2020 KIA Soul Engine Problems
Owners have filed 243 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2020 KIA Soul, 63% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 24,037 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (10% of reports).
- 243engine complaints
- 24,037median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $7,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 24 of 243 complaints (10%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2020 KIA Soul at $7,200, and half of them between $1,950 and $7,500.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2021–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 86 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 243 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 3 an injury.
KIA Soul engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Soul | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2024 Soul | 5 | 17% | 7,000 |
| 2023 Soul | 14 | 26% | 8,872 |
| 2022 Soul | 54 | 57% | 27,000 |
| 2021 Soul | 138 | 58% | 41,000 |
| 2020 Soul | 243 | 63% | 24,037 |
| 2019 Soul | 87 | 64% | 50,045 |
| 2018 Soul | 141 | 64% | 70,812 |
| 2017 Soul | 191 | 70% | 82,000 |
| 2016 Soul | 561 | 69% | 86,000 |
| 2015 Soul | 630 | 70% | 93,000 |
| 2014 Soul | 553 | 61% | 103,052 |
| 2013 Soul | 285 | 43% | 117,000 |
| 2012 Soul | 209 | 41% | 119,150 |
| 2011 Soul | 24 | 12% | 107,000 |
| 2010 Soul | 9 | 7% | 65,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
On [XXX], my 2020 Kia Soul (2.0L Nu MPI, VIN [XXX], approximately 102,420 miles) suffered total engine failure: complete loss of motive power, stalled and would not restart. This is the exact defect covered by federal recall 21V259000 / Kia SC209 (piston oil rings causing engine damage and…
On XXX my 2020 Kia Soul while on the freeway, would not accelerate and silently stalled. The check engine, oil, and battery light all came on. Putting it into Park and then Drive again, the vehicle began shifting backwards. The vehicle could not be safely driven and was towed to Kearny Mesa Kia in…
2nd failed motor due to code P1327, was replaced last year for same issue, less than a year later and same issue again.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2020 KIA Souls have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 243 owner complaints about engine for the 2020 KIA Soul (63% of the 386 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2020 KIA Soul engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 24,037 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2020 KIA Soul?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,200 (half paid between $1,950 and $7,500), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2020 KIA Soul?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 24 of 243 complaints.
Other 2020 KIA Soul problems
- Power Train problems (91)
See all 2020 KIA Soul problems or engine problems across all Soul years.