2019 Kia Soul Ev
Common Problems
Ranked from 61 federal NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
16 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Engine Excessive Oil Consumption
25complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine consumes oil at an excessive rate, requiring frequent refills.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Engine Stalling and Loss of Power
25complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine frequently stalls and loses power, especially under acceleration, posing a driving hazard.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Engine Catastrophic Failure
8complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine fails catastrophically, often due to connecting rod bearing failure, leading to engine damage and loss of power.
- 4
Engine Control System Issues
5complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine control system malfunctions, causing the engine to stall or misfire.
- 5
Engine Knocking and Misfires
5complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine produces knocking sounds and misfires, leading to reduced performance.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
5complaintsMedium severityEngineThe low oil pressure warning light illuminates, indicating a potential engine failure.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Unusual Sounds and Smoke Emission
5complaintsMedium severityEngineUnusual sounds and smoke emission occur from the engine, indicating potential internal failures.
- 8
Engine Connecting Rod Bearing Failure
4complaintsSafety riskEngineConnecting rod bearings fail, leading to engine damage and potential catastrophic failure.
- 9
Engine Oil Burning and Catalytic Converter Damage
3complaintsHigh severityEngineOil burns and gets trapped in the catalytic converter, leading to its failure and potential fire hazard.
$900–$2,500est. catalytic converter replacement · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Brake Failure Leading to Accidents
2complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe brakes fail to function properly, leading to accidents and potential loss of control of the vehicle.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Check Engine Light Illumination Without Warning
2complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe check engine light illuminates without prior warning, indicating potential electrical system issues.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 23V218000
- 12
Engine Misfire and Spark Plug Issues
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine misfires and requires frequent replacement of spark plugs, leading to poor performance.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls intermittently at idle, especially during stop-and-go traffic, requiring firm pressure on the brake pedal to prevent forward movement.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Severe Electrical Discharge and Power Surges
2complaintsHigh severityElectricalSevere electrical discharge and repeated power surges cause damage to electrical components and pose a safety risk.
Related recall: 23V218000
- 15
Steering Wheel Spinning and Control Arm Failure
2complaintsSafety riskSteeringThe steering wheel spins uncontrollably, and the control arm may detach, leading to loss of vehicle control.
$300–$900est. control arm / ball joint replacement · 1.5–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 16
Unexplained Rear Windshield Shattering
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe rear windshield shatters spontaneously without any apparent cause, posing a safety hazard.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.