2014 Kia SOUL

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Kia SOUL has 1214 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 15.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (50% of all complaints), specifically: i have had my car to the dealer 4 times for this same issue which still has not been fixed. the engine light comes on when it wants too and then there is very little power in 1, 2,and 3rd gears this is a manual trans. i almost got hit in the side because of pulling from a stop sigh and went to go a. ⚠️ 100 fire reports filed.

100 fire reports 27 crash reports 16 injuries

1214

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

15.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

601 complaints

50%

• I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE WHICH STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TOO AND THEN THERE IS VERY LITTLE POWER IN 1, 2,AND 3RD GEARS THIS IS A MANUAL TRANS. I ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE SIDE BECAUSE OF PULLING FROM A STOP SIGH AND WENT TO GO A
• UNDER NORMAL AND MILD ACCELERATION, THERE IS NOTICEABLE HESITATION AND POWER LOSS WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP; MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN SHIFTING OCCURS FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH GEARS. *JS
• WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. WE PULLED OFF HIGHWAY TO LOOK AT A TOURIST ATTRACTION. NO INDICATION WHATSOEVER THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. PARKED, TURNED CAR OFF. GOT OUT. GLANCED BACK AT THE CAR AND SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SOON THERE WERE FLAMES DRIPPIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 56 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE WHICH STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TOO AND THEN THERE IS VERY LITTLE POWER IN 1, 2,AND 3RD GEARS THIS IS A MANUAL TRANS. I ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE SIDE BECAUSE OF PULLING FROM A STOP SIGH AND WENT TO GO A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

130 complaints

11%

• I HAD AN EMERGENCY AND TRIED AT NIGHT TO UNLOCK ELECTRIC DOORS FOR MY PASSENGERS AND I. UPON ATTEMPTING TO MANAGE THE EMERGENCY AND UNLOCK THE DOOR FOR MY PASSENGERS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, I WAS GREATLY DELAYED BECAUSE THE "UNLOCK LIGHT IS NON FUNCTIONING" AND CAN'T BE SEEN IN THE DARK. THIS IS A SAF
• HEADLIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY GOING ON AND OFF. WOULD WORK FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER TURNING IT ON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DAY, BUT SEEMED TO GO OUT AFTER IT WAS WARMED UP. WENT TO CHANGE THE BULB AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUG THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULB PLUGGED IN TO WAS PARTIALLY MELTED AND BR
• WHEN DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON THEY WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF FOR A BIT THEN TURN ON AGAIN, BUT SOMETIMES THIS REQUIRES TRYING TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THEN ON AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE A CHECK WAS RUN ON IT, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“I HAD AN EMERGENCY AND TRIED AT NIGHT TO UNLOCK ELECTRIC DOORS FOR MY PASSENGERS AND I. UPON ATTEMPTING TO MANAGE THE EMERGENCY AND UNLOCK THE DOOR FOR MY PASSENGERS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, I WAS GREATLY DELAYED BECAUSE THE "UNLOCK LIGHT IS NON FUNCTIONING" AND CAN'T BE SEEN IN THE DARK. THIS IS A SAF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

97 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2014 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TWO HOLES THROUGH THE SEAT. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE RENTAL AGENCY OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM THE FLEET. THE FA
• I HAD AN EMERGENCY AND TRIED AT NIGHT TO UNLOCK ELECTRIC DOORS FOR MY PASSENGERS AND I. UPON ATTEMPTING TO MANAGE THE EMERGENCY AND UNLOCK THE DOOR FOR MY PASSENGERS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, I WAS GREATLY DELAYED BECAUSE THE "UNLOCK LIGHT IS NON FUNCTIONING" AND CAN'T BE SEEN IN THE DARK. THIS IS A SAF
• WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2014 KIA SOUL. I NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCK CYLINDER IN THE STEERING COLUMN SEEMS VERY LOOSE. WITH THE KEY IN THE CYLINDER IT HAS TOO MUCH PLAY. THE KEY WIGGLES AROUND VERY LOOSELY. BEING CONCERNED THAT IT MAY CAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 15 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2014 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TWO HOLES THROUGH THE SEAT. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE RENTAL AGENCY OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM THE FLEET. THE FA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

83 complaints

• DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE NUT LOOSE ON 2014 KIA SOUL. *TR
• THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED. THE SEAT BELTS FUNCTIONED, AND THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IMMEDIATELY OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. TWO BYSTANDERS COULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS BECAUSE THE DOOR LOCKS WERE STILL ENGAGED. THEY HAD TO BREAK THE GLASS, MANUALLY UNLOCK
• CAR RANDOMLY START VIBRATING, MISFIRING, AND IT WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO TURN ON FROM A COLD START. THE THE ENGINE FAILED, SENT IT OUT TO THE DEALER TO WORK ON IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND WE'VE HAD AN OPEN CASE SINCE. THEN RECENTLY MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHILE IN MOTIO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 11 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE NUT LOOSE ON 2014 KIA SOUL. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

56 complaints

• WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FULL STOP OR ROLLING STOP, VEHICLE HESITATES AND LOSES POWER WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. *TR
• TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED CONSTANTLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND WAS SLOW TO PICK UP SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TIMING BELT BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT N
• DRIVING SOUL DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN ANOTHER CAR CAME ACROSS THE HIGHWAY- THREE LANES, FROM A PRIVATE DRIVE IN FRONT OF ME TO ACCESS TURNING LANE. I HIT HIS REAR DRIVER SIDE WITH MY FRONT LEFT DRIVERS SIDE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FULL STOP OR ROLLING STOP, VEHICLE HESITATES AND LOSES POWER WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1214 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE WHICH STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TOO AND THEN THERE IS VERY LITTLE POWER IN 1, 2,AND 3RD GEARS THIS IS A MANUAL TRANS. I ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE SIDE BECAUSE OF PULLING FROM A STOP SIGH AND WENT TO GO A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: I HAD AN EMERGENCY AND TRIED AT NIGHT TO UNLOCK ELECTRIC DOORS FOR MY PASSENGERS AND I. UPON ATTEMPTING TO MANAGE THE EMERGENCY AND UNLOCK THE DOOR FOR MY PASSENGERS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, I WAS GREATLY DELAYED BECAUSE THE "UNLOCK LIGHT IS NON FUNCTIONING" AND CAN'T BE SEEN IN THE DARK. THIS IS A SAF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2014 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TWO HOLES THROUGH THE SEAT. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE RENTAL AGENCY OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM THE FLEET. THE FA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE NUT LOOSE ON 2014 KIA SOUL. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)