic taken care of at our dealer on 5-21-19, per the recall notice instructions. In October 2022 we took the car back to the dealer when it threw a code and began losing power at certain speeds. Kia diagnosed it as needing a new catalytic converter. We contacted the Consumer Assistance Center at Kia to file a complaint as the recall notice clearly states that Kia will replace the catalytic converter and/or engine as part of this recall if applicable. We've had claim number 15122079 opened with Kia for resolution for over a month and cannot get this resolved. We keep being advised it's still under review after waiting on hold for over an hour each time. Called today (11-28-22) and advised the representative that we need an answer today and I've been on hold for over 2 hours. We are looking for Kia to replace the catalytic converter/engine (if damaged) free of charge to us as a result of this recall. It's apparent that the COP ECU logic upgrade did not prevent the catalytic converter failure and other Kia owners may be experiencing the same issue now.

Recall 19V120 received 4-12-19 was addressed by Burlington Kia in May 2019. The COP ECU logic was upgraded. The car was not running well in 2022 - hesitating, misfiring, but it did not throw a code so no one could diagnose the issue. Spark plugs were changed but that did not solve the issue. The check engine light came on in Oct 2022 and the diagnosis was that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. I called the Kia Consumer Assistance number, filed a claim with them, and waited for close to two months for a response. The basis of the claim is that they did not resolve the issue with the COP logic upgrade and the catalytic converter should be replaced, at no cost to us, per the recall notice. The claim was denied by Kia. We ended up replacing the catalytic converter at Burlington Kia, at a cost of $2201.88. We picked up the car, drove it for two days, and it began running rough again, hesitating and stalling. The check engine light came on again. We took it back to Burlington Kia who now diagnosed it as needing new spark plugs which will be another $300 expense. We are waiting for it to be repaired. Our concerns now is that when we pick it up again, it's not just going to be a spark plug issue and the catalytic converter fail, which was never corrected in the recall, will cause engine failure, or worse, an engine fire as there is a similar recall on other Kia models underway now. We are looking for reimbursement from Kia for the catalytic converter fail, per the recall notice and a guarantee that them not replacing the converter with the 2019 recall will not result in engine damage.

I was driving on the highway and I went To pass someone and then all of the sudden my car did not switch gears when accelerating (which has always been an issue) and a big cloud of white smoke came out of my exhaust. My car has always had issues switching gears but this time was bad. I checked all of my fluids, they were fine and my car wasn’t over heated. Once I started My car again it was fine and no smoke came out but it is still struggling to switch gears. I just Took my car to get my tires changed and looked at for any issues last week and they changed my tires and said my car had no issues. I know 2012 Kia Soul 1.6 engines just got recalled for similar issues. I also Looked up to see if anyone else with the same car had this issues and a lot of people have had this happen to them.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact pulled off the roadway and attempted to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated she had not noticed any warning lights or audible alarms. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the manufacturer denied the engine replacement request. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 144,481. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel made clicking sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion and steering column needed to be replaced. The contact declined the rack and pinion and steering column replacements. The vehicle was then taken to Turnersville Kia (2900 NJ-42, Sicklerville, NJ 08081) where it was diagnosed that the steering flexible coupling needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact stated that he heard a knocking sound in the engine but overlooked the sound. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Coolant) and referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V101000 (Engine). Additionally, the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine was damaged and needed to be replaced. The contact then stated that the dealer declined to perform the recall repair because the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer offered to perform the repair once the engine was replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the decision was left to the dealer to determine what repair was needed. In addition, the contact stated that the manufacturer offered an option to cover half the cost for a trade-in, but the contact declined. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

2012-2013 MY SOUL MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING (MDPS) FLEXIBLE COUPLING - I just had to have this replaced and it cost me money to get this part replaced - its a safety issue and I didnt even know this was a issue until my car started having the problem... I really this is crappy that a safety issue that is a known issue is not replaced for free.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the engine seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to his place of employment. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 99,760.

When I first Bought my Kia the dealership told me they changed the battery because the car had trouble starting. A month goes by and my car had trouble starting again. I took It back to the dealership and they told me nothing was wrong with it and they needed a check engine light to fix something. Another month went by and my car was still having problems. I called The dealer ship and I told Them I thought It was my crankshaft position sensor and they told me they would look at it again. When I took It in they said nothing was wrong. Another month went by and still problems starting. I was At a red light and all of the sudden my car turned off. Once I got It to start the check engine light was on. I went And checked what the code was and believe it or not it was the crankshaft position sensor. I am Not the only one who has had this replaced on this car.

The steering wheel ignition lock is easy bypassed by using only a small screwdriver or USB cord. This makes the car easily stolen and therefore violates the requirements of 571.114 which requires a "starting system which, whenever the key is removed from the starting system prevents.. the normal activation of the vehicles engine or motor". This affects all Kia / Hyundai vehicles with a normal keyed ignition and without a vehicle immobilizer produced from approximately 2009-2022. Since the technology required to comply with the regulation (i.e. a vehicle immobilizer) is readily available and available on other cars from this maker, the vehicle manufacturer knowingly violated this regulation. I request a NHTSA inquiry into this clear safety defect.

Any time I apply the brakes while simultaneously hitting a bump, speed bump, etc, the brakes seems to loose power and the brakes seem to go to the floor. It's frightening! I have mentioned it to the KIA Dealer but they've not been able to identify the issue.

Popping in steering when turning back and forth. Cruise and radio quit working.

The electrical system on this vehicle is severely malfunctioning. Once the engine is started it will not allow me to take it out of gear. All of the indicator lights are on and flash. It is unsafe because the Kia dealership service center doesn't know how to fix it. I don't think it's safe to drive because what if I put it in drive & it would not stop or shift to neutral.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle then stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. Additionally, the contact stated that she smelled a strong fuel odor. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 5 MPH. The contact drove to her father's residence and parked the vehicle. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine, and Engine Cooling) which she associated with the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 190,150.

THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. EVEN IN PARK WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL YOU HERE THE NOISE. WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A DEFINITE SHAKING NOISE ANDTHE WHEEL FEELS VERY LOOSE WHICH MAKES STEERING HARD TO CONTROL. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED AND ESTIMATE OF REPAIR. THE CAR HAS 43.798 ORIGINAL MILES. IT IS NOW ONLY DRIVEN TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED. WE ARE EXPECTING A FULL EXPLANATION OF FROM KIA.

On July 14, 2022 at approximately 7:41 pm in Jacksonville, FL. The car hydroplaned and flip 3 times which ended up with the vehicle have significant damage to the front end and roof of the car. The driver side airbag did not deploy during this accident. Which makes me real concern, thank goodness my son-in law was able to walk away from the crash. However he is now experiencing problems from the impact and faulty air bags not deploying. I noticed that a recall was for 2014 but did not include the 2012 model. This is something of concern and needs to be investigated. The car has since been donated to DAV, if this information is needed please let me know as well as pictures of the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and informed her that the spark plugs were flooded with oil. The independent mechanic replaced the spark plugs and the fuel cap gasket. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with a damaged catalytic converter. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

While driving in traffic, the engine began making a clicking sound and the vehicle lost power. I was barely able to coast out of the traffic lane onto the shoulder. The vehicle is available for inspection. My safety and that of other drivers was put at risk since the vehicle lost acceleration while I was driving in traffic. The problem was confirmed by the dealer. The dealer charged me for a diagnostic analysis to confirm the problem. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the loss of power.

A loud thumping noise accompanied by a large amount of smoke in exhaust along with sudden loss of engine power while traveling at highway speeds. Oil was spewing from a hole that was blown through engine block.

My mechanic found a small gear located in the power steering wheel called the steering coupler. It has worn down and broke into pieces, making the steering wheel rattle and shake while driving. This is an issue that can turn dangerous as my car moves back and forth on the road due to this problem. The part is also made of PLASTIC! This is a poor cheap design that needs to be recalled. Many other consumers have the same problem with this on their 2012 Kia Soul.

The contact's daughter owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was leaking oil. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer performed an unknown repair; however, the vehicle later lost motive power. The vehicle was then taken to Community Kia of Bloomington (2200 S Walnut St, Bloomington, IN 47401) where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine damage and connecting rod failure, which punctured the engine block. Community Kia of Bloomington informed the contact's daughter that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, after retrieving the vehicle, the failure was still present. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,378.

When the car gets to 60mph it loses power and slows down. No matter how much you press the gas it will not get above 60 and seems to struggle there.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at unknown speed, the check engine warning light appeared illuminated. Shortly after the light illuminated, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who discovered that the vehicle was low on oil; however, there was no evidence of an oil leak. Oil was added, however, the vehicle failed to restart. The mechanic then diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where they confirmed the engine failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

On April 25, 2022 the airbag light illuminated on the 2012 Kia soul. It was taken to the shop a Kia dealer on May 3, 2022. We were told by the mechanic that a contact assembly clock spring malfunctioned and if not repaired would be dangerous to drive the car because the airbag may not deploy. We inquired whether this issue was covered on the Kia airbag recall number SC229. Because this recall only covered Kia souls July 21, 2013-June 20, 2014.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, she saw smoke exiting the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and after exiting the vehicle, she saw a fire that started under the vehicle. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The contact was unaware if a fire report was filed. The contact stated no one was injured or sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to her sister's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.