This vehicle has been a nightmare for half of the time that I’ve had it. I first took it back to the Kia dealership in 2019 because of the check engine light and told them it was pulling a 420 code I knew that was a catalytic converter which had been recalled. After a few hours of having my car they told me that no repairs were needed so they marked the recall as complete. I had to continue to…
2014 Kia Soul engine problems
severe 455 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
455
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
2crashes
38fires
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 455 engine complaints filed for the 2014 Kia Soul, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 51% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 455 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
The contact’s daughter owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to approximately 40 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the…
One day it was fine, drove to louisville ky from lexington ky and noticed sporadic, weird shifting which seemed very off, shifting at the wrong time I had grown accustomed to for the previous 6 years on the way back home car would not go over 55-60 MPH and to try and force it to downshift only made the engine rev extremely high and noisy with no forward motion, car acted as though it wanted to…
I had the original 2.0l engine throw a rod even though I stayed up with its routine maintenance schedule. So I replaced it with a used motor that had 30000 less mi on it than the 65000 the original motor had on it. On the second motor the 1st piston disintigrated and fell into the oil pan. This was proceded by a ticking sound and eventually turned into a loud knocking sound and a intermediate…
The engine on my Kia Soul blew about 3 months ago. My husband was driving on the highway when the car started acting funny. It lost the power to accelerate and steer. He was able to make it to a gas station where he checked all the fluids. He found there to be NO oil!! There was no indication light or warning! As a matter of fact, we had the oil changed about a month prior to the incident. We…
There is a 1.6 ltr engine in this vehicle, 2014 Kia soul. I find this vehicle using .5qt of oil between 1000 and 1500 miles. Is this normal? I am not the only person complaining about Kia engines using oil. By comparison I also have a Hyundai 2008 Hyundai accent with a 1.6lt engine both vehicles have about the same mileage the accent doesn't use any oil in 3000 miles, what gives? Seems like an…
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Kia soul. While driving 50 MPH on the freeway. The engine made a weird knocking noise and the vehicle slowed down. The contact smelled a burning odor, pulled off the highway, and had the vehicle towed to sunset Kia (3401 auburn way n, auburn, wa 98002, (855) 474-9626). The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 19v120000 (engine and engine cooling). The dealer…
My car is losing oil somewhere. Checked no leaks. Oil changed regularly and on time. Oil dip stick shows one quart low refilled. Drove car approximately 6 miles and light started flashing quickly. Parked checked oil and is once again low. No burnt oil smell but it has to be going somewhere.
Loud clacking noise and lost of power ## VIN passed ## Kia soul 2014 ##
Traveling down the interstate at 75 MPH...had cruise control on and started to hear a loud rattling noise then a pop resulting in vehicle becoming immobilized with oil all over the ground. Vehicle towed home. Engine had throw a rod resulting in hole in the engine block and drain pan - has 102,000 miles well maintained
Had engine trouble with your 2014 Kia Soul?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2014 Kia Soul?
It's a meaningful issue. 455 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?
Across the 314 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 85,000 and 123,000 miles, with the median around 104,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 85,000; a quarter make it past 123,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Kia/Soul.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.