2020 Kia Soul Powertrain & Transmission Problems

Engine shut off while making a turn. Took car to mechanic and he stated that the car did not display any error messages. The car also over heated while driving in freeway.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The automatic start warning light illuminated, and the engine seized. Additionally, the error message indicated that the automatic start feature was disabled; however, the contact stated that the automatic start feature was enabled. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. After several attempts, the vehicle started. The contact disabled the automatic start feature. The contact stated that while the vehicle was decelerating, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, a diagnostic test was not performed. The contact stated that the diagnostic test was incomplete. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,924.

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 mile from dealer. They charge for diag and the car is under warranty. I went back to drop off vehicle and they are refusing to take the vehicle in. I have contacted Kia prior to the visit and will contact them next Monday.

The engine began to sound like it was missing or sputtering. This occurred for a short period of time, and then the sound stopped. The next day the sound started again, shortly after engine seized while driving which created a very dangerous situation. After about 10 minutes the vehicle restarted, was making a sputtering noise, and was driven a short distance into a parking lot. Still, no warning lights appeared on the dashboard, vehicle was towed to a KIA dealership. At the dealership, 4 days later, We were told that the vehicle was completely out of oil. The check engine light, nor the oil icon, came on at any time. There was no evidence of an oil leak of any kind. There has been no damage to the vehicle. The vehicle has received regular oil changes either at a dealership or at a business that supplies oil change services. The engine seizing, really with no warning, created a dangerous situation.

The problems with the KIa Sol began with the "check engine" light continuously coming on in January of 2025. Took it to the dealership twice and numerous repairs were made and the vehicle continues to malfunction. It sputters and has created a dangerous condition to drive. For example, my 21 year old son was on the freeway and the car started sputtering. Thank God that the truck behind him moved lanes when he saw the car was struggling or it could have ended tragically. That was incredibly scary. I took it to the dealership again. They kept for two weeks trying to find the root of the problem, I spent $4,000 to "fix" it. When I drove it around town it did the same again, which put my brother and I in danger. The dealership finally said that the car needs a catalytic converter, which I was quoted as costing approximately $5000 dollars. I have spent a lot of money to try to fix this car and have been in two dangerous situations because the problem was not located. I have been trying in good faith to work with the dealership and KIA corporate to put a new catalytic converter by requesting a good will gesture.

Engine Knock and random engine shutoff, dealership filled apparent recalls: Changed piston rings, ECM Update, Update on ECM Logic, and unrelated update to anti-theft ignition protector. Recommends a entire engine replacement due to "internal failure" but failed to provide proof of damage or reasonable explanation of failure. Presumably told would not be covered due to exceeding warranty by 2,975 miles, regardless of prior damage. Recall notice sent VIA mail days after visiting the dealership, visited May 23rd, 2025. KIA Failed to send notice within warranty mileage for damage recalls may have caused.

My car randomly started stalling and turned off while I was in the middle of a busy intersection with both my children in the car. I had to turn on my hazards and turn off my car and turn it back on and press on the gas pedal. The car did that four times in less than 30 minutes. I am not the original owner of the vehicle, but the previous owner did have the cars camshaft repaired when I took it to the mechanic on 4/21 that was when I found out about the previous owner having the same issue as I am. I called Kia of America regarding the recall on 2020 Kia souls. They ignored my request and told me there was nothing they can do as my warranty was expired. I then proceeded to call carmax where I bought the car and was never informed that there was mechanical issues and that the car was safe. I did the research and saw there is a recall on 2020 Kia soul for improperly heat treated piston oil rings and that a damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash and that oil may leak into hot exhaust causing a fire.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle had shut off on several occasions while driving in traffic or while stopped at a stoplight. The contact stated that while the air conditioning was activated, the engine made an abnormally loud thumping sound before the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after shifting to park; however, the vehicle hesitated after restarting. The contact activated the hazard lights while the vehicle was off in traffic. The contact stated that there were no visible leaks, and no warning lights were illuminated during the failure. The message "Shift to Park and Restart Engine" was displayed and flashing. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the failure might be related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The contact sought assistance from an independent mechanic, who was unable to assist. The local dealer was called, but the contact received no answer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Unknown. Consuming oil at a high rate. Car also randomly loses acceleration power acting as if it’s in neutral.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH and attempting to pass another vehicle, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate while the RPMs were significantly high. The contact stated that she intendedly decelerated to 60 MPH; however, the failure recurred while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact pulled to the side of the road and parked the vehicle for 15 minutes. The contact resumed driving; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH. The contact pulled to the side of the road and parked the vehicle for 20 minutes; however, the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,306.

The vehicle started with what felt like the car was going gently slower and faster as if it was almost out of fuel but had a full tank. This happened a couple times and I had the dealership check it out but they were unable to recreated the problem. This progress to a more obvious gear shifting harder or not when it should. There are times where when I try to accelerate, it shutters and doesn't want to go. I just recently had an issue after stopping for gas, where it lost power all together and started to almost redline. I pulled off to the side of the road and made several attempts to get going again and it would rev up but was not giving any power to the wheels. I shut off the vehicle and let it sit for a for moments and turned it back on and tried again and was able to get moving again. It didn't act up again until a few days later when I was heading to work. It would have this gentle feeling of having power and loosing power on the highway. When I got off the highway and started to go after I stopped it shuttered hard and I took my foot off the gas and it stopped and I was able to go. This is all the same characteristics of the vehicles with this transmission that do have a recall. This recall needs to be extended!!

Unresolved Recall. The vehicle was under recall in 2019 and should not have been sold by JTs Kia in Columbia, SC. The piston oil rings were affected in the 2019 recall and also caused an issue for the 2020 Kia Souls. The car was sold under recall. Once the revised recall came out in 2021 JTs Kia did not properly resolved the issue and later the car engine overheated and caught fire. JTs Kia Never took responsibility and told the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs that the Kia Corporation will not honor any repairs. The car was no longer able to turn on and JTs KIA is still selling these dangerous cars that has had piston oil ring issues since 2010

Approximately 30 miles into a trip, with mostly highway driving, the transmission failed completely. Stepping on the gas pedal caused the engine to roar but did not move the car. Unfortunately, this happened while I was driving eastbound on the San Francisco Bay Bridge, causing a very dangerous situation. There was a slight downhill at that point, so I was able to coast, but eventually the car stopped. Once it stopped, I turned off the engine and restarted it and put the car in Drive, but this did not enable me to move the car. I tried this a few times. This put me in great danger of being hit by other cars. Fortunately, the passenger was able to call 911 and a CalTrans tow truck arrived soon and pushed my vehicle, first to the shoulder and then into a bridge parking facility between the eastbound and westbound lanes. Another fortunate thing was that the traffic was moving well below the speed limit.

The car stalled when coming to a stop and would not start for over 5 mins while on a major road. When the car finally started engine light started to flash and at a fast speed. Got the car home and noticed the oil leaking heavily. I have only had the car for 2 weeks so I took the car into the AutoCare shop for diagnoses and the code came back as code p1327. I was told the car must go to the Kia dealership immediately and be towed.

I recently purchased this 2020 Kia Soul at the end of April 2023. About 2 weeks ago while I was stopped for a red light in a busy intersection and the "restart" feature was engaged as I had the brake pedal pressed but then as the light turns green and I move my foot from brake to gas (that step is supposed to restart the engine) it did not start immediatley as it should have, Which left me in the lane of traffic vulnerable to possible accidents until it restarted. It finally started after what seemed to be forever and embarassment caused by the restart failure. This event could have had a different outcome if the car wouldn't have restarted. I am taking the car to the dealer tomorrow to have it inspected. I wasn't that there was even a problem until this happened there were no warning lights. I also recieved a "voucher" in the mail to take with me to the dealer stating that my car is a high risk potential pre existing conditions with mechanical or electrical issues. I have only had this car less than 2 months and am already having issues with it. I think I'm regretting this purchase. There is also a sluggish gear shift in the transmission it does'nt seem to be working properly also an engine knock that wasn't there previously. It's not even due for the first oil change since purchase. Kia shoulkd get it together and stop duping unsuspecting naive first time car buyers like myself.

My experience: My transmission failed while driving at full speed on the highway. My car initially started balking, with RPMs jumping between 2000 and 3000 RMPs. Then, it revved high and RPMs suddenly jumped into the red while the car was not propelling forward at any real speed. It was an extremely dangerous, scary situation in the rain, with an 18-wheeler right behind me. I am grateful to have made it to the dealer without having a crash. There were never any warning lamps and this happened out of the blue, without prior warning. Dealer report: "Metal debris on speed sensor; transmission internal failure. Techline authorized transmission replacement." Transmission has been replaced.

Transmission failed when driving 70 on a highway.

Transmission completely cut out. Had to tow to dealership and get an entire new transmission. 30k miles.

Driving vehicle on roadway and started braking to stop at a stop sign when the engine revved higher, had a shudder, and then then car abruptly stopped in traffic. Check engine light illuminated. Put in Park, checked under the hood; no engine issue that I could see. Motor ran smooth with no shudder. When transmission shifted to D, vehicle did not move; would not move in any gear. Towed to KIA of Dothan (AL). Several transmission codes given. Service Dept. advised transmission had a total failure.

While driving along the interstate, going 70 MPH, I noticed the RPM gauge started to fluctuate. Shortly after, I started having issues maintaining the speed. I pressed the gas pedal, but the vehicle wouldn’t speed up - instead started loosing speed. I started to hear grinding noises as I pressed the gas pedal. Eventually, I kept loosing speed and there was nothing I could do to make the vehicle move. I had to pull off and coast into a parking lot to be towed.