2020 Kia Soul
Common Problems
Ranked from 147 federal NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
15 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 oil consumption and subsequent engine failure
62complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine consumes excessive oil, leading to engine failure and requiring frequent oil changes.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V259000
- 2
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure
32complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine frequently stalls at idle, especially in stop-start traffic, without warning lights.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V259000
- 3
Engine stalling and unexpected shutdown
29complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine frequently stalls and unexpectedly shuts down, often without warning lights or sounds.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V259000
- 4
Engine failure due to piston ring issues
27complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine fails due to defective piston rings, leading to oil consumption and engine failure.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V259000
- 5
Engine failure from recall SC209
20complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine fails after receiving the SC209 recall service, often leading to catastrophic engine failure.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V259000
- 6
Transmission Failure Causing Vehicle to Stall
20complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission malfunctions, causing the vehicle to stall during operation.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Engine Stall During Driving
15complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine stalls during driving, often accompanied by warning lights and loss of power.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V259000
- 8
Check Engine Light Illumination
12complaintsMedium severityEngineThe check engine light illuminates frequently, indicating potential engine issues.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V259000
- 9
Transmission Surging and Jerking
10complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission surges and jerks, causing erratic behavior and difficulty in accelerating.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Engine Failure Due to Lack of Oil
7complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine fails due to a lack of oil, often without warning lights, leading to engine damage.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V259000
- 11
Engine Misfire During Acceleration
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine misfires during acceleration, causing the car to lose power and struggle to move.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 21V259000
- 12
Headlight Issues
2complaintsLow severityOtherHeadlights fill up with moisture during rain, reducing visibility and causing flickering.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Horn Failure
2complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe car horn intermittently stops working, posing a safety risk in emergency situations.
- 14
Steering Pull to the Right
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe vehicle pulls sharply to the right at speeds above 45-50 mph, indicating an alignment issue.
- 15
Transmission Failure During High-Speed Driving
2complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission fails during high-speed driving, causing the vehicle to lose power and become uncontrollable.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes
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.