2018 Kia Soul problems
The Kia Soul is a subcompact crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Kia since 2008. Often described and marketed as a crossover since its introduction, the Soul is a hatchback with a box proportion and tall roof, which are designed to maximize its interior space. Despite its SUV-like styling, the Soul was never available with all-wheel drive, instead it is exclusively a front-wheel drive vehicle.
The Soul first appeared in 2006 in the form of a concept model displayed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The production model made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 2008. During its introduction, Kia stated that the Soul is aimed at the North American market, and targeted towards buyers in the 18 to 35-year old range.
The second-generation model was introduced in 2013 for the 2014 model year, which featured a larger exterior and interior dimensions along with a reworked chassis, while keeping its boxy styling. The Soul is currently in its third generation, which was introduced in 2018 for the 2019 model year. Since 2014, Kia has also marketed a battery electric variant as the Soul EV.
The name "Soul" comes from the homophone of Seoul, the city that hosts Kia's headquarters.
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Common 2018 Kia Soul problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 2018 Kia Soul, several common problems have been reported:
- Brake Pedal Going to the Floor: One of the most common complaints is the brake pedal going to the floor without applying the brakes, which poses a safety risk. This issue has been noted within the first 5,000 miles of driving the 2018 Kia Soul.
- Horn System Issues: Owners have reported problems with the horn system in the 2018 Kia Soul. Malfunctions in the horn system can impact the safety of the vehicle, especially in emergency situations where the horn is essential.
- Airbag Light Turning On: Another common problem is the airbag light turning on unexpectedly. This issue can indicate potential problems with the airbag system, compromising the safety features of the vehicle.
These issues, although described as minor compared to other problems, can affect the overall driving experience and safety of the 2018 Kia Soul. It's important for owners to address these issues promptly to ensure the optimal performance and safety of their vehicles.
Are there any recalls on a 2018 Kia Soul?
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit.
What are the recalls on the 2018 Kia?
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2018 Kia Sorento vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag. Tip: Recalls don't affect every vehicle of the same year, make and model.
What engine is in my 2018 Kia Soul?
The 2018 Kia Soul comes standard with a 1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve I-4 engine that delivers 130 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. The Plus trim level has a 2.0-liter engine that gives drivers 160 horsepower and the Exclaim trim delivers 200 horsepower for extra control behind the wheel.
What year did Kia Soul have engine problems?
Users have raised engine problems across the Kia Soul model for years. However, model years 2010 to 2016 were prone to engine complaints. Additionally, the 2020-21 model was recalled for severe engine issues.
2018 Kia Soul car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Kia Soul problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine problems
- Power train problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Electrical system problems
- Air bags problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2018 Kia Soul vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2018 Kia Soul
The NHTSA has received 159 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2018 Kia Soul. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2018 Kia Soul vehicles.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-26
- VIN: KNDJP3A51J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Oil plug fell out while driving, engine needed to be replaced.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-03
- VIN: KNDJP3A55J7
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
- Summary: We purchased this vehicle for our [XXX]. It was going to be his first vehicle, and we shined it up and changed the battery, detailed it, changed all spark plugs, the whole nine yards…so on his [XXX] we give it to him, and we take it for a test drive, and the engine seizes up and we have to tow it to our mechanic. He assesses the car, and its rod bearing wear that is under a class action lawsuit. After calling Kia, they will not do anything about it because it has never had a specific software update that is under a product improvement action. A knock sensor detection that would detect prior to engine failure. I told Kia that we looked up recalls on the vehicle and there was nothing regarding that on the search. From both their website, and NHTSA. And they said that it wasn’t their responsibility to do so. But it was their failed product and design, that put my child at risk, and we had no reasonable way of knowing about it. They said it wasn’t their responsibility. I don’t understand how a detection system of the engine failure, would be required after the failure? There’s no prevention aspect to the “product improvement”. At this point, it serves no purpose, the engine failed for that reason. And installing the software update prior to failure wouldn’t have changed anything. They have orchestrated a loophole to not be accountable for a design and product they out on the public market, which they received financial compensation for, that could have cost my child’s life. In fact, they won’t even pay to replace the deficient engine that broke because of their negligence in design and risk assessment. They are 100% unwilling to address the defective product they sold. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-10-04
- VIN: KNDJN2A24J7
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated that the oil level was low after a routine oil change. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the gasket and catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-04
- VIN: KNDJN2A29J7
- Components: POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
- Summary: I have A 2018 Kia Soul I have been having problems with my oil running low and my oil and engine light coming on after I have had an oil change this has been going on since 12/21:2023 inhace taken my car to the dealearship over and over only for them to tell me I don’t have oil leak they have done oil consumption test and still said nothing was wrong with the vehicle continued to take to get oil change and same thing has kept happening finally paid for diagnostic after months of being told my car was fine to find out the oil was leaking to my catalytic converter now my catalytic converter has gone out on my 2018 Kia Soul and dealership quoted me A $5400 repair price I have 2 warranty and none cover exhaust repair Kia has given me the run around and also said my car wasn’t under recall but I am experiencing all the recall symptoms related to the 2018 Kia Soul base mode 1.6 engine
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-04-19
- VIN: KNDJN2A23J7
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: My vehicle recall is to do with electrical issue that not only may have affected the air bag, but the electrical system shorting that’s burning the bulb holders that holds all of the brake and tail lights bulbs on this vehicle. These brand new bulbs consistently burn or short out within 1 to 2 weeks. This expense has grown expeditiously over the years of ownership, and because there is nothing in the information center to warn us, we are constantly due to no fault of our own, unknowingly driving with no brake light. Having to drive regularly on interstate 4, with traffic stopping warning, this is a great safety concern. Brake light are very very essential driving in sudden stopping traffic. Kia should be liable and responsible for correcting this traffic hazard. Thank you notes.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-30
- VIN: KNDJX3AA4J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: While driving the vehicle, with no warning, the engine failed. The second cylinder lost all pressure, with the remaining 3 cylinders at the lowest passable pressure. This was on the highway, and the car began jerking and shaking, not allowing to follow flow of traffic. There is supposedly a recall for this issue, however Kia is refusing to cover the car, as it has 120,000 miles and is past the power train warranty. Kia dealership told me it was covered, while Kia is stating it is not. So now I have a 6 year old, $30,000 lawn ornament.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-12
- VIN: KNDJN2A20J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: I have a 2018 Kia Soul Base Model with a 1.6 L engine. At the moment, the engine is making a loud knocking noise when the car is running. Also, upon checking the vvt solenoid there were metal shavings as well, which is a common symptom of engine failure. The safety of mine as well as other drivers are at risk as the engine can stop automatically while driving without any warning. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer and has not been inspected by others. There are no warning lamps or messages besides the loud knocking noise and metal shavings found.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-06
- VIN: KNDJN2A26J7
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle stalled and was unable to be restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 111,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-02
- Fire: 1
- VIN: KNDJP3A59J7
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact’s daughter owned a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while her daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, another driver honked the horn to inform the driver of an issue with the vehicle. The contact was informed to pull over. The contact stated that the vehicle started jerking and the driver started seeing smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that her daughter’s hair was singed by the fire. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated once the driver saw smoke coming from the vehicle. The driver pulled over off the highway and exited the vehicle and saw smoke coming from under the vehicle before the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been serviced and there were no issues found with the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department. The contact was unsure whether a Fire report or a Police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed from the scene and was deemed totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-13
- VIN: KNDJN2A24J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Engine knocking noise .
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-17
- VIN: KNDJP3A56J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where an oil consumption test was performed, and the mechanic determined that the test was positive for excessive oil consumption. Additionally, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the oil valve was replaced under an unknown Manufacturer Recall Campaign Number; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-19
- VIN: KNDJP3A58J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: I am the owner of a 2018 Kia Soul. On May 19, 2024 I broke down on a highway in a dangerous construction zone. Just prior to this my oil light came on, so i put some in to be safe until I got home to let engine cool. No other warning lights or messages came on. Got a little further down the road and the light came back on with the engine now making noise. I managed to find an emergency pull off and as soon as I pulled off the car died. I had it initially towed to my mechanic but when they looked at it they said had to go to dealership it was the Engine and possibly under recall. Had towed to dealership on May 21, 2024. They were backed up and unable to look at it until after the holiday. They finally got to look at it on June 3, 2024. It does meet the requirements for the Kia Engine Recall. Here is where the plot thickens, Kia, not dealership, denied the recall work because the update was never done. I just received the update notice the end of March 2024. Due to me being disabled and I had some doctor appoints to keep I just cleared my schedule to make the appointment and was planning to do that when broke down with no warning. I called Kia customer service and they said because I did not have the update done it has to fall under the Class Action Settlement and they will not cover it. Now under the Class Action Settlement, you need to pay out of pocket and then seek reimbursement. However, the work has yet to be done and I am disabled and on a fixed income. It is now June 10,2024 and the Kia dealership still is not getting a straight answer from the warranty company on whether they will accept the claim and cover it or not. Meanwhile, I am putting a friend out to help me. What is a person to do?
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-23
- VIN: KNDJN2A21J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Update to case 11587168: Ian (Service Writer) at HW Kia told me 3 weeks ago Kia was approving engine replacement, he was ordering the engine & to provide all service records so they have them on file. I provided receipts for 2 oil changes I had done by a non-Kia dealership auto service. All other service records are accessable via KIA & CarFax as Napleton Kia St. Peters & Plaza Tire Service had done all other oil changes/ maintainence on the vehicle. The Thursday before Memorial Day I get an email from Ian that now Kia is denying the engine replacement. I am now waiting to get a contact from the RPSM (Regional Parts & Service Manager) as to why since I provided proof the vehicle was properly maintained. This is a wrongful denial in my opinion.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-17
- VIN: KNDJX3AA9J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving on several occasions in one day at various speeds, the battery and check engine warning light flashed on for five seconds. Additionally, the contact observed a light knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was stopped in a parking lot and turned off. The vehicle was restarted and the battery and check engine warning lights illuminated. The failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that cylinder #3 needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,750.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-07
- VIN: KNDJP3A5XJ7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: My granddaughter was traveling to Florida from Texas for a short vacation on [XXX] 2024. Car just lost power and slowed in the middle of the interstate traffic, no lights, warnings or anything. Thank God she was able to get to the side of the highway without getting hit. It was knocking and clattering in the engine. Killed it and let it rest a bit and checked the oil and it was [very low, added some oil and started it back up, but it still was knocking and not running. Had it towed to an independent garage in Crestview Fl. The mechanic diagnosed the engine with a possible bent valve and loose timing chain. The car has 104000 miles on it. We had the oil changed at 102000 and have had oil changed regularly at 5000 miles or less since we bought it in March 2022. We still owe a loan on this car. Mechanic said the engine would have to be replaced and quoted 7000.00. We cannot afford this. We are the 3rd owner and was not informed of any safety recalls or software updates until the Mechanic told us about the Class Action Lawsuit and the issues with the engines in Kia and Hyundai. Kia is not forthcoming with this information and does not notify but only the 1st owner. This is ridiculous and not right to do the consumers this way. We bought the car from a Nissan dealership in Mckinney Tx and was not told anything about this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-02-05
- VIN: KNDJP3A57J7
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: a.e.b. ,autonomous braking system has been a defect since the day it was delivered in 2018. the company and the dealership have attempted to fix this problem 13 times in five years, and it keeps coming back. they kept throwing parts at it until the warranty expired on 12/31/2023 and they refuse to fix it again. they will not extend the warranty or buy it back as requested. the factory tech that the company sent to look at it stated he did not know what was wrong with it back in 2019 but he will start with the forward camera. fast forward to 2/2024 and i paid to have it looked at the dealer and the tech stated on the work order that he did not know what was wrong with it and he would start with the forward camera, same problem five years later. the car is like new with only 37,000 miles on it. not only is it a defect but kia has been commenting fraud by hiding the defect. now i have a car that cannot be fixed and i cannot sell. i have all of the work orders and Communcation with kia. your help in this issue will be appreciated
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-18
- VIN: KNDJN2A21J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: On [XXX], 2024 had a complete break down while driving on the highway on the way home from work. No warning light prior to the incident. Towed via ERS on my auto insurance policy to Plaza Tire Service, [XXX] . They replaced spark plugs and coils. Still sputtering and code on cylinder 3. Then taken to HW Kia of [XXX] in Ballwin, Mo (this was the closest dealership that said they could get to it right away). Has been there ever since (going on 2 months now). What I have been told has be done by Ian, Service Manager: Compression test done, no compression in cylinder 3. Warranty company (JMNA) sent out inspector. 2 weeks later warranty company asked dealership to do a full breakdown of the engine. On [XXX] got call from Ian that warranty company denied fix under warranty because the damage is to piston rings. (Month and a half just to get this determination from the warranty company) Ian told me that this is a known issue by Kia so he is requested engine replacement directly from Kia Corp. As of today ([XXX], 2024) I am still waiting to hear back if this replacement has been approved. Previously told by Ian (when I initially dropped off the vehicle) that once/if approved it will take approximately 10 days to get a new engine ordered and into the dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-01
- VIN: KNDJP3A54J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: While driving vehicle, engine reduced power and went into a limp mode, pulled off Highway and stop. Check engine light came on and blinking. Later found motor had lost over three quarts of oil. Now engine knock and have been advised by mechanic that engine is about to throw a rod thru the the side. Vehicle has had oil changes at 5000 miles intervals thru out its 124,000 miles on the road also oil checks often too. Now we are without a vehicle with a damage engine. I understand thru research that this is a common problem for this type vehicle and motor.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-09
- Crash: 1
- VIN: KNDJP3A58J7
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: Car stalled in the middle of the road while driving. Took it in to dealer ship for a recall to get this repaired or flashed. Engine burning excessive oil. Car has always been kept up with maintenance. While operating the vehicle the car stalled due to low oil compression. Vehicle has aprox 155k miles. Check engine light has came on. Due to the issue that car engine is burning oil there is a new permanent code p0420 which is a bad catalyc converter since the cars emission system is failing. Car has been sitting at home for about 1 month or longer as we don’t drive it and are still financing the vehicle
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-22
- VIN: KNDJX3AA7J7
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 2018 KIA SOUL gas pedal stopped working while driving on interstate 695. On April 7, 2024 my car displayed the following warning message on the dash while I was driving on the beltway. “Transmission Temp high please stop safely”. The warning light went off, but I took my car to the Koons Kia service on April 9, 2024. A few days later I was informed by the dealer that the transmission needed to be replaced and that the engine had sludge. I was later informed that the clutch actuator also needed to be replaced. The Transmission was covered under warranty and Koons Kia allegedly did the repair. I picked my car up on April 17th. The very next day (April 18) the transmissions started making noise. I contacted the dealer on the 18th and reported the concern. They told me to bring the car back on Tuesday , April 23rd. At no time did anyone warn me of the potential safety issue. I do not know what the mechanics at Koons Kia did, but the car was worse and more dangerous after the repair. Unfortunately, on April 22,2024 while driving on interstate 695, my car started to lose power and suddenly slow down. Cars rushing by and my car would not accelerate when I applied the gas pedal. The warning message “ Transmission temp high stop safely “ appeared again. I pulled over on the shoulder until the car cooled off. This time there was a smell along with it. When the car cooled off, I slowly drove the rest of the way with my hazard lights on. I contacted Kia dealership, Kia roadside assistance, and Kia customer service. No one warned me of the extreme safety issue nor did they offer any assistance with getting me home or with getting car back to service department. My car is back at the dealership. But this is a major safety issue. The gas pedal stopped working without warning while I was on interstate 695 going well over 50mph. There were other cars zooming by. very dangerous. I could have been hurt or someone else could have been hurt.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-16
- VIN: KNDJP3A51J7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Second time in last six months car went into “limp mode” with the knock sensor. First time it was “just” a faulty knock sensor and under warranty. Happens again now it’s the all too well known the oil is burning too fast on this engine. Kia/hyundai will not take this under warranty as it is not a rod bearing issue while numerous owners have the exact same issue. This cars engine can probably fail at any time with this oil issue continually happening. The cars oil has been maintained per manual and was not expecting an oil change yet the level is way too low already (3000ish which is way before the 5000 mile mark per owners manual and Kia)
STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-08
- VIN: KNDJP3A5XJ7
- Components: STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: My husband [XXX] and I own a 2018 Kia Soul, 102,000 miles, and in February, my daughter was driving to school and the front end of the car became shaking violently. It was so dangerous that my husband would not let my daughter drive it, as it was easy to lose control of the car. We took the car in to the Kia Dealership to be diagnosed. The steering shaft needed to be replaced, a total cost of $941.53, paid 2/19/24. After talking with mechanics and researching this part, it was clear that this part should last the lifetime of the car; in fact, I spoke with a mechanic who said they have never seen this issue, let alone in a 6 year old car. I continued searching online and saw that this was a problem in older models of Kia Souls, and there were recalls on the 2012- 2016 models for the same issue we experienced. So I called Kia to see if there was a recall on the 2018 model. They said no and that since there was not an extended warranty on the car, they would not reimburse or pay for the repair. I sent a message stating my position of outrage, that this repair is unacceptable since the part should last the lifetime of the car, and that obviously there was faulty manufacturing of the part. This posed a danger to my daughter, who is a college student, and Kia should be responsible for the repair. Kia sent my complaint to the escalation department for review, where I have been communicating with Kayla from the Customer Care Unit. I have been corresponding and waiting for a decision for reimbursement since February, and today I was told that my request was denied. My case number is #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-26
- VIN: KNDJN2A25J7
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: unknown. My car was stolen last Monday 2/26 about 10:15 AM. I've filed a police complaint as well.
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-20
- VIN: KNDJN2A27J7
- Components: ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: 2018 Kia Soul with excessive oil consumption. 1.6 Liter GDI engine. Base model. Oil is being overly consumed in between oil changes, needing double the quarts in between Kia's manufacturing guidelines.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-14
- VIN: KNDJP3A5XJ7
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to maintain oil pressure, causing engine failure. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to maintain power and would stall after being started. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN nor the model vehicle was included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
2018 Kia Soul recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2018 Kia Soul.
- Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
- Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Negative 2018 Kia Soul car reviews
Positive 2018 Kia Soul car reviews
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Believe me, the complaints about Android synchronization are unfounded! My Samsung Galaxy S9 syncs up seamlessly and provides a full extension of my Google home environment. It seriously does EVERYTHING that I ask. There is plenty of room for 4 adults and the noise levels are acceptable. The midrange torque is amazing and in sport mode, the handling is above average. I get 29 MPG in mixed driving and I am more than satisfied with my purchase. After almost two years and 30,000 miles, my Soul! continues to fulfill every need for which it was purchased. While it is not the perfect highway vehicle (I drive my Optima for extended trips), I still have no complaints, no problems, and no regrets. ** UPDATE ** I succumbed to temptation and traded my gray/black Soul Turbo for a 2020 Soul GT-Line. It has a bit more space and a lot more convenience features. They shared the 1.6L turbo motor and 7-speed transmission, so driving the new car is very similar. This is a perfect vehicle for specific professions offering comfort, brisk driving capabilities, and plenty of storage. PLUS - you get Kia's near bullet-proof reliability. It's a win/win...
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Everything about the Kia Soul is great! This is actually my second one. If you're looking for an affordable vehicle, Kia is definitely the way to go.
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I have purchased three Kia Souls and absolutely love this car. However, I recently purchased the 2018 model and unfortunately, it cannot sync with my Android phone as Kia made a deal with Apple, and it only syncs with the iPhone. This causes me much difficulty as I cannot make verbal commands to call people when I need to. It is very disappointing and will stop me from purchasing another one as I have to pull over to make phone calls or risk my and others' safety to look at my phone. I hope Kia can find a solution to this issue soon.
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I love my Kia Wild Orange Soul! It runs great and the FastTurbo is amazing. I get compliments all the time with this car.
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Hi everyone! I wanted to share my experience with the Kia Soul 2018 EX model year. I've owned four cars, including two Kia Souls, and I have to say that I really appreciate all the people who shared their experiences on edmonds.com. One of the things I love about the Kia Soul is that it's a small car that can handle big jobs. For example, one time a friend helped me move a normal-sized fridge in his Kia Soul - it was crazy! The car doesn't look big from the outside, but it's surprisingly spacious. I will say that I wasn't a huge fan of the ride and comfort on the first generation Kia Souls (production 2008-2013), but I ended up buying a used Kia Soul Base 1.6L engine in 2015 (2nd generation) and drove it for four years. I loved everything about that car, but I wanted to upgrade to the 2018 model year for features like a panorama moonroof, harman/kardon stereo system, ventilated seats, and safety features. I'm happy to report that the fuel consumption on both models (2014 with 1.6L engine and 2018 with 2.0L engine) is the same. I've been tracking my fuel consumption using an application, and after 44,800km (28,000 miles) of driving in Toronto, my average fuel consumption is 8.8L/100km (or 26.7MPG). I know some people might not think Kia is a cool brand, but I don't care about that - I'm just happy that they put so many great features in the 2018 Soul. Plus, if people keep thinking that way, it might keep the price down for current and future products! One of my friends bought a 2020 VW that's more than twice as expensive as my Soul, but every time he sits in my car and listens to music, he gets upset that he can't add a premium stereo system to his car. Thanks for reading!The price was fluctuating wildly.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2018 Kia Soul problems:
2018 Kia Soul Review, Problems, Reliability, Value, Life Expectancy ...
Dec 31, 2022 ... The 2018 Kia Soul lasts around 200,000 miles with some brake booster and air bag system issues reported. At $13,150 to $17,200, it's a great ...
2018 KIA SOUL ENGINE FAILURE : r/kia
Aug 29, 2023 ... Towed to KIA dealer. They want over 12K to replace the engine. Kia declined to cover it under the warranty - as it expired 3,000 miles ago. The ...
2018 Kia Soul Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2018 Kia Soul? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
I was thinking about a Kia Soul, but reading these posts, it seems ...
Mar 7, 2023 ... I love my 2018. Just avoid the few years with known engine issues and they are pretty rock solid cars.
2018 Kia Soul Reliability - Consumer Reports
Owner Reported Trouble Spots · Exhaust · Electrical Accessories · Engine Major · In-car Electronics · Climate System · Brakes · Engine Minor · Steering And ...
Other years of Kia Soul
Are you having problems with your 2018 Kia Soul?
Kody Adams 2024-11-27
I purchased my Kia Soul+ brand new in 2018 with only 300 miles on the odometer. I was looking for a car that was affordable and spacious, and this car definitely fit the bill. With the rear seats down, you can transport a surprising amount of things, and there is plenty of headspace in both the front and back seats. Overall, I am very pleased with the practicality of the car. However, I have noticed that the car does not drive as smoothly as I would like. The engine is not very refined, and I can feel the transmission shifts. It struggles to go up even small hills and can be difficult to drive in windy conditions. While I understand that this is due to the car's lack of aerodynamics, I was still hoping for a better driving experience. It is important to note that this car is better suited for city driving rather than freeway driving. Additionally, there is quite a bit of road and wind noise, although I found the stereo system to be quite good. The gas mileage is also not great for a small car like this, averaging around 27mpg on the highway in the summer and 25mpg on the highway in the winter. My biggest concern, however, is the reliability of the engine. After reaching 145,000 miles, it started using a lot of oil, and I have to add about 1.5 quarts every 1,000 miles. When I asked the dealership about this issue, they informed me that it would require an engine replacement. As the original owner who has followed all the recommendations in the owner's manual, I was disappointed that the engine did not last longer. Despite these issues, I have only had to replace the tires twice at around 70,000 and 140,000 miles, a wheel bearing at 150,000 miles, a brake caliper at 125,000 miles, and all four rotors and pads at about 95,000 miles.There have been two recalls so far, one related to the engine knocking system and the other for the brake system. I replaced the original battery at 75,000 miles. Apart from the poor driving experience, the other thing that bothers me is the rattling noise in the dash. It started in 2020 and occurs when going over bumps or rough roads. The dealer quoted $600 to replace a plastic part in the dash that would have required removing it. However, I decided not to go ahead with the replacement and instead, I turn up the music loud enough to drown out the rattling noise.
Gordon Rippin 2024-09-25
We purchased a 2018 Kia Soul Exclaim, which was Certified Pre-Owned from a dealer in San Jose, CA. The car was 39 months old and had 10,000 miles on it. It's a nice car and my wife of 40 years loves it. Although we're not kids anymore, it's comfortable and capable, and suits our needs perfectly. On 1 October 2023, when the car was 71 months old and had 33k miles on it, my wife had trouble getting it into reverse when she was going to the supermarket. We had parked it in the driveway instead of its usual place in the garage next to my Mercedes, and had lunch. During which we talked about how well the car had worked for us. We took it on long drives, even over my Mercedes E-class, because it's comfortable for both of us. I called the dealership near us (45 miles away) and they said they had about 20 failed Kias in their holding lot and couldn’t even look at the car for over a week. I called around and got the same story. So I said I’d have it towed, and if they could get to it earlier it would be appreciated. My wife still works and needed it to get to her office. When I called the Kia CPO service phone number, I was told that the road service was unavailable after the car was 36 months old, and it would be $450 to tow it 45 miles. Once the dealer got through their backlog of blown engines and transmissions that had come in before us, I was told that it would be three weeks for Kia CPO to decide whether they would cover it under the 10/100k powertrain “warranty.Here's where I found out that Kia does not warrant their cars. Instead, the risk is passed on to a dealership development consultant called JM&A. Unfortunately, JM&A has a reputation for treating all customers as criminals and trying to fleece them. They even wanted a $300 work order just to examine the car for signs of abuse. Despite the car having 33k miles, original tires, and always being serviced at the dealership, JM&A still tried to weasel out. Fast forward three weeks, and we were told that the car would be done on Friday (only 7 weeks at the dealership now). However, the sales writer called with much fear and trepidation to say that Kia America had shipped the WRONG TRANSMISSION. The dealership was waiting for the right one to show up, which could take up to a week. This was a huge inconvenience for us, especially since we had family Thanksgiving dinner in the San Francisco East Bay and no firm date for the car to be back. However, the night before Thanksgiving, we solved our Kia problems by going to the MB dealer in Rocklin, CA, and buying a CPO GLC 300. It gets the same mileage as her Kia, is far more comfortable, and I trust it. My wife is now on her way to see her Dad and check on our daughter in it. She's very happy with her new car!The Kia Soul replaced a 15-year-old BMW X3 with 200k miles on it. The only time my friend was 'stranded' was when the starter went out at around 170k, and our independent shop had it running the next day. However, I have yet to hear from anyone at Kia America who seems to think two months is an acceptable service window. They all sound like this is normal and expected, and I'm unreasonable for wanting the car back. Still, there is no firm date to have it back. I'm paying to insure it and the 'new' Mercedes, but my experience is that BMW, MB, Saab, Ford, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Honda (all of which we've owned over the years) care about their reputations and try to take care of their customers. Kia's observed business model is to care about their customer's money, but not give an airborne rodent's rectum about the people or their needs - like getting to work, shopping, taking care of family. I asked about a loaner or rental, since this was a long-term problem, but the laughter from both Customer (Dis)Service at Kia America and at their dealer still rings in my ears, 8 weeks later. The car is nicely packaged, which we would have given five stars to a couple of months ago. However, the wretched customer service matters. If you want better manufacturer support, I recommend a nice, clean, low-mileage 1990 Yugo. One of these days they'll get the right transmission - I think they're mining the aluminum for one now - and we'll be able to replace some of the money spent on the CPO Mercedes-Benz. Fortunately, we aren't poor and had alternatives. But not everyone can buy a Mercedes to 'tide them over' while Kia and their dealer muck about for months. If you get a good one, great! But if not, hang on. If we didn't have an extra pickup hanging about and I'd had to rent a car on my own, I'd be out about $600 a week (with the recommended CDW and PAI insurances) at a screaming good rate from Avis, accorded to me because I'm retired from a huge multinational and still get Corporate perks.Kia and their dealer have been less than helpful. As an elderly person who struggles with mobility, I was disappointed when they suggested I walk or use a ride-sharing service instead of providing a rental car. While Kia cars are great when they work properly, unfortunately, I ended up with a faulty one.
Quinn Marks 2024-07-08
I noticed that my 2015 model has more options than the 2018 model, although the turbo is a great addition to the latter. However, I was disappointed to find that the exterior and interior color options are limited and boring. The light gray headliner and trim look cheap and unattractive, and there is no all-black option for the interior. In contrast, my 2015 model had beautiful tan all Napa leather seats and cool ventilated front seats, which have been removed from the 2018 model but are available as an option on the soul+. It's strange that the soul+ has more options than the !, but we remain hopeful for future improvements.