2014 Kia Soul Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this model year are dominated by engine problems, most often abrupt failures with knocking, smoke, stalling or loss of power, and many owners also describe rapid oil loss with no visible leak. Lighting flicker, sporadic no-start or stalling electrical symptoms, and a smaller set of transmission and steering reports round out the picture. Reports are scattered from fairly low mileage up through well past 100,000 miles, and several owners mention having recall repairs done with the symptom returning or being told their vehicle was not covered.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, seizure or thrown rod

   • 425 complaints (47%)
   • median 104,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (317 state mileage)
   • 48 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,084 (median of 35 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe a sudden loud knock, rattle or clatter, sometimes followed within seconds by loss of power, smoke, or the engine locking up, in some cases with a rod through the block. Many say it happened while driving at highway speed with no prior warning light, and some note regular oil changes before the failure. Diagnoses from shops include spun rod bearings, damaged pistons, metal in the oil pan, and full engine replacement; some owners report the dealer replaced the engine under a campaign or recall, while others say a replacement engine later stalled or knocked again. Reported from roughly 25,000 miles upward, but most often between about 90,000 and 130,000 miles.

   Recall 19V120000Recall 20V7500004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing oil change intervals and whether any engine replacement or campaign work (PI2002, SC176Y) was done. Listen for a knock at cold start and at idle, and have a mechanic check for metal in the oil.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was driving around 75mph on interstate when engine started knocking and smoking. Engine locked up but was able to coast off interstate. Upon further review by my self and a mechanic. We noticed no oil in car it was only 75miles over for a change. Worst part is that car was just about paid off.”

   NHTSA complaint #11321145, filed 2020-04, 103,558 miles

   “I was driving with my child in the car out of town, when they wheels locked up and the engine made a horrible sound and died. I had to walk to a car rental place to rent. Car. I had my car towed to a local repair shop. I got home and the next day the mechanic called and said I would need a new engine that it blew a head gasket valve. He recommended contacting Kia as there have been recalls on this car for this problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11387486, filed 2021-01, 24,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Burning or disappearing engine oil, no visible leak

   • 248 complaints (27%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (166 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,000 (median of 25 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report the oil level dropping far faster than expected, sometimes to the point of no reading on the dipstick only weeks after a change, with no puddle underneath and no obvious smoke. Some say the check oil light came on soon after an oil change, and others describe adding oil every few days. Dealers and shops are reported to vary widely: some ran consumption tests or replaced parts, others said the condition was not covered or could not find a leak, and some owners were told their engine was outside a recall. Mostly reported above about 90,000 miles, with several owners noting it began after passing 100,000 miles.

   Recall 19V1200004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the dipstick level yourself and ask the seller how often oil is added between changes. Ask whether an oil consumption test was ever performed and keep a habit of checking the level at every fuel stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Took my car in to have oil changed before it was even due and it didn't even register in the oil dipstick. They changed oil I checked it about 2 weeks later and it was half full, later the next day I checked it and said it was low. I have no oil leaks, so itnis brining oil for no reason. Taking to mechanic this week”

   NHTSA complaint #11309561, filed 2020-02, 103,000 miles

   “Catalytic converters has gone bad over 350k kias have been recalled for the same reason. My group of engines is not included in the recall, thousands of people have the same problem. Why is NHTSA not doing anything? I have no oil leaks, constantly having to put oil into the vehicle. I lost power on a 75 MPH freeway Kia is being no help, a wider recall needs to be done on this vehicle this is a bigger problem for consumers than they are covering.”

   NHTSA complaint #11350633, filed 2020-08, 140,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Catalytic converter failure and check engine light

   • 279 complaints (31%)
   • median 103,587 mi at 6.7 yrs old (170 state mileage)
   • 18 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 21 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the check engine light staying on with codes pointing to catalyst efficiency (P0420) or O2 sensor faults, often alongside heavy oil use or exhaust smoke. Some say the converter overheated or was diagnosed as needing replacement, and several note the engine control software update was applied but the light returned and the converter itself was not replaced. Others report poor running, misfires and stalling tied to the same diagnoses. Reported across a wide range, from as low as about 30,000 miles to over 140,000 miles, often following earlier oil consumption.

   Recall 19V1200002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the converter recall or software update was done and whether the converter itself was replaced, not just the software. Scan for stored or pending catalyst and O2 codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After receiving the recall notification, I took my 2014 Kia SOUL into the Kia dealership to have recall repairs completed on 07/29/2019. The catalytic overheating protection engine control unit logic was upgraded; however, the check engine light came on a few days later indicating a problem with the catalytic converter. Local repair shop informed me that Kia should have completely replaced the catalytic converter under the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11300872, filed 2020-01, 95,000 miles

   “Driving the car at 50mph on a roawday on 5-25-2020 and the car made a horrible engine noise, slowed and would not start. It was towed to Kia of streetsboro who found the engine failed at 95183 miles. We changed oil constantly at 3-4000 miles and are original owners. Never had a check engine light illuminate. Only issue ever was a warranty claim on a starter that failed. Kia found metal in the oil pan and verified our concerns, installing a remanufactured engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11331899, filed 2020-07, 95,186 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Stalling, hard starting or no-start electrical faults

   • 195 complaints (22%)
   • median 95,186 mi at 6.0 yrs old (151 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle shutting off while driving or failing to start, sometimes with dashboard warning lights for ABS, brakes or multiple systems illuminated and staying on. Some report battery or starter replacement that did not resolve it, and others say the dealer found no fault. Complaints also mention the car being hard to restart until it cools or sits for a while. Spread from about 9,000 miles up to about 207,000 miles, with many reports in the 80,000 to 130,000 range.

   Recall 20V7500002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the theft-deterrent ignition protector campaign (CS2311) was installed and check the battery, terminals and grounds. Confirm the car restarts reliably warm and cold, and scan all modules for stored codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Abs light & brake light and other dash board lights are on, and wont turn off. There is a some sort of leak that I am unable to find where it come from. I took it in for a service and to perform recall p12002aq which they did but Kia did not attend to, or address the brake light & ABS light & unidentified leak reported to them at the time I brought car in.. Instead they wanted to charge a very high fee to address the issues which are the signs of what has caused fire problems with this Kia model”

   NHTSA complaint #11415739, filed 2021-05, 9,023 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle intermittently stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11658971, filed 2025-05, 89,000 miles

Buying note. This model year shows a high volume of engine-related complaints, so a pre-purchase mechanical inspection that includes an oil consumption check and a scan for stored codes is worth doing. Ask for documentation of any recall or campaign repairs completed, and keep in mind that an owner-reported symptom after a recall repair does not by itself mean the repair was unnecessary.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.