NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
140 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Mar 28, 2022
Engine
I bought my 2018 Kia Soul from Fredy Kia Dealership in Houston, TX and after 3 years and 124K miles the engine failed. It started with the check light for 'engine knock sensor' code 1326. I had the sensor replaced but the mechanics mentioned that my oil was extremally low and needed oil. I just had my oil replaced by Archer Kia …
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I bought my 2018 Kia Soul from Fredy Kia Dealership in Houston, TX and after 3 years and 124K miles the engine failed. It started with the check light for 'engine knock sensor' code 1326. I had the sensor replaced but the mechanics mentioned that my oil was extremally low and needed oil. I just had my oil replaced by Archer Kia dealership 2 month prior how could that be? So they replace the oil and the sensor. I drove it for 4 hours and the check engine light came on again this time there is a knocking sound. The mechanics say its a blown piston and now the engine has to be replaced. This is incredibly sad and frustrating to know that these cars' engine fail after 100K and have to replace the engine. After researching on on this site and https://www.aboutautomobile.com/, this engine problem has been going on since 2012. How can this be? Why isn't Kia doing something to cover and fix this issue?
NHTSA ODI #11458696
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2022
Engine
MY ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK OUT OF NO WHERE AND IT BLEW A ROD. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS GONE. HE SAID YOUR CAR SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ENGINE PROBLEM AT ALL FOR THE YEAR OF THE CAR. I HAD ONLY HAD MY CAR NOT EVEN A YEAR. I GOT MY CAR IN 2020. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY YARD WITH A BLOWN ENGINE A…
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MY ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK OUT OF NO WHERE AND IT BLEW A ROD. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS GONE. HE SAID YOUR CAR SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ENGINE PROBLEM AT ALL FOR THE YEAR OF THE CAR. I HAD ONLY HAD MY CAR NOT EVEN A YEAR. I GOT MY CAR IN 2020. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY YARD WITH A BLOWN ENGINE AND I AM MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON A CAR I CAN NOT DRIVE. I AM FURIOUS. I GOT MY CAR FROM HERTZ. I AM SO PISS. I NOTICE THEY RECALLED OTHER YEARS EXCEPT 2018. I NOTICE ALOT OF PEOPLE HAS REPORT THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11458170
Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2022
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other
Follow up to complaint number 11446088 submitted on 1/3/2022 Car was taken to dealership on 12/18/2021 for check engine light with code P1326 and car entered a limp home mode that limited engine RPMs to 1800-2000 RPM. I received a call from dealership on 1/12/2022 informing me that car was ready for pickup. Picked up car on 1…
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Follow up to complaint number 11446088 submitted on 1/3/2022 Car was taken to dealership on 12/18/2021 for check engine light with code P1326 and car entered a limp home mode that limited engine RPMs to 1800-2000 RPM. I received a call from dealership on 1/12/2022 informing me that car was ready for pickup. Picked up car on 1/13/2022, where invoice says the following: "77240 p1326 DTC 39250fln/39250rq0 check engine light on arrival, trouble code p1326. bearing clearance test was not able to be performed due to no tsb opened yet for this year make and model. opened a pwa case performed compression and leak down test passed . performed few test tech line required and came to a conclusion that engine replacement is not approved, knock sensor was approved under warranty vehicle will be shipped with no dcts over 2 drive cycles of 10 miles" Two notes: (1) it appears that the manufacturer informed dealership that it would not approve replacing the engine, despite the engine being under warranty, because no recall has yet been issued on the 2018 model year. (2) the dealership say they performed 2 drive cycles, each of at least 10 miles. This was not done, as shown on the mileage in/out readings on the attached invoice (see attached document, "06 - 2022-01-12 - Kia Carson - Invoice"). Attached are 8 documents for all the documents I have related to this problem: (1) NHTSA - Vehicle Complaint - 11446088 - 2022-01-03 (2) Kia Product Improvement Campaign Letter - 2021-11-16 (3) 01 - 2021-12-04 - Kia Carson - Workorder (4) 02 - 2021-12-04 - Kia Carson - Invoice (5) 03 - 2021-12-07 - Kia Carson - Workorder (6) 04 - 2021-12-07 - Kia Carson - Invoice (7) 05 - 2021-12-18 - Kia Carson - Workorder (8) 06 - 2022-01-12 - Kia Carson - Invoice Answers to questions above: (1) not available for inspection. I no longer possess vehicle (2) see complaint 11446088 (3) dealer confirmed problem, see 2022-01-12 invoice (4) yes, see 2022-01-12 invoice (5) see complaint 11446088
NHTSA ODI #11447800
100,000 miles · Jan 14, 2022
Engine
The contact's daughter-in-law owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The oil warning light illuminated, and the contact's husband poured oil into the oil reservoir. The vehicle was towed to the contact's daughter-in-law's residence. An u…
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The contact's daughter-in-law owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The oil warning light illuminated, and the contact's husband poured oil into the oil reservoir. The vehicle was towed to the contact's daughter-in-law's residence. An unknown dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was diagnosed by two independent mechanics with engine damage and connecting rod failure, which punctured the engine block. The engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they had issued a Product Improvement Campaign for the engine in November 2020; however, they did not have the contact's daughter-in-law's address. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #11447464
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2022
EnginePower Train
My engine blew it just hit 80,000 miles on the dot and since I’m purchasing it threw Freedom Chevrolet Buick gmc by Ed Morse and not Kia directly my car cannot get fixed! I still owe a pretty penny and now I have no way of fixing when other Kia’s have had the same issue with engine blowing I just would like my car fixed. My safe…
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My engine blew it just hit 80,000 miles on the dot and since I’m purchasing it threw Freedom Chevrolet Buick gmc by Ed Morse and not Kia directly my car cannot get fixed! I still owe a pretty penny and now I have no way of fixing when other Kia’s have had the same issue with engine blowing I just would like my car fixed. My safety and my kids what put in danger when it decided to do this On a busy road!
NHTSA ODI #11447348
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2022
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other
On 16 November 2021, Kia sent a letter for a Product Improvement Campaign to install software called "Knock Sensor Detection System" ("KSDS") on my 2018 Kia Soul Plus. The software update was installed on 4 December 2021. The 16 November letter noted that if KSDS detected a problem, the car would enter a limp home mode that li…
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On 16 November 2021, Kia sent a letter for a Product Improvement Campaign to install software called "Knock Sensor Detection System" ("KSDS") on my 2018 Kia Soul Plus. The software update was installed on 4 December 2021. The 16 November letter noted that if KSDS detected a problem, the car would enter a limp home mode that limited engine RPMs to 1800-2000 RPM and the Malfunction Indicator Lamp ("check engine light") would blink continuously. On 17 December 2021, the check engine light started to blink continuously, and the engine RPMs never exceeded 2000 RPM. I took the car to the dealership on 18 December 2021. The car is not safely operable. The dealership told me that they needed technical assistance from the factory, which they have not yet received as of 3 January 2022. I'm reporting the issue because it appears to be related to the known engine manufacturing defects in Theta, Nu, and Gamma lines of engines, and that these issues persist beyond the 2011-2016 model years (for which a recall has already issued) and at least into the 2018 model year. Answers to questions: (1) powertrain/engine failure, possibly other system(s) (2) safety risk is known fire danger in Theta, Nu, and Gamma engines (3) dealer is currently diagnosing/confirming the issue (as of 1/3/22) (4) only dealer has inspected vehicle (as of 1/3/22) (5) no issues prior to 12/17/21, when Malfunction Indicator Lamp ("check engine light") started to blink continuously and engine RPMs were limited to 2000 RPM.
NHTSA ODI #11446088
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine
Buyer beware, DO NOT PURCHASE A KIA. Kept up with oil changes on the car. Purchased used in 2019 at 45k miles. While driving from work car just stopped working, and engine and oil light turned on. Electrical was working replaced battery maybe two months earlier. Wasn’t due for an oil change. Took car to a mechanic who said it w…
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Buyer beware, DO NOT PURCHASE A KIA. Kept up with oil changes on the car. Purchased used in 2019 at 45k miles. While driving from work car just stopped working, and engine and oil light turned on. Electrical was working replaced battery maybe two months earlier. Wasn’t due for an oil change. Took car to a mechanic who said it was low on oil which seemed odd. Also replaced brake pads and rotors. $1000 later the car starts making a horrible rattling sound and the oil light and engine light turn on and car almost immediately dies. Took car to dealership, engine is done. This is happening to ALL of Kias cars that are being put on to the market. These cars are STILL being sold and they are all very much aware that these engines are bad. An entire decade of BAD ENGINES from Kia. And they are doing nothing. NOTHING. No recalls on this car. So now I am f*****. I have had this car for TWO years and it is only THREE years old and the engine is DONE. How is nothing being done about this???? Why are our voices being ignored?? There are complaints on this page with this EXACT issue. Why aren’t these cars being recalled?? I had my boyfriend and 3 dogs in the car, what if my car had caught on fire like their other crappy cars they have put out? Would I just be another person murdered by Kia and no one does a thing about it? (Allegedly)
NHTSA ODI #11445325
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2021
Engine
Engine Failure, Started burning oil, within a month of that started knocking, after 4 weeks the connecting rod went through the block. I was driving on a public roadway. Vehicle is in for repair now for a new short block, catalytic converter (oil damage) with the dealership and being repaired by the manufacturer under warran…
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Engine Failure, Started burning oil, within a month of that started knocking, after 4 weeks the connecting rod went through the block. I was driving on a public roadway. Vehicle is in for repair now for a new short block, catalytic converter (oil damage) with the dealership and being repaired by the manufacturer under warranty. Only warning lamp the car has had was about a month prior for an inefficient catalytic converter. No warnings for low oil or engine trouble prior to developing the knock. Vehicle is at Celebration Kia in Delaware Ohio for repairs. The incident date is approximate.
NHTSA ODI #11445253
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2021
EngineVehicle Speed Control
While driving to work in my 2018 Kia soul on 10/16/21 vehicle has a significant hesitation pulling away from a stop sign/red-light. A very slight knocking noise could be heard. the oil light flickered on and then immediately went off. Next thing I know while doing 65 on the highway the oil, engine, and battery lights all lit up …
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While driving to work in my 2018 Kia soul on 10/16/21 vehicle has a significant hesitation pulling away from a stop sign/red-light. A very slight knocking noise could be heard. the oil light flickered on and then immediately went off. Next thing I know while doing 65 on the highway the oil, engine, and battery lights all lit up then suddenly power to the vehicle was gone! I managed to get the vehicle off the highway onto the shoulder of the road where I watched smoke pouring out of the engine bay. My vehicle only has 69059 miles. the 2.0L motor that is subject to many other recalls and issues is the same as what is in my Soul. . I've only had this car for less than two years! KIA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!
NHTSA ODI #11442972
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2021
Engine
At 94,000 miles without warning I have a rod knock. I have maintained oil changes regularly and topped my oil off before this drive. No warning lights no indicators. Just a blown engine.
NHTSA ODI #11442652