2020 KIA SOUL Power Train Problems

84 complaints about Power Train

84
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Power Train Complaints (84)

Dec 28, 2025

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.

Nov 28, 2025

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.

Nov 20, 2025

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.

Oct 16, 2025

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.

Mileage: 80,000

Jun 4, 2025

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.

Apr 23, 2025

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.

Aug 2, 2024

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

Jun 26, 2024

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.

Mileage: 44,306

Feb 26, 2024

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!!

Nov 16, 2023 Fire

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

Jul 3, 2023

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.

Jun 23, 2023

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.

Jun 22, 2023

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.

Apr 24, 2023

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.

Mar 18, 2023

Transmission failed when driving 70 on a highway.

Jan 23, 2023

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

Jan 6, 2023

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.

Dec 26, 2022

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.

Nov 28, 2022

For many months car has been randomly stalling. It has never been able to be duplicated at dealership, therefore it hasn't been addressed. In recent weeks the stalling is more often and is now accompanied by a check engine light.

Oct 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that twelve hours after the vehicle was purchased while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The traction control warning light and the check engine warning light are illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed and lubricant was placed on the wiring however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was offered an appointment scheduled for a diagnostic test and offered a trade for the vehicle, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 21,700.

Mileage: 21,700

Oct 25, 2022

My 2020 Kia Soul Turbo transmission had a complete lost of power failure on September 26, 2022 at highway speed without an warning. I was lucky enough to get to the shoulder of the road and limb into a gas station at 5 mph. And contact Kia service to have my car towed to the nearest Kia dealership because my car as only 19,067 on it. It was there later I was told the will need to be replaced and Kia would not pay for the replacement because it appeared that maybe the transmission plug was tampered with. The car did not display any warning signs or lights prior to this breakdown

Jun 2, 2022

Transmission going into neutral while driving.no help at this time from the dealership

May 11, 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated during acceleration and would not exceed 40 MPH. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would escalate it for review. The failure mileage was approximately 21,500.

Mileage: 21,500

Mar 20, 2022

Driving car on I-10 west. Near Pensacola, FL tachometer started fluctuating wildly. Car seemed to be losing power regardless of whether using accelerator or cruise control. Passed exit with a Kia dealer too late to exit, so drove to next exit 4 miles down. Light at end of exit was on hill. Stopped, but when light turned green, car would not move. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT ANY TIME. Took Kia Roadside Assistance about 2.5 hrs for tow. Towed to Team Gunther, Daphne, AL Kia dealer. Service rep thought was transmission prob as another customer had reported similar situation. Had to wait til Monday, 2/28/22 to get official word that transmission needed to be replaced. Covered by warranty but since wld take about 2 wks to get part and do work, had to find way to get back home to Jacksonville, FL. Kia Travel Interruption assistance covers max of 3 days and $100 a day, so have been reimbursed for some, but not all expenses since total expense over $300. Car ready for pick up on 3/12/22 and picked up 3/15 after getting back to the area from Jax FL. Could have been major safety probs if I had been unable to exit I-10 or if car had lost power on road with no shoulder....

Oct 29, 2021

I was driving down the interstate at 70 mph. Noticed the car felt like it was accelerating and then decelerating like I was fighting against a strong wind. Looked at the tachometer and saw it fluctuating between 2000rpm and 3000 rpm. Suddenly it redlined to 7000 rpm and I had very little power to the wheels. It would drop back to 3000 but if I tried to accelerate it would redline. I was in heavy interstate traffic. I barely made it to an exit and into a parking lot. By the time I got off the highway it would go no faster than 5mph. I tried restarting the car to find I couldn't go forward or in reverse and the engine would go to 7000rpm. I have about 24k miles on the odometer. Bought brand new from the dealership. Easily could've been rear-ended or crashed in the heavy traffic with no power to the wheels.

Jul 16, 2021

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the transmission failed causing the vehicle to stall. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the transmission needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,175.

Mileage: 4,175

Jun 1, 2021

I was driving on I-75 in heavy holiday traffic, suddenly no acceleration and car started slowing. Transmission just quit working. My car only has 20,000 miles on it. I was able to get to the side of the road without getting hit. Online there are many reports of this issue with the 2020 Kia Soul, with it occurring in vehicles with as little as 5000 miles. It has been noted by Consumer Reports. There were no warnings and no indications other than the sudden loss of power with 7000+ rpm showing on the tachometer.

May 28, 2021

ENGINE BURNT OIL AT 10,000 MILES - DEALERSHIP REPLACED MOTOR, HOWEVER NOW HAVING ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION

May 17, 2021

Purchased car on 7/16/19 with 13 miles. On 1/26/20 the car had 6,764 miles when the car started to appear as though it was in neutral while driving down the highway at 70 miles per hour. Even when giving it gas the RPM would increase and engine sounded revved up but transmission was not working. Then it would sporadically kick in enough that I put my 4 ways on, got off the interstate (81) and limped that car home because the car would not go more that 20 MPH once it came to a full stop, it couldn't even make it up the very small grade to get onto my driveway. Called KIA roadside and it was towed to the dealer, Fred Beans Mechanicsburg PA. Told it needed a new transmission, got car back a month later 2/25/20. On 4/19/21, car has 14,953 miles and the same exact thing happens, I'm on Interstate 83 and the car starts lunging, going in and out of neutral. Once at a full stop car would limp along till reaching a total MPH of 20. Car was towed to Fred Beans KIA, Mechanicsburg PA and yes the transmission again. Dealer said transmission was replaced , this time it took 2 weeks, got the car back on 5/1/21. I asked why does this keep happening and the dealership refused to provide any information, shrugged their shoulders. The attendant at the service counter just kept saying I just work here and don't know anything about the cars! Very scary situation, I or anyone driving with this problem could cause a terrible accident and even a fatal accident. The first time this happened could have been manufacture defect but the second time creates a question as to the potential harm this vehicle can cause to all drivers. No explanation and no trust in this car's dependability. I am not able to financially unload this car at this time. Worst car I have ever purchased and I have purchased many brand new cars but first and last time for KIA.

May 3, 2021

WE PURCHASED A 2020 KIA SOUL IN JANUARY 2020, WITH 11 MILES ON IT. EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS, UNTIL ONE DAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND SHE ALMOST WRECKED, THANKFULLY SHE JERKED THE WHEEL HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK IT LOOSE, BUT IN DOING SO THE SPEEDO CLUSTER GLAD SHATTERED. IT WAS FIXED BUT THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO BLAME US SAYING SOMEONE HAD TO OF PUNCHED IT. BUT WHEN LOOKING AT THE GLASS CLUSTER IT'S OBVIOUS THAT NOT EVEN A BABY'S HAND COULD FIT DOWN INTO THE CLUSTER TO HIT THE GLASS. THEN AT 20K MILES ALMOST EXACTLY, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF IT, TOOK ABOUT 2 WEEKS FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT STARTED REVVING UP AND WOULD JERK LIKE IT WAS BEING DOWN SHIFTED WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. SINCE THEN WE'VE PUT ABOUT 9K MILES ON THE NEW TRANSMISSION AND IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE WAS 2 RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, ONE WAS FOR AN ELECTRONIC UPDATE, THE OTHER WAS FOR THE ACTUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RECALLS POSTED, THIS IS THE WORST NEW CAR I'VE EVER OWNED

Mileage: 20,000

Apr 23, 2021

ON MARCH 2ND. WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2020 KIA SOUL S. WE WERE DRIVING ON I95NORTH. THE RPM'S KEPT PULSING, WE TOOK THE CAR OFF OF CRUISE AND IT SEEMED BETTER FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER THE FEW MINUTES THE PULSING RETURNED, GIVING IT THE GAS THE RPM'S WENT UP BUT OUR SPEED WAS SLOWING. WE GOT IN THE INSIDE LANE PLANNING ON GETTING OFF THE NEXT EXIT. THE ENGINE STARTED RACING WITH NO CHANGE IN OUR SPEED. WE GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT STATE ROAD 527 IN SOUTH CAROLINA. WE HAD TO PRACTICALLY FLOOR IT TO GET OFF THE ROAD. WE PULL TO THE SIDE AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CAR AT THIS POINT HAD 8006 MILES ON IT. WE COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AT ALL AT THIS POINT. IT TOOK A FEW HOURS, BUT THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSET DEALER, IN FLORENCE SC. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM, THE DEALER CALLED TO LET US KNOW THAT KIA HAD APPROVED SUBSTITUTE TRANSPORTATION. THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE DEALER PICKED US UP AND DROVE US TO GET A VEHICLE. WE UNLOADED MOST OF OUR BELONGINGS FROM OUR CAR TO THE RENTAL AND CONTINUED OUR DELAYED JOURNEY TO MASSACHUSETTS. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER TWICE, AND LEFT MESSAGES. AFTER THE SECOND CALL, I DID GET A CALL BACK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WAS ON BACKORDER AND SHOULD BE DELIVERED MAY 11TH. AFTER READING MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THIS SITE, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE AND IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM NOW SEEING THAT THE 2020 SOUL HAS AN ENGINE RECALL. OBVIOUSLY THESE VEHICLES HAVE PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 8,006

Apr 14, 2021

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW THEY HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN THEY ARE SAYING . THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE RPMS WENT THROUGH THE ROOF AND THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED TO DIE .

Mileage: 11,500

Apr 13, 2021

WHEN THE AUTOMATIC START STOP START IS ON WHEN I STOP AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AS IT SHOULD, WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE IT MAKES A WHINING NOISE FOR A FEW SECONDS. ALSO HAPPENS WHEN GOING UP MY DRIVEWAY. HAVE READ THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S 2020 KIA SOUL'S AND NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW OR HAVE A FIX.

Mileage: 26,500

Apr 6, 2021

BOUGHT BRAND NEW. AT 32K MILES (4MONTHS AFTER 30KTUNE UP) ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO EARNHARDT KIA IN PHX. WHO INITIALLY STATED THERE WAS 'SOMETHING BROKEN IN THE TRANSMISSION' AFTER A FEW HOURS THEY THEN STATED THE CAR HAD 'INTERNALLY OVERHEATED AND THERE WAS COMBUSTIBLE GASES IN THE RADIATOR. THE THERMOSTAT NEVER INDICATED OVERHEATING. COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS BONE DRY (AFTER FILLING IT THE DAY BEFORE). AFTER 31 DAYS AT KIA A NEW HEAD GASKET WAS PUT ON.. THOUGH I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS GETTING A NEW ENGINE. I ASKED THE DEALER ON EACH CALL... WHAT ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION WHEREAS I WAS TOLD KOA WOULD MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WOULD BE FIXED BEFORE RETURNED. CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 2/21. ON 4/1 AFTER DRIVING 380(+/-) MILES FROM PHX TO SAN DIEGO TO SEE MY MARINE DEPLOY, THE CAR BEGAN TO SURGE, RPMS SKYROCKETED AND CAR BARELY MADE IT UP HILL. SURGING CONTINUED, UNTIL IT BEGAN TO SLIP AND I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A SHOPPING CENTER. CAR TOWED TO ESCONDIDO KIA WHO KINDLY GAVE ME A LOANER. NOW BACK IN AZ, I AM TOLD THAT WHEN IT'S FIXED, TRANSPORT TO ME IS UNLIKELY AND IF APPROVED KIA DOES NOT GUARANTEE AGAINST ANY DAMAGE DURING TRANSPORT. ITS A NEW CAR! DUE TO MEDICAL NEEDS HERE, DRIVING 6.5 HOURS THERE AND THEN BACK JUST ISN'T FEASIBLE. KIA DOESNT CARE. I WILL BE OUT OF THIS CAR ASAP AND YOU CAN BET MY NEXT WILL NOT BE A KILLER KIA!

Mileage: 34,000

Mar 31, 2021

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO 'SURGE,' THE RPM VARYING ERRATICALLY BETWEEN 2000-3000 RPM. WE GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT'WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED BUT THE CAR REMAINED STATIONARY. FINALLY, WITH THE RPM AT ABOUT 4000, WE WERE ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE INTO A PARKING LOT. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WE GOT A TOW TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPT ANALYZED THE PROBLEM, AND SAID WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE NEW 'SOFT' DATE TO RECEIVE THE TRANSMISSION IS 13 APR, ALMOST SIX WEEKS AFTER THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2 MAR. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 2,700

Mar 29, 2021

I OWN A 2020 KIA SOUL, IT HAS ~2300 MILES AND I HAD IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, I HAD IT FLOORED AND GOT UP TO MAYBE 50 MPH, LUCKILY IT WAS RUSH HOUR AND TRAFFIC WAS CRAWLING OTHERWISE I WOULD'VE BEEN RUN OVER. L WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. I RAN ERROR CODES AND THERE WERE TWO RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. KIA'S HAD THE CAR SINCE MARCH 3RD, THEY PROVIDED A RENTAL WHICH IS NICE. I'M TOLD THERE ARE 4 - 5 OTHER KIA'S THERE THAT NEED NEW TRANSMISSIONS. I WISH I COULD JUST GET OUT OF THE CAR NOW.

Mileage: 2,300

Mar 10, 2021

PURCHASED A 2020 KIA SOUL JAN 2020. 2/15/21 I CAME TO A STOPLIGHT HIT THE GAS AND REALIZE THERE'S NO POWER. HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. GO TO DEALERSHIP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON THE WHOLE TIME. THEY TELL ME THE WHOLE OF KIA'S COMPUTER SYSTEMS ARE DOWN AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY CAN LOOK AT MY CAR. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOANER AND I HAD TO RENT A CAR. TWO DAYS LATER THEY TELL ME THE MECHANIC SCANNED THE CAR AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NO LONGER ON. I'M OUT $125 FOR THE RENTAL CAR. I PICK UP THE CAR. 3/3/21 I'M ABOUT TO DRIVE ONTO THE FREEWAY. I COME TO A STOP BEFORE ENTERING THE SLIP ROAD AND THE ENGINE TURNS OFF. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AND AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE GUY TELLS ME HE CAN'T LOOK AT IT TILL TOMORROW. I SAID I'M NOT GETTING ANOTHER RENTAL AND THEN HAVE YOU TELL ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT TOMORROW, SO HE TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO HOOKED IT UP.TO A DEVICE. HE CAME BACK AND SAID IT HAD SHOWN THAT IT NEEDS A NEW PCM. I ASKED WHAT THAT WAS AND HE SAID IT'S BASICALLY THE BRAIN OF THE COMPUTER. (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) THE CAR'S BEEN IN THE SHOP SIX DAYS NOW, THE DEALERSHIP IS PAYING FOR THE RENTAL. THE ODOMETER READS 8900 MILES.

Mileage: 8,700

Mar 9, 2021

WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE RPMS ON THE VEHICLE STARTED RANDOMLY FLUCTUATING. THE ISSUE GOT WORSE AND THEY BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 7 AND 8 ALONG WITH ENGINE REVVING. THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OFF OF AN EXIT AND WAS ABLE TO GRADUALLY COME TO A STOP TO CALL A DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF IT WAS SAFE TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT AS LONG AS THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT WASN'T FLASHING, I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. I GOT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE ISSUE WAS EVEN WORSE, ENGINE REVVING, RPMS FLUCTUATING CHAOTICALLY. I THEN COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. I PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND WAS THANKFULLY ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE BEFORE STOPPING. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO WHERE I LIVE, 95 MILES AWAY. IT HAS BEEN AT THE GOSSETT KIA DEALERSHIP IN MEMPHIS, TN SINCE SATURDAY AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. I AM AFRAID IT WILL BE COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A MAJOR TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL. VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 5,000 MILES.

Mileage: 5,010

Mar 2, 2021

2 TRANSMISSION FAILS IN LESS THAN 12 MONTHS. WHEN RUNNING, IT EFFECTS THE ABILITY TO MANEUVER IN DAILY DRIVING ROUTINE.

Mileage: 12,500

Mar 1, 2021

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CREATING A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THE ENGINE REVVING UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS THE TIRES WERE SPINNING ON BLACK ICE OR A FROZEN FROST ON THE PAVEMENT. NOPE, IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN ON VERY DRY SECTIONS OF THE HIGHWAY. MAYBE IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SURGE. NOPE, IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN AFTER TURNING IT OFF. THE CAR BEGAN SLOWING ON A LONG UPHILL GRADE EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING "A PROBLEM HAS BEEN DETECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT" WAS DISPLAYED. I PULLED INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE INTO ANY GEAR - REVERSE, DRIVE, OR MANUAL SHIFT MODE GEARS 1, 2, 3, AND 4 - NOTHING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. SAME RESULTS. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DOING THIS, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED INTO AN UNDER-POWERED GEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE IN THE EMERGENCY LANE A MILE TO THE NEXT EXIT. IT HAD A LIGHTED INTERSECTION AT THE END OF IT AND I HAD TO COME TO A STOP. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE AGAIN. I ENDED UP BLOCKING THE RAMP AS I SAT THERE FOR AN HOUR TRYING TO GET THE CAR MOBILE AGAIN. I WAS AFRAID THAT I WAS GOING TO GET REAR-ENDED. EVENTUALLY IT RE-ENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A SAFE PARKING AREA OUT OF TRAFFIC AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. KIA IS GOING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BUT I WILL NOT TRUST THE RELIABILITY OF IT ONCE I HAVE THE VEHICLE BACK. I'M VERY WORRIED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOW VERY UNSAFE. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT FAILED AGAIN LATE AT NIGHT IN AN UNPOPULATED AREA WITH NO CELL SERVICE DURING A BLIZZARD AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING? THIS IS CREATING A POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND A RECALL SHOULD BE MANDATED.

Mileage: 34,760

Feb 25, 2021

AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR 9 MONTHS AND PUTTING 17,000 MILES ON IT MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70MPH AND THE CAR BEGAN JERKING LIKE IT COULDN'T SWITCH GEARS. IT THEN BEGAN TO REV HIGH BUT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT EVENTUALLY GOT SO SLOW I HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND SIT ON THE SHOULDER FOR A FEW MINUTES WITH THE CAR OFF AND THEN TRIED TO RECRANK MY CAR IN WHICH IT STARTED BUT CONTINUED TO JERK/ROCK WHEN DRIVING. I GOT CLOSER TO HOME AND WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THE CAR WAS STILL ON BUT WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS IT REFUSED TO GO MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I TURNED IT OFF THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT DROVE. THE NEXT MORNING I TRIED TO DRIVE MY CAR TO WORK AND THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO JERK AGAIN AND EVENTUALLY THE HIGHEST SPEED IT WOULD GO TO WAS 50 IT CONTINUED TO DECLINE IN SPEED UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY JUST STALLED AND WOULDN'T MOVE. I TRIED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ON MY WAY THERE IT BROKE DOWN I THEN HAD TO GET A TOW TRUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND TOW IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THAT I HAD IN FACT RECEIVED A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. THIS OCCURRED ON JANUARY 15TH, 2021 IT IS NOW FEBRUARY 25, 2021 AND I DON'T HAVE MY CAR AND THEY HAVE NO ETA AS TO WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WILL BE HERE AND I CAN HAVE MY CAR BACK. I ASKED IF THE NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD WORK PROPERLY AND WAS TOLD "EVEN SOME OF THE NEW TRANSMISSIONS WILL BE DEFECTIVE SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW". I JUST WANT MY CAR I BOUGHT A CAR BRAND NEW BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS RELIABLE IT WAS NOT AND THERE'S NO RECALL NOTICE AND A TRANSMISSION STALLING ON THE INTERSTATE IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Mileage: 17,848

Feb 16, 2021

THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE IN THIS 2020 KIA SOUL, ONCE AT 4K MILES AND AGAIN WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 12K MILES. TWICE WITHIN 18 MONTHS. EACH TIME DRIVING ON I-10 EXPRESSWAY NEAR PENSACOLA, FLORIDA WHEN ENGINE STARTS DECELERATING AND CAN NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL THE POINT WHERE THE ENGINE STARTS WHINING AND THE CAR IS BASICALLY COASTING AT 10-15 MPH.

Mileage: 12,400

Feb 5, 2021

JUST PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS OF 2020 WAS THE FIRST TIME MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN A YEAR OUT FROM PURCHASE AND HAD LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT 'THERE'S A BAD ONE NOW AND THEN'. THEY SAID THEY HAD FIXED IT. TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE RPM STARTED FLUCTUATING AND SURGING EVEN WHEN I WASN'T PUSHING ON THE GAS. THE CAR THEN WOULD NOT SPEED UP WHEN I GAVE IT GAS TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC FLOW. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND CONTINUED TO SLOW. IT SLOWED SO MUCH THAT I WAS BARELY MOVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I COULD NOT CHANGE LANES BECAUSE I WAS IN THE FAR LANE AND IF I ATTEMPTED TO GET OVER I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE CARS PASSING. THIS WAS DURING RUSH HOUR I'M A MAJOR CITY. LUCKILY THERE WAS AN EXIT TO THE LEFT I WAS ABLE TO STEER OFF TO GET OFF HIGHWAY. I ATTEMPTED TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED ON THE EXIT RAMP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS STUCK AND COULDN'T MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. I HAD TO CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO CLOSED THE RAMP LANE UNTIL I COULD BE TOWED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT IN MY 'NEW' CAR THAT I BOUGHT IN ORDER TO HAVE A MORE RELIABLE VEHICLE. I'M SERIOUSLY REGRETTING RID OF MY OLD VEHICLE. I SHOULD HAVE JUST FIXED IT. THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST PURCHASE OF MY LIFE. I HAVE BEEN SO AFRAID BOTH TIMES THIS CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN, BOTH TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED.

Jan 26, 2021

LIFTER TAPPING AND BURNING OIL. TOOK IT TO KIA OF SAVANNAH AROUND 2000 MILES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT, EVEN OIL WAS FULL WHICH I KNOW IS INCORRECT HAD CAR CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC BEFORE I TOOK IT THERE.

Mileage: 150

Jan 25, 2021

MY 2020 SOUL WAS NOT EVEN 1 YEAR OLD WITH APPROX. 12,000 MILES WHEN I WAS TAKING A TRIP FROM STL MY HOME TO COLORADO. 5 HOURS OUT IN LAWRENCE KANSAS AT 12:15 AM MY SOUL BEGAN SHAKING, WITH RPM'S ACTING WEIRD WHEN I WOULD PRESS GAS PEDDLES RPM'S WOULD REV UP TO THE VERY TOP AND CAR WOULD NOT GO. I WAS APPROACHING A TOLL BOOTH AND WHEN I GOT MY TICKET AND TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I PULLED ONTO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND WAS ON HOLD FOR ABOUT 1 HOURS WHEN I NOTICED VIA THE KIA APP THAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE COULD BE REACHED BY THE NAVIGATION UNIT. I HIT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND A WOMEN ANSWERED WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. SHE SEEMED EXTREMELY CONFUSED HOW TO DO HER JOB. SHE ASKED ME LOCATION, MY NAME, AND OTHER INFO SEVERAL TIMES. THE CALL WAS ABOUT 30 MINUTES WHEN SHE FINALLY SAID ASSISTANCE WOULD BE ON THE WAY. I RECEIVED 3 TEXT MESSAGES OVER THE NEXT 1 STATING SORRY FOR INCONVENIENCE WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO GET A SERVICE PROVIDER. WHILE WAITING I OBVIOUSLY GOOGLED AND SAW MAY STORIES ABOUT 2020 KIA SOUL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT WAS NOW ABOUT 6:00AM AND A STATE TROOPER CAME AND SAID I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS COMING AND I WAS EXHAUSTED, STARVING, AND NEEDED TO DESPERATELY USE THE RESTROOM. HE CALLED AND GOT ME A TOW TRUCK. I PAID $179.00 AND TOWED MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP IN LAWRENCE KANSAS. I THEN CHECKED INTO HOTEL WHICH WAS $125.00 AND RESTED WHILE I WAITED FOR THEM TO CALL. THAT AFTERNOON AROUND NOON THEY CALLED AND SAID MY BASICALLY NEW CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 12,230

Jan 24, 2021

I WAS ON A TWO-HOUR DRIVE WHEN THE CAR STARTED MAKING ODD NOISES AND THE AUTOMATIC GEARS DID NOT SEEM TO BE SYNCING/SHIFTING CORRECTLY WITH MY ACCELERATION. I HAD TO PULL OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THAT'S WHEN IT STARTED TO GET REALLY BAD. I WAS OVER AN HOUR AWAY FROM HOME DRIVING UP TO A COURTHOUSE TO FILE A PETITION THAT WAS ON A DEADLINE. SO I CALLED THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS SAFE TO KEEP DRIVING AND WHETHER THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. THE MAN WITH WHOM I SPOKE SAID HE KNEW WHAT WAS PROBABLY WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT "UNCOMMON" BUT HE COULD NOT TELL ME ANY DETAILS BECAUSE OF THE "WARRANTY." HOWEVER, HE SAID I WAS SAFE TO KEEP DRIVING. I WAS NOT, IN FACT, SAFE TO KEEP DRIVING. THE TRANSMISSION DIED WHEN I WAS GOING 75MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN BURLINGTON, NC, WAITING FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT IS NOW ON BACKORDER. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW CAR, AND IT LITERALLY ALMOST KILLED ME. THE MAN AT THE SERVICE BARELY BATTED AN EYE. YOU WOULD THINK I WAS GETTING MY OIL CHANGED. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MATTER-OF-FACT HE WAS WHEN HE DESCRIBED HOW "COMMON" THIS PROBLEM IS IN THE NEW KIAS. THIS SHOULD NOT EVER BE A "COMMON PROBLEM" FOR ANY BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INFURIATING AND COMPLETELY DISTURBING. I DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY PAPERWORK ON THIS. THE DEALERSHIP HAD ME PICKED UP BY ENTERPRISE AND GAVE ME LITERALLY NOTHING. I WILL BE CALLING THEM TOMORROW MORNING WHEN THEY OPEN TO REQUEST THIS DOCUMENTATION.

Mileage: 12,000

Jan 20, 2021

1-ON THREE DIFFERENT TIMES I PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY TO GO AND MY CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE NO POWER HOW MUCH YOU PUSH THE GAS PETAL THEM EVENTUALLY IT TAKES OFF AND GOES. CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND THEY TOLD ME TO JUST DRIVE MY CAR IN SPORT MODE. I DON'T LIKE HAVING TO DRIVE MY CAR IN SPORT MODE THE RPM'S RUN HIGH AND IT USES MORE GAS. 2- MY FORWARD COLLISION ASSIST SYSTEM CAUSES MY DASH LIGHTS (COLLISION LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND AGAIN WENT BACK TO KIA AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME UNTIL THEY CAN DUPLICATE IT THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO CALL KIA ABOUT. 3- MY GAS HAND LIES AT TIMES I CAN FILL MY CAR UP AND THE HAND GOES TO HALF A TANK AND TAKES HRS TO A DAY OR TWO FOR THE HAND TO MOVE TO FULL. 4-JUST RECENTLY IN A WALMART PARKING LOT MY CAR JUST SHUT OF AS IF I TURNED THE KEY OFF AGAIN MY DEALER SAID IF THE CAN'T DUPLICATE IT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE I WONDER IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER 5 MONTHS WITH THE LAST EPISODE ON JAN.6,2021

Mileage: 16,000

Jan 15, 2021

AT 10K MILES THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO WARNING OR DUMMY LIGHTS RIGHT AFTER I SLOWED AND MADE A TURN. OIL CHANGE WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK. TOOK VEHICLE IN AND WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL. AT 13,400 MILES VEHICLE STARTED MAKING LOUD TICKING NOISE AND WAS NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATING. EACH TIME I HAD SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE RPM WOULD GO UP, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT GO AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. THEY STARTED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND SAID THE ACCELERATION ISSUE WAS DUE TO LACK OF OIL. 5 DAYS AND 200 MILES LATER I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING THE LOUD NOISE AGAIN FROM THE ENGINE AND ALSO NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY. THEY TEST DROVE IT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND TO COME BACK IN 300 MORE MILES. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE 300 MORE MILES DUE TO THE ACCELERATION ISSUES. I CALLED KIA CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS BEST. I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING IT BECAUSE IT HAS ALREADY ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ONCE.

Mileage: 13,400

Jan 6, 2021

I STARTED EXPERIENCING SLIPPING UNDER THE 9K MILEAGE MARK WHILE ACCELERATING. RECENTLY AROUND 25K, WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS AN UPDATE REQUIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDED TO BE LOADED TO THE COMPUTER. ABOUT 300 MILES AFTER THAT UPDATE, WHILE IN PARK, MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, THEN THE OIL LIGHT AND THE BATTERY LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY IN SEVERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND AFTER SEVERAL DIFFERENT PREVIOUS DRIVING DISTANCES. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE. I BROUGHT IT BACK A FEW TIMES AND I RECREATED THE ISSUE AND THEY DOCUMENTED IT, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET A TECH TO COME OUT AND READ THE CODES. I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY WERE STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY ISSUES. I ASKED IF THEY HAD CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT. I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM KIA SAYING THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IF IT WAS TURNING OFF THE ENGINE THAT IT MAY NEED REPLACING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND LET THEM KNOW THAT I WANTED THEM TO VERIFY THERE WEREN'T SHAVINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE DIAGNOSTICS RUN. THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK IN AND THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR TECHS RUN MORE TESTS. I AM STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT THE ISSUE.

Mileage: 8,500

Dec 24, 2020

TODAY WHILE DRIVING HOME. MY 2020 KIA SOUL HIT 23000 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER AS I WAS ON HIGHWAY ON WAY HOME STILL. MY VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING LIKE BAD GAS. THEN STARTED JERKING AND RPMS KEPT REVVING UP EVEN THOU I WASNT PUSHING ON GAS ANY HARDER.ABOUT 27MILES FROM HOME RPMS SHOT UP AND CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN. QUICKLY PULLED OVER. SO I PUT IN PARK THE SHIFTED TO DRIVE AGAIN TRIED TO GIVE LIL GAS BUT CAR DIDNT MOVE HAD TO GET TOWED HOME.

Mileage: 23,020

Dec 18, 2020

I STOPPED AT STOP SIGN AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AND MADE A DING SOUND BUT RADIO NEVER DISCONNECTED. NOT THE USUAL SHUT OFF THIS WAS DIFFERENT. THEN IT STARTED BUT IT MADE AN UNUSUAL DING SOUND. PLUS, SOUNDS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS DRAGGING IT WAS A RECALL AND I TOOK THE CAR BACK FOR MAINTENANCE AND NOW IT'S DOING SAME THING AGAIN PLUS THIS TIME IT WAS WHINING FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

Mileage: 9,000

Nov 19, 2020

WHILE EXITING FREEWAY, TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). AFTER STOPPING AT LIGHT, CAR FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR. PULLED OFF ROAD STARTED AND STOPPED CAR (HOPING TO RESET TRANSMISSION) TRIED TO ENGAGE SPORT MODE TO MANUALLY SHIFT AND TRANSMISSION INDICATED 5TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN, SHIFTED OUT OF SPORT MODE. TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO ENGAGE INTO LOWER GEAR, BUT SHIFTED BACK INTO 5TH GEAR WHILE CLIMBING HILL. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN, PUSHED ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR, TRANSMISSION REVVED AND MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP OF HILL. WENT THROUGH 2 STOP LIGHTS AND 1 STOP SIGN (WHILE WATCHING FOR CROSS TRAFFIC). THIS WAS AT 11:00PM WITH NO TRAFFIC PRESENT. PULLED CAR INTO CARPORT PARKING SPACE. AGAIN TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AND WAS ABLE TO PUT INTO REVERSE AND THEN DRIVE WITH TRANSMISSION ENGAGING CORRECTLY. VERY FRIGHTENING! ROUTE FROM FREEWAY TO HOME IS NOT A VERY SAFE AREA AT NIGHT TO JUST STOP AND WAIT FOR ASSISTANCE.

Mileage: 4,446

Nov 4, 2020 Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING, THE VEHICLE SHIFTER WAS SWITCHED FROM REVERSE TO THE PARK POSITION. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS EXITING, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY DROVE FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE CARPORT POLL. DURING THE INCIDENT THE CONTACT WAS INJURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REENTER THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED BRUISING TO THE BODY AND A RIGHT ARM INJURY WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE WAS REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE LOCAL DEALER KIA OF SANDUSKY LOCATION 7515 MILAN RD, SANDUSKY, OH 44870 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Mileage: 3,000

Oct 26, 2020

WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD IN DOSWELL, VA, AFTER MAKING A TURN, THE RPM METER SHOT UP TO 4,000 BUT I WAS ONLY GOING 15 MPH. AS I TRIED ACCELERATING THE RPM METER KEPT SHOOTING UP EVEN HIGHER THAN NECESSARY AND THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE LIKE I WAS DRIVING 85 MPH. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND TAKEN TO KIA WHERE THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THIS CAR TWO MONTHS AGO AND IT ONLY HAS 1,900 MILES. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK NOW AND KIA HAS BEEN VERY UNHELPFUL IN THIS PROCESS AND HAVE BEEN VERY POOR WITH COMMUNICATION ABOUT MY VEHICLE. WHEN I CALLED THIS MORNING, THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE CURRENTLY HAS 20 MORE KIA SOULS IN THE SHOP THAT NEED NEW TRANSMISSIONS AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHEN I'LL HAVE MY CAR BACK. I DON'T PLAN ON BUYING FROM KIA IN THE FUTURE.

Mileage: 1,900

Oct 23, 2020

2020 KIA SOUL PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2020. VEHICLE STARTED TO DEVELOP A MILD "TICKING" NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE AND WORSE AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2020. ON 10/11/2020, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CONSIDERABLE GRINDING/CLICKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT WAS STILL DRIVABLE. WE WERE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT THAT AFTERNOON WHEN THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO LURCH FORWARD, BUT WAS STOPPED BY THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED. THE VEHICLE MADE A SCREECHING NOISE VERY BRIEFLY, AND DIED. VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, AND HAD TO BE PUSHED TO A PARKING LOT. ON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE TURNED OVER, MADE SOME VERY CONSIDERABLE GRINDING NOISES AND SHUT OFF AGAIN. ALL DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. KIA ROADSIDE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM AT ALL. I HAVE CALLED 2-3 TIMES, AND WAS ONLY TOLD TODAY BY A SECRETARY THAT IT APPEARED THE VEHICLE NEEDS A WHOLE NEW MOTOR. I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN DIRECTLY COMMUNICATED WITH BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR. HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS, THE END RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT.

Mileage: 13,222

Oct 20, 2020

THIS 2020 KIA SOUL HAS A CVT TRANSMISSION. IT HAS NOW FAILED TWICE WITH ONLY 1400 OR SO MILES ON THE CAR. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY, APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES FROM OUR HOME. THE SECOND OCCURRED ON STREETS BY MY HOUSE, DIRECTLY BY A SCHOOL IN A SCHOOL ZONE. THE CAR FAILED TO DRIVE MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND KIA WILL NOT EVEN SPEAK WITH ME. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ASSIST EITHER. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 14 DAYS, WITH ONLY A LOANER FOR 7, AND NOW IT IS DEAD A SHORT TIME LATER. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW.

Mileage: 1,400

May 26, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND DECELERATED TO 3 MPH AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT AND VEHICLE OCCUPANT STRUCK THE DASHBOARD HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FUCCILLO KIA OF GREECE (4321 W RIDGE RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14626, (585) 720-8000) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 2,300

May 15, 2020

TRAVELING ON GARDEN STATE PKWY ABOUT 70 MPH. COULD FEEL THE CAR "BUCKING". THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED AND REVVED TO HIGHEST LEVEL.WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. STARTED BUT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. KIA HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. HAVE BEEN TOLD FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT NECESSARY. *TR

Mileage: 4,200

Mar 19, 2020

I WENT TO START THE VEHICLE UP ON MARCH 2, 2020. I TURNED THE IGNITION, CAR TURNED ON AND STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. I TURNED IT OFF, CHECK OIL LEVEL (IT'S A NEW VEHICLE AND JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE) OIL LEVEL WAS GOOD. I TURNED IT ON AGAIN, CAR WENT TO 1.5 RPMS, THEN DIED (0RPMS). I TOOK THE KEY OUT, WAITED A WHILE, AND STARTED IT BACK UP AGAIN. TURNED ON JUST FINE, BUT THIS TIME WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. HAD KIA ROAD SIDE SERVICE TOW IT THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO HANLEES IN DAVIS. I HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN MUCH INFORMATION AS TO WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF THEM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, I GOT A CALL SAYING THAT KIA HAS AUTHORIZED TO DROP A WHOLE NEW ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE AND MY CAR WOULD BE READY IN A WEEK. I CALLED TODAY, MARCH 19, AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE ENGINE, SO I'M STILL WITHOUT A VEHICLE. I AM MOVING ACROSS THE US IN A WEEK FROM NOW, AND HAVE TO CANCEL THE MOVE BECAUSE MY CAR IS STILL NOT READY AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT SHIP MY VEHICLE ONCE IT IS FINISHED. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A MONTH, AND I'M STUCK IN THIS LEASE FOR ANOTHER 3.5 YEARS.

Mileage: 11,152

Mar 8, 2020

TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 75MPH, RPMS STARTED JUMPING UP & DOWN BY 500 AND A 10 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE SHIFTED DOWN TO SECOND GEAR. THIS THRUST US FORWARD DUE TO DRASTIC LOSS OF SPEED AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW SINCE THE TACHOMETER WAS RED-LINED AT MAX RPMS ON THE DIAL. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY CUT OUT OF MY LANE TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AFTER IT SHIFTED DOWN TO THAT. I HAD TO DRIVE TO THE NEXT EXIT AT 15 MPH AND WENT TO A GAS STATION. THERE I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT AND IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF FIRST GEAR. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA AND THEY CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO INDICATE IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD 4900 MILES ON IT AND I HAD BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. IF THE ROADS WERE SLICK OR A VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND US OR WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH DUE TO IT DROPPING GEAR AND CAUSING US TO RAPIDLY LOSE SPEED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE.

Mileage: 4,900

Mar 4, 2020

ON FEBRUARY 27TH 2020 I WAS HEADING TO GAINESVILLE FOR SURGERY. WOW I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE RPM GAUGE STARTED FLIPPING. WHEN I TOOK IT OFF CRUISE CONTROL THE ENGINE GEAR DOWN AND I COULD NOT GET COMPRESSION. MY ROADSIDE SERVICE TOW THE VEHICLE TO LAKE CITY KIA WHERE IT IS SETTING RIGHT NOW AWAITING A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. I HAVE TWO MORE TRIPS TO GAINESVILLE. I'M A VETERAN AND I'M SERVICE. OF THE GAINESVILLE VA HOSPITAL. I'M IN A RENTAL RIGHT NOW UNTIL THE CAR IS FIXED. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 18155 MI ON IT. WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Mileage: 18,155

Mar 3, 2020

RPMS KEPT INCREASING TO THE RED LINE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND NOT HAVE ACCELERATION AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, OR WHEN IT DID IT WOULD FEEL LIKE THE VEHICLE WOULD DRAG AS IF SOMETHING VERY HEAVY WAS TETHERED TO IT. AT THE SAME TIME THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE AND DECREASE WILDLY WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED "TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT HIGHER RPMS. INTERNAL ISSUE IN THE TRANSMISSION. PER TECH CASE #...' WAS AUTHORIZED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY"

Mileage: 3,800

Mar 3, 2020

OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK, I NOTICED THE RPM FLUTTERING ON MY DASHBOARD. AT FIRST I THOUGHT NOTHING OF THIS BECAUSE IT DID NOT OCCUR ALL OF THE TIME. HOWEVER, IT BECAME INCREASINGLY MORE PERSISTENT. SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS, AND I DID NOT THINK THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A DETRIMENTAL ISSUE. I WAS ON MY WAY TO AN APPOINTMENT AN HOUR AWAY FROM WHERE I LIVE, AND I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE ANY LONGER. IN FACT, THE MPH DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY UNTIL I WAS GOING 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH IS A HAZARD IN ITSELF. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A WIDE SHOULDER TO MY RIGHT, WHERE I PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY FOR SAFETY. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE A LITTLE BIT ON THE SHOULDER, BUT IT CONTINUED TO DECLINE UNTIL IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY STRESSFUL SITUATION DUE TO BEING ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY WHERE I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN HIT BY A DISTRACTED DRIVER AND BEEN KILLED. I CALLED AAA, AND WAITED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 30 MINUTES TO BE PICKED UP SO I COULD HAVE MY CARE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.

Mileage: 12,000

Feb 26, 2020

BOUGHT THE CAR 2-11 WITH 1200 MILES ON IT DROVE IT FOR 8 DAYS THEN ON 2-19 IT STARTED JUMPING AND JERKING AND MAKING SOME REALLY BAD SOUNDS. ON 2-21 IT WAS SO BAD THAT I HAD IT TOWED TO BATTLEGROUND KIA BECAUSE I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE IT, THEY HAD IT FOR 3 DAYS AND THEN ON 2-24 CALLED ME TO COME GET THE CAR BECAUSE THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAD THE CAR 1 DAY IT STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN AND THEN ON 2-26 IT WAS SO BAD THAT I DROVE IT BACK TO BATTLEGROUND KIA AND MADE A MECHANIC DRIVE THE CAR WITH ME IN IT, BECAUSE I WAS SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE SO WE MADE IT ALL OF 1 BLOCK THEN HE TURNED AROUND AND HEADED BACK TO THE SHOP. WE CAME UP ON A 4 WAY STOP AND HE GAVE IT GAS TO GO AND THE RPM'S WENT TO 6000 AND THE CAR DID NOT GO AT ALL, THEN HE GAVE IT MORE GAS AND IT STARTED JUMPING AND JERKING AND KNOCKING SO BAD THAT WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP HE IMMEDIATELY SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAS SERIOUS ISSUES AND PUT IN THE PAPER WORK TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN. WE BOTH DECIDED THAT DRIVING THE CAR THE WAY IT WAS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND NOT SAFE AT ALL. THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE IVT TRANSMISSION THAT KIA NEEDS TO RECALL, JUST HOPE THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS NOT THE SAME. AT THIS POINT I'M IN A RENTAL CAR PROVIDED BY KIA WHILE I AWAIT MY FATE.

Mileage: 1,666

Feb 25, 2020

I NOTICED MY CAR WAS ACCELERATING DIFFERENTLY AND SEEMED TO NOT BE SHIFTING RIGHT. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY ADVISED ME TO PUT FUEL CLEANER IN IT. I DID SO AS ADVISED. A FEW DAYS LATER I WAS MAKING A TURN ACROSS A HIGHWAY AND MY CAR REVVED UP REALLY HIGH AND THEN DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP AND WE GOT IT OUT OF THE ROAD BUT IT WAS NOT RUNNING RIGHT. THE NEXT DAY WE GOT IT IN THE SHOP AND THEY TOLD US IT NEEDED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 17,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN NEARLY A MONTH IN THE SHOP.

Mileage: 16,000

Feb 20, 2020

CAR IS ON SECOND COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 10,500 MILES. 1ST FAILURE AT 10,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN BUSY INTERSECTION COMING OFF MAJOR INTERSTATE. KIA DEALER INFORMED ME IT NEEDED COMPLETE NEW TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAD UNIT FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. I HAD IT BACK 5 DAYS FROM DEALER REPAIR AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP ON MY AGAIN IN MIDDLE OF ROAD PULLING OUT FROM STOP SIGN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING TOWARDS ME. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER 45 MIN TO HR OF DRIVING WHEN TRANSMISSION GETS HOT. TODAY I AM MEETING WITH DEALER TO BUY UNIT BACK. I FEEL THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND THESE TRANSMISSION FAILURES ARE A HUGE SAFETY CONCEN THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE THERE IS SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE.

Mileage: 10,533

Feb 15, 2020

ON DECEMBER 30 MY KIA SOUL BEGAN ACTING AS IT WAS CUTTING OUT AND IT WAS USING A LOT OF FUEL THE RPM WOULD SHOOT UP A TAD BIT FINALLY THE RPM RED LINED AND THE CAR STOPPED MOVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MPH. WE SAFELY EXITED AND MADE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHICH LUCKILY WAS ONLY ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY. HAD 17607 MILES ON THE CAR THEY KEPT MY CAR FROM 12/30/2019 TO 1/31/2020 WHILE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD MY CAR BACK FOR 2 WEEKS AND TODAY 2/15/2020 THE CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER AND HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING SPEED I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN I WENT TO PULL AWAY THE CAR DID NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. I SHIFTED INTO PARK WHEN IT MADE A LOUD BANG AS YOU WOULD HERE IF YOU PARKED ON A INCLINE AND PUT A CAR INTO GEAR ONLY 3 TIMES AS LOUD. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A PARKING LOT AND CALL FOR A TOW AT 5.45 AM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SENT A TOW COMPANY 2 HOURS AWAY FROM ME AND ITS NOW 3:18 PM AND MY CAR HAS YET TO BE TOWED TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALER . CAR NOW HAS 17801 MILES ON IT. WOUNDER HOW LONG THEY WILL HAVE IT THIS TIME. WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE ABOUT LEMON LAW. THE CAR AT THIS POINT HAS PROVED IT IS UNRELIABLE VERY DISAPPOINTING AS I REALLY LOVE THIS CAR BUT NEED DEPENDABILITY.. MANUFACTURER DATE WAS 3/19

Mileage: 17,801

Feb 13, 2020

ON 12 FEB 2020, I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 75S IN GA AND LOST ALL ACCELERATION TO THE VEHICLE WHILE SURROUNDED BY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOORBOARD AND HAD 0 RPMS. PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR IT RAN FINE UNTIL I GOT OFF AT MY EXIT AND STARTED AT A RED LIGHT AGAIN NO ACCELERATION 0 RPMS HELD MY FOOT ON THE FLOORBOARD AND IT FINALLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SONS KIA DEALERSHIP IN MCDONOUGH. DROPPED THE CAR OFF HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RAN AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA HQ TO REPORT THE ISSUE. GUESS I'LL DRIVE IT TILL IT FAILS COMPLETELY.

Mileage: 8,697

Feb 5, 2020

THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE DAY I TOOK MY KIA SOUL IN FOR THE 2ND TIME FOR SURGING AND JERKING. I FOUND OUT THE 3RD OF FEBRUARY THIS PAST MONDAY IT HAS A BAD TRANSMISSION AND NEEDS REPLACED. THEY ORIGINALLY WANTED TO SEND ME HOME YET AGAIN AFTER THIS PROBLEM UNTIL MY DAD STEPPED IN AND TOLD THEM TO FIGURE THE PROBLEM OUT AND JUST DOING SOME "ADJUSTMENT " TO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ISN'T GOI NG TO FIX THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES NOW AND I'VE HAD A LOANER IN TOTAL OF 10 DAYS SPLIT BETWEEN ALL THE ISSUES WITH MY "NEW" CAR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I LOVED IT AND NOW I CANT STAND IT THINKING I MIGHT GET STRANDED WITH MY KIDS SOMEWHERE IN THE COLD. I WANT MY MONEY BACK OR A NEW CAR. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I'M POSTING A PROBLEM ON HERE THE FIRST TIME WAS BECAUSE OF THE RADIO GOING IN AND OUT OF A BLACK SCREEN AND FREEZING. I TOOK IT IN FOR THAT AND ALL THEY DID WAS AGAIN HIT A RESET BUTTON AND SHOWED ME HOW TO RESET IT MYSELF SO I DONT HAVE TO BEING IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SAME ISSUE. SORRY BUT IT'S NOT MY JOB TO FIX THIS ISSUE I WASNT HAPPY WITH THAT STATEMENT EITHER. AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE IN TWICE FOR THAT AND NOT TO MENTION ALL THE LIES I'VE CAUGHT THE DEALERSHIP SAYING TO ME. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH AND KNOW PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY I DONT TAKE BEING LIED TO FOR EASILY WHEN I'M SPENDING OVER 25 GRAND ON SOMETHING. I HAVE VIDEOS TO PROVE WHAT WAS GOING ON SINCE THEY WERE SAYING IT WOULDN'T REPEAT THE PROBLEM BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO ATTACH THEM HERE.

Mileage: 5,000

Jan 28, 2020

I BOUGHT A 2020 KIA SOUL S AUG 30 2020 DECEMBER 23, 2020 I FOUND OUT MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING 5600 MILES ON CAR. DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE 2 TO 3 MONTHS AS THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER, CHECKED INTO LEMON LAWS, CALLED KIA OF AMERICA A WEEK LATER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WAS GOING TO TAKE TO GET FIXED, THE NEXT WEEK I GOT A CALL FROM KIA OF AMERICA SAYING MY CAR WOULD BE DONE THE NEXT DAY AS IT WAS. THE ODD THING IS KIA OF A OFFERED ME A GOODWILL OFFER FOR MY INCONVENIENCE. I AM DEBATING WHETHER TO ACCEPT IT OR NOT AS THERE ARE LEGAL PAPERS ATTACHED TO IT. I AM JUST HOPING THE NEW TRANSMISSION HOLDS UP WITH NO OTHER ISSUES. OTHERWISE I REALLY LIKE THE CAR.

Mileage: 5,600

Jan 26, 2020

ON DECEMBER 23RD THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WHEN IT DROPPED TO 1ST GEAR AND RPM'S INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE OFF RAMP TO A PARKING LOT BUT THE CAR NEVER CAME OUT OF 1ST GEAR. WE TRIED TO USE THE MANUAL OPTION BUT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE. WE LET THE CAR SIT AND TRIED AGAIN AND IT SEEMED TO BE BETTER BUT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES OF DRIVING IT DROPPED INTO FIRST GEAR AGAIN AND NEVER CAME BACK OUT. WE CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY KIA DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 35DAYS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS ON BACKORDER AND THE DEALER HAS ONLY 1 CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT CAN WORK ON THE 2020 SOUL. WE LEASED THIS CAR IN OCTOBER AND IT HAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON IT AND WE HAVE HAD A RENTAL FOR OVER A MONTH. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE SAME TRANSMISSION THAT COULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND CONCERN FOR US.

Mileage: 2,000

Jan 24, 2020

VEHICLE RPM BEGAN FLUCTUATING WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL IN RAINY WEATHER. SWITCHED TO MANUAL (SPORT MODE) CONTROL AND THE PROBLEM LESSENED. VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AND WAS SHIFTING RANDOMLY BETWEEN GEARS AUTOMATICALLY, EVENTUALLY REDLINING WHILE MAINTAINING 74MPH. A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AND NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION ON INTERSTATE 10 AS MY SPEED FELL DRAMATICALLY. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE NEAREST EXIT BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR. WE WERE STRANDED IN A THUNDERSTORM FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO HELP. AAA SAVED THE DAY, GOT THE VEHICLE BACK, AND THEN THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ISSUE A RENTAL CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, THE RISK OF INJURY IS HIGH AND DO YOUR BEST TO GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE. DEALERSHIP HAS SINCE ISSUED A RENTAL CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT A TRANSMISSION WOULD BE RE-MANUFACTURED. FOR MY VEHICLE. I AM NOT AFRAID TO DRIVE A BRAND NEW VEHICLE ANYWHERE AWAY FROM HOME.

Mileage: 7,800

Jan 24, 2020

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 9,200 MILES. CAR LOCKED UP COMING OFF INTERSTATE EXIT RAMP AND WOULD NOT TAKE GEAR AT ALL. VERY STRONG SMELL OF BURNING TRANSMISSION. UNIT NEEDED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION. HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR OVER 6 WEEKS.

Mileage: 9,200

Jan 24, 2020

2020 SOUL EX WITH ABOUT 8100 MILES. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND SUDDENLY TACH REDLINED AND LOST ACCELERATION/POWER. LIMPED CAR INTO DEALER A COUPLE MILES AWAY, WHERE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DIAGNOSTIC WARNING APPEARED ON DISPLAY. DEALER CONFIRMED LATER THAT DAY THAT TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ETA ON REPLACEMENT.

Mileage: 8,100

Jan 23, 2020

I PURCHASED A NEW 2020 KIA SOUL LX WITH 16 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. 2 MONTHS LATER, MY CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER SUDDENLY. THE ENGINE INCREASED RPM AS I'VE LOST POWER. THE CAR WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 25 MPH. I DROVE IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY CAR STAYED IN THE DEALERSHIP SHOP FOR TWO MONTHS AWAITING A TRANSMISSION THAT WAS ON BACK ORDER.

Mileage: 2,230

Jan 13, 2020

CAR HAD ISSUES ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING ON THE AUTO ENGINE SHUTOFF . 24 NO LIGHTS CAME ON. 12 HOURS LATER DRIVING ON INTERSTATE RPMS REDLINED WHILE GOING ABOUT 60-65 . I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE . AT THE STOP LIGHT DIRECTLY OFF THE INTERSTATE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, SMELT HEAVILY OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. ROADSIDE PICKED ME UP. DEALERSHIP SET ME UP IN A RENTAL AND TOLD ME SEVERAL HAD THIS ISSUE AND A MISSIONS ARE ON BACK ORDER.

Jan 8, 2020

WE DRIVE A 2020 KIA SOUL GT-LINE 2.0 WITH 2681 MILES AND BUILD DATE 06/19. I WAS TRAVELING AT 75MPH WHEN THE RPM'S STARTED SURGING ABOUT 300 BACK AND FORTH IN THE STANDARD AUTO MODE. IT WENT AWAY IN MANUAL SHIFT MODE. MY GAS MILEAGE WAS SHOWING 21MPG. I PROCEEDED FOR ABOUT 30 MORE MILES IN MANUAL (7TH) THEN THE RPM'S REDLINED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I LET IT SIT 5 MINUTES AND MADE IT 2 MILES ON THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE TO THE NEXT EXIT AT ABOUT 30 TO 40MPH IN AUTO MODE. THAT IS ALL IT WOULD DO. IT WAS A SLIGHT CLIMB AFTER THE RAMP. THE SOUL STRUGGLED. I TRIED TO SHIFT INTO MANUAL AND IT SAYS IT IS IN 5TH, AND IT WILL NOT SHIFT. I FIGURED I WOULD ADD THIS WHILE CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE TOW. THIS SOUL WAS NEVER DRIVEN HARD. IT WAS ABOUT 95% HIGHWAY MILES. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF FAILURE BEFORE THIS. THIS HAPPENED QUICKLY.THE SOUL WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS 3 HOURS FROM HOME, AND HAD TO RENT A CAR TO DRIVE HOME. THE OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS IS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WE'RE WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT, WHICH COULD TAKE 6-8 WEEKS.

Mileage: 2,681

Jan 4, 2020

WHILE DRIVING ON A SOUTHEAST TEXAS 2 LANE ROAD WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70MPH, I WAS FOLLOWING A TRUCK GOING LESS THAN 50MPH. WHEN VISIBILITY WAS CLEAR, I PULLED OUT TO PASS THE TRUCK. AT ABOUT 3/4 THROTTLE, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO PROVIDE MORE POWER BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN THE ONCOMING LANE OF THE ROADWAY ABOUT HALFWAY AROUND THE 18 WHEELER. AT THIS POINT, I STARTED TO SEE ONCOMING VEHICLES, AT WHICH TIME, I APPLIED WOT. THE ENGINE LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND FLASHED 3 TIMES AND THE CAR FELT TO BE SPUTTERING AND IN SOME TYPE OF LIMP MODE. I MADE A SPLIT SECOND DECISION TO BRAKE HARD AND SQUEEZE BACK IN BEHIND THE 18 WHEELER TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE SITUATION WAS MADE WORSE BY A VEHICLE BEHIND ME SIMULTANEOUSLY TRYING TO PASS THE 18 WHEELER. STOPPING AT THE NEXT GAS STATION I NOTICE SPUTTERING EVEN IN PARK AT EVEN VERY LIGHT THROTTLE. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE HOPING THAT THE ECU NEEDED TO RESET. IT DID RESET AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. HAD I NOT MADE THE DECISION I DID WHEN PASSING AND HAD THE PERSON BEHIND ME NOT ALSO APPLIED THE BRAKES QUICKLY, I WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN IN SOME TYPE OF COLLISION WHETHER IT BE HEAD ON OR HAVING TO SWERVE OFF THE ROADWAY COMPLETELY TO AVOID ONCOMING VEHICLES.

Mileage: 3,500

Dec 30, 2019

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW WITH APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES ON IT. ON DAY 34, WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE RURAL ROAD THE RPMS BEGAN GOING UP AND DOWN WILDLY, A STRONG SMELL (WHICH I NOW KNOW IS TRANSMISSION) AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. BEING IN AN S CURVE WITH FLASHERS ON, I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A CAR COMING AROUND THE CURVE. TWO MORE VEHICLES WERE BEHIND THE FIRST ONE AND STOPPED, HELPING ME PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. AS THE NIGHT THIS OCCURRED WAS CHRISTMAS EVE, IT TOOK 3 HOURS TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED FROM. I AM TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATES KIA CORPORATE WILL SEND A NEW TRANSMISSION AND HAVING THAT PERFORMED IS MY ONLY OPTION.

Mileage: 300

Dec 12, 2019

WHILE DRIVING MY 2020 KIA SOUL GT, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND NOT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHERE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER.

Mileage: 19,000

Dec 7, 2019

WITH JUST UNDER 1800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY SHIFTED INTO 5TH GEAR AND THE RPMS JUMPED UP. AS WE SLOWED AND PULLED OVER THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT DOWN SHIFT AND REMAINED IN 5TH GEAR AS WE CAME TO A STOP. PUT IT INTO PARK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THEN STARTED THE CAR, PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND IT WAS STILL IN 5TH GEAR. TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED 5 MINUTES, WHEN WE TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE CODE DESCRIPTION WAS "SPEED INPUT SENSOR DOES NOT MATCH THE SPEED OUTPUT SENSOR". TOOK IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAVE HAD IT EVER SINCE. THEY ARE AWAITING AN ARRIVAL OF A TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE IT.

Mileage: 1,800

Nov 29, 2019

WHEN USING THE AUTO START AND STOP FEATURE WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE CRANKS BACK I HEAR A STRANGE NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CAT SQUALLING WHEN THE ENGINE STARTS. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN YOUR NOT USING AUTO START. PLUS WHEN YOU SHIFT INTO PARK WHILE STOPED IT DOESN'T MAKE THIS NOISE. MY WIFE ALSO HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH HER CAR SAME YEAR MODLE AND MAKE. NO CLUE I FEAR THIS MAYBE RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. AS WHEN PLACING IN PARK IT DOESN'T MAKE THE NOISE WHEN YOU RELEASE THE BRAKES. MY WIFE'S CAR HAS LESS THAN 12000 MILES AND MINE HAS 6000 MILES AND IT'S STARTING TO MAKE THE NOISE. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN HARD BRAKING OCCURS . SOUND IS COMMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR.

Mileage: 6,000

Nov 18, 2019

AT 11,200 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY MALFUNCTIONED IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. RPM WOULD SHIFT WILDLY FROM IDLE TO REDLINE, AND THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERED HARD AND LOST ALL POWER. I HAD TO MERGE FROM THE INSIDE LANE OF A 65MPH HIGHWAY TO THE OUTSIDE, NEARLY GETTING INTO A COLLISION IN THE PROCESS. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED IMMOBILE AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON A NEW TRANSMISSION TO BE INSTALLED. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THIS VEHICLE SHARES A POWER TRAIN WITH THE 2019 KIA FORTE. THAT MODEL HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT FAILED TRANSMISSIONS, AND I SUSPECT MY MODEL WILL AS WELL.

Mileage: 11,200

Oct 29, 2019

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2020. I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM IN JULY. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IDLE STOP AND GO FEATURE, AS IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THIS IT IS BEING USED. WHEN I COME TO STOPS AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. WHEN I RELEASE MY FEET OFF THE BREAKS THE CAR MAKES A DULL QUAKE LIKE NOISE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 7 DAYS ALREADY. THEY CHANGED THE BREAK BOOSTER THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS NOT. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SCHEDULE SOMEONE AT THE DEALERSHIP TO RIDE WITH ME FOR A FEW MINUTES TO LISTEN TO THE NOISE. ABOUT A WEEK AND HALF AGO I GOT AN REPLY TO AN EMAIL TELLING ME TO HOLD OFF ON THAT, BECAUSE ANOTHER CAR HAS COME INTO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THEY WILL CONTACT ME WHEN THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN GOING ON WORKING ON 5 MONTHS NOW.

Mileage: 5,000