2020 Kia Soul Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 26,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Reason for Dispute & Desired Resolution: I am filing an executive escalation regarding a catastrophic engine failure on my 2020 Kia Soul, which is actively included in the Piston Oil Ring Safety Recall (Campaign SC209). The engine suffered a total structural failure where a rod broke and punctured a hole directly through the engine oil…Owner complaint, filed 2026

On [XXX], my 2020 Kia Soul (2.0L Nu MPI, VIN [XXX], approximately 102,420 miles) suffered total engine failure: complete loss of motive power, stalled and would not restart. This is the exact defect covered by federal recall 21V259000 / Kia SC209 (piston oil rings causing engine damage and stalling). The SC209 recall remedy had already…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 9,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving on the interstate at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suffered a sudden and complete loss of forward motive power. The engine revved, but the vehicle completely ceased forward acceleration and could not maintain highway speeds. This created an immediate safety hazard, forcing me to navigate across active lanes of highway…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Vehicle transaxle will start or feel like is slips and wont go pass 40mph on the highway and has become a safety concern. This started about a week ago and continues. No lights on dash and dealer claims they cant duplicated concern. On the way to the dealer it was doing it and when we pickup the vehicle started doin again less than a…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Upon releasing the break, all warning lights appear (like when initially starting the vehicle). Then they usually all turn off again. From time to time, specific lights come on but disappear upon turning the engine off and then on again. In effect, it's hard to tell if there really is a maintenance issue or not.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Car subject to theft SEE NHSTA press release Feb. 14, 2003 The press release announced a fix had already been achieved (EMPHASIS ADDED): Hyundai and Kia HAVE developed theft deterrent software for millions of their vehicles that lack an immobilizer and will provide it FREE of charge to vehicle owners Unless your PIO totally muffed, this…Owner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

My car has been acting up almost every winter. Bought brand new and within two years would not start. Triple A had to get it started. Next winter it shook and the check engine light came on. There was a misfire. I called Kia of Queensbury and they just told me to keep the gas cap off for a bit and than drive it after putting it back on.…Owner complaint, filed 2025

There was a recall-SC209A for a faulty piston ring. This vehicle “passed” prior to my purchase. I was unaware that my vehicle was part of the recall- when the VIN is entered in the NTSB website, no active recalls show. Starting in 10/24, the vehicle began having problems accelerating, and when I brought to my local mechanic it was found…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 4,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact’s wife owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and turning the steering wheel, the steering wheel failed to return to center. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the steering rack…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 232,000 miles

The contact called on behalf of his wife who owns a 2020 Kia SOUL LX. The contact stated that they had began to notice that while driving at various speeds and turning the steering wheel the steering would remain turned and would not return to its original position, no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. After several attempts, the vehicle was restarted, and the contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. After waiting for a while the contact was able to restart the…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 30,000 miles

While pulling into driveway and coming to a stop and the engine turned off . I let my foot off the brake and the car took off like a rocket and hit a parked car in our driveway . It pushed the parked vehicle forward about 2 feet until the car stopped . This is a dirt driveway. I guess what happened is this cars start and stop feature…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 10,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s side tire was making a metal scraping sound. In addition, the contact stated there was an abnormal chemical odor entering into the cabin of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 33,000 miles

Owner of 2020 Kia soul experiencing engine failure symptoms including stalling and oil consumption vehicl is associated with engine fire risk safety recall vehicle is currently disabled at mechanic and unsafe to drive I requested kia arrange a tow to authorized dealership for recall diagnosis but kia customer service refused to cover tow…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Parts named most: Body (11).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The pearl white paint on my car has begun to bubble and peel off in several sections. One of the areas is around the top of the front windshield, and I am concerned that will affect the windshield itself, which might crack or not hold securely. There is also a large section of paint which has peeled off, down to the metal, on the right…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I’m having trouble with my pearl white paint peeling off my car. I am available for an inspection. The car has not inspected by anyone at this time. Waiting on instructions. This started last year July and just keeps getting worse every day.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 4,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

Brand new car with 6k miles and when it rains the headlights fill up with so much moisture it's blocking output from the light and causing flickering with the bulb interminably. This is causing me to pull of the road during rainfall and at night and I was informed this is normal for kia from the general manager at wesley chapel kia in…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 6,200 miles

My issue is regarding the inadequate lighting supplied by the halogen lighting in my 2020 kia soul s. The vehicle doesn't light the road far enough ahead to give the driver time to react if need be. I find myself driving with my brights on in order to see while driving at night. I contacted the kia dealer who told me that they have had…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 3,400 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

Our vehicle experienced every dash light on the board coming on intermittently. At time, we could not use the remote control and had to open the door and crank the car manually. Windshield Wipers and headlamps did not work, nor did any of the safety features on the car or indicator lights. When all illuminated, we took the vehicle to…Owner complaint, filed 2024

The car has rebooted (like a computer) three times in the last month as I am driving the car. Not in Park, not just starting the car. I am in drive and the car just reboots. Today, I received a warning about my forward collision system and all the lights on the dashboard lit up.Owner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

Immediately after purchase, the Passenger Airbag warning light illuminated. An authorized Kia dealer confirmed that the airbag system is defective and requires repair under warranty. Despite this confirmation, more than five (5) months have passed without repair, citing parts unavailability. I am operating a vehicle with a known airbag…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Car hit guardrail at highway speed. There is significant damage to the front end. The drivers and passengers airbags failed to deploy. The driver side air bag did deploy.Owner complaint, filed 2021

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Faulty design of rear right hand passenger seatbelt buckle prevents use while the left side of the split seat is folded down for cargo.Owner complaint, filed 2023

I purchased a 2020 kia soul barely 3 weeks ago. First issue is the front lights. They are constantly foggy and with humidity. Took car to the dealer and was initially told that it would clear up once high beams are turned on for 30 minutes which is unrealistic as you can't have your high beams on when there are cars in front of you. Was…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 20 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

When parked (but with the power set to "run" or the engine fully on), if you turn the steering wheel in either direction, typically to its fullest extent, there is a loud "clunk" or "clank" noise coming from the base of the steering column. After taking the car to the dealership, they only told me the steering was "broke" and they had to…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 2,300 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 200 miles