KIA Soul Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 346 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the KIA Soul across 14 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (84). The words owners use most often: “catalytic converter” (19% of reports).
- 346fuel/propulsion system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 45%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.
- Catalytic converter: mentioned in 67 of 346 complaints (19%)
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 20 of 346 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do fuel/propulsion system problems happen?
Based on 122 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 346 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 26 a fire, 3 an injury.
KIA Soul fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel/propulsion System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Soul | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2022 Soul | 7 | 7% | — |
| 2021 Soul | 10 | 4% | 4,005 |
| 2020 Soul | 15 | 4% | 34,000 |
| 2019 Soul | 12 | 9% | 29,441 |
| 2018 Soul | 11 | 5% | 40,000 |
| 2017 Soul | 18 | 7% | 72,500 |
| 2016 Soul | 84 | 10% | 72,617 |
| 2015 Soul | 76 | 8% | 65,000 |
| 2014 Soul | 54 | 6% | 83,400 |
| 2013 Soul | 27 | 4% | 93,289 |
| 2012 Soul | 21 | 4% | 113,500 |
| 2011 Soul | 8 | 4% | 33,396 |
| 2010 Soul | 2 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system for the KIA Soul. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Vehicle suffered a sudden, dangerous loss of power on the highway at 70 mph, dropping immediately to 20 mph, creating a severe safety risk. The vehicle has an active P0420 code. The official NHTSA database confirms that Safety Recall SC176 (Campaign 19V120) is INCOMPLETE for this vehicle. However…
I bought the car August 21st 2026 and I'm September 20th I was driving down the interstate and my car starting shaking. I found out it's the catholic converter. I read they're was a recall on the Kia for that issue.
Component or system: Catalytic converter (exhaust emissions system). The converter is physically restricted due to substrate damage consistent with the defect identified in NHTSA Campaign 19V120 / Kia Recall SC176. The restriction limits engine RPM to approximately 3,000 under all conditions. The…
Was driving car lost power of steering and brakes black smoke filled vehicle I jumped out of the car and it went up in flames . The vehicle behind me said the flames were coming out of my front engine
Multiple times with 6 months my check engine light comes on but no code is detected. However, when tested it tells me to look out for code P0420. The issues I have encountered: - High RPM of 2,000 when vehicle is started - Check engine light with no code. Light comes and goes on it own - Car jolts…
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Souls have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 346 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system for the KIA Soul. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA Soul fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the KIA Soul?
The most frequent phrase is “catalytic converter”, in 67 of 346 complaints, followed by “oil consumption” (20).
Other KIA Soul problems
- Engine problems (3,145)
- Electrical System problems (520)
- Steering problems (519)
- Power Train problems (432)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (407)
- Exterior Lighting problems (252)
- Air Bags problems (203)
- Service Brakes problems (202)
See all KIA Soul problems.