I saw a puff of smoke then the engine started knocking while I was driving, I had the car brought home and I called Joey Griffen dealership and they told me it will be a four month wait that I would have to come out of pocket $7000 to have it fixed, that's when I found out about the recall I should not be coming out of pocket for something totally out of my control I saw metal parts on the ground,…
2012 kia Soul engine problems
severe 171 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100
Complaints
171
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$3,100
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
My car died while driving it down the highway. And I couldn't get it drive. I had to have it towed.
Recall 19V120 received 4-12-19 was addressed by Burlington Kia in May 2019. The COP ECU logic was upgraded. The car was not running well in 2022 - hesitating, misfiring, but it did not throw a code so no one could diagnose the issue. Spark plugs were changed but that did not solve the issue. The check engine light came on in Oct 2022 and the diagnosis was that the catalytic converter needed to…
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, however, declined the authorize the repair. The manufacturer provided no further assistance…
2012 Kia Soul there is a recall sc176 but my car is not on the recall? Around September 2021 my Motor running hot engine light is on and is flashing acts like it has low compression won’t go when I give it gas sometimes . Engine light came on again in november2021 and did not go off My car bogged down I was going 60mph 0mw to work traffic behind me and all sudden car went down to 40 then 20 mph …
I have contacted KIA Corp. and advised them that my 2012 KIA Soul ! with 146,500 miles was consuming so much oil that the KIA dealership had to replace my engine for $5000 and that I had to pay it. Why won't KIA Corp reimburse me? It is under 150,000 miles. They advise me that they would pay a Good Will fee to me and never did !!! The KIA dealership always did my oil changes on time and have r…
PLEASE NOTE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 19V120000 ORIGINALLY THIS WAS RESTRICTED TO THE 1.6L KIA SOUL 2012, BUT I HAVE NOTED THAT MY CAR HAS HAD AN EXHAUST LEAK AND GETS HOT, EVEN IF OPEN A FRONT WINDOW, GET A NICE WHIFF OF EXHAUST, WHEN THE ONLY CAR IN THE VICINITY. AND IS STATED AS : WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE CATALYTIC OVERHEATING PROTECTION ENGINE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WHILE CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL, THE OWNER NOTICED THE OIL LEVELS WERE VERY LOW WEEKS AFTER REPLACING THE OIL, AND THE OIL APPEARED TO BE DARK. ALSO A VALVE NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICART KIA (4255 S. HAMILTON RD, GROVE, OH), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAIL…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WHILE CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL, THE OWNER NOTICED THE OIL LEVELS WERE VERY LOW WEEKS AFTER REPLACING THE OIL AND THE OIL APPEARED TO BE DARK. ALSO, A VALVE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICART KIA (4255 S. HAMILTON RD, GROVE, OH), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NO…
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 kia Soul?
It's a meaningful issue. 171 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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