VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC199 FL301) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting Voluntary Service Campaign to update the software programming on the Transmission Control Module (TCM) and, if necessary, replace the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) on certain 2020-2021 MY Soul vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Kia Soul powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Kia Soul have filed 87 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 9,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
87
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Soul | 61 |
| 2017 Soul | 19 |
| 2018 Soul | 30 |
| 2019 Soul | 5 |
| 2020 Soul (this page) | 87 |
| 2021 Soul | 21 |
| 2022 Soul | 11 |
| 2023 Soul | 4 |
1crash
1fire
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 87 powertrain complaints filed for the 2020 Kia Soul, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Of the 14 model years of Kia Soul we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 87.
Owners have filed 87 powertrain 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, and the transmission oil cooler is transferred to the new transmission.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: IVT OIL PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACEMENT: This bulletin provides information to replace the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) Oil Pressure Sensor (OPS) on some 2018-2024MY vehicles listed on page 3 equipped with IVT. The affected vehicles may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated on the instrument cluster with DTCs P084500, P084600, and/or P0867XX present with no drivability concerns due to a failed IVT oil pressure sensor.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: IVT SOFTWARE LOGIC IMPROVEMENT AND/OR IVT REPLACEMENT (SC199) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. (This bulletin was previously referred as âÂÂSA424â or âÂÂELE 200âÂÂ.) This bulletin provides the procedure to update the Transmission Control Module (TCM) software logic and, if necessary, replace the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) on certain 2019-2021MY vehicles listed in the chart below. The affected vehicles may exhibit the illumination of MIL with the DTC(s) listed below in addition to a lack of acceleration or de
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2020 Kia Soul powertrain cluster shows a dominant pattern: transmission failures occurring at shockingly low mileage. At 1,800 miles, 4,900 miles, 6,700 miles, and up through 25,000 miles, owners report sudden total loss of transmission function—engine revving to redline with zero power to the wheels. Most failures happen on highways at speed, forcing emergency stops in live traffic. Many owners had to call 911 or state troopers to close lanes while waiting for tow trucks.
The failures cluster into distinct modes: complete inability to engage any gear; transmission stuck in 5th unable to shift; and transmission slipping or jerking violently during normal acceleration. In multiple cases, the same owner had a replacement transmission fail again within weeks or months. Owners were told by dealership technicians that this is "not uncommon" and that new replacement transmissions can also be defective.
Engine surging—RPMs spiking to 7000+ without driver input—accompanies many transmission failures. Some owners report this occurring during cruise control on flat roads. Owners also describe a faulty auto-stop/start system that shuts engines off unexpectedly at stoplights and fails to restart smoothly.
Dealerships frequently could not diagnose problems on short test drives, and replacement transmissions sat on backorder for 6–8 weeks. Several owners reported spending over $4,000 in repair costs or dealing with downtime stretching into months. One owner reported seeing 20 additional 2020 Souls in one shop queue awaiting transmission replacement. Kia's verbal response to dealers appears inconsistent; some owners received nothing; one received a vague "goodwill offer" with legal conditions.
Same Kia Soul powertrain reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission control unit failure / complete transmission failure
Transmission abruptly loses engagement in all gears or enters limp mode, often after warning of 'transmission control unit problem.' Engine revs but car will not accelerate; in some cases, transmission locks into a single gear or fails to shift. Occurs repeatedly in some vehicles even after replacement.
When: Between 1,800 and 44,000 miles; most commonly under 15,000 miles; often within first year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revving with no power delivery to wheels; Transmission fails to engage in any gear (Drive, Reverse, Manual modes); Transmission control unit error message displayed; Sudden loss of acceleration on highway at highway speeds; Car slows dramatically or stops despite engine running; Jerking or 'rock and roll' motion when trying to accelerate; Transmission stuck in single gear (often 5th) and will not shift; Loss of power that creates hazardous traffic situations
Codes mentioned: P0XXX (transmission-related codes mentioned but not specified in most narratives), Speed input sensor does not match speed output sensor (one case), Transmission slipping at higher RPMs
Repairs/costs cited: Complete transmission replacement required. Replacements frequently on backorder, causing 2–8 week delays. In multiple cases, replacement transmission fails again within weeks or months. One owner reported dealership technician stated 20 additional 2020 Souls in queue for transmission replacement. Some owners cited $4,000+ in repair costs; most covered under warranty but with significant downtime.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia authorizes transmission replacement under warranty. KIA Travel Interruption assistance covers up to 3 days at $100/day. One owner received 'goodwill offer' but declined due to legal stipulations. One dealer mentioned two TSB-type recalls on transmission and electronic updates, though no formal recalls posted on NHTSA at time of complaint. One narrative references NHTSA Campaign 21V259000 (Engine-related).
Engine surge / RPM fluctuation without load
Engine RPMs surge, spike, or fluctuate erratically without driver input or external cause. RPMs may climb to redline (7000+ RPM) while vehicle speed decreases or remains static. Often occurs during cruise control or steady-state driving.
When: Typically within first 15,000 miles; can occur as early as 6,700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs spike to redline (7000 RPM) with no acceleration; RPM fluctuation between 2000–3000 RPM without driver input; Engine revving up when attempting to accelerate, but car slows instead; RPM pulsing while on cruise control; Engine racing with no change in vehicle speed; Loud engine noise inconsistent with vehicle speed
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (no specific codes cited in most cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Often resolves temporarily by turning engine off and restarting. Multiple owners report dealership unable to replicate issue on short test drives. One case involved PCM (Powertrain Control Module) replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships unable to diagnose in many cases. One dealership performed transmission software update around 25K miles; problem recurred after 300 miles. One owner received letter from Kia noting 'known issue with transmission' and possibility of replacement if engine shutoff occurred.
Transmission slipping / jerking under acceleration
Transmission slips, jerks, or fails to respond smoothly when driver accelerates from stops or demands power. Vehicle may hesitate, shutter, or feel like it is in neutral despite being in Drive or another gear.
When: Within first 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking or 'rock and roll' motion when accelerating from stop; Car feels like it is in neutral when accelerator is pressed; Hard shifting or hesitation between gears; Shuddering upon acceleration; Transmission will not engage when releasing brake from a stop; Sluggish gear shift; transmission does not seem to work properly; Car loses power then regains it sporadically
Repairs/costs cited: One owner received transmission software update; issue persisted. Repairs often involve transmission replacement or fluid service; in many cases, root cause not identified by dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships sometimes claim inability to replicate issue. Software updates applied in some cases without resolution. One owner received voucher stating car had 'high risk potential pre-existing conditions with mechanical or electrical issues.'
Auto-stop/start (idle-stop-go) system malfunction
Vehicle engine shuts off unexpectedly when stopped or at idle, or fails to restart smoothly when driver releases brake pedal. System may produce abnormal noise on restart.
When: Within first year of ownership; around 6,000–12,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off without driver action while at traffic light or stop sign; Engine stalls randomly in busy intersection; Engine fails to restart immediately after braking; Strange 'cat squalling' noise when engine restarts via auto-stop feature; Dull 'quake-like' noise when releasing brake after auto-stop shutdown; Automatic start feature disabled message appears, though feature was enabled; Check engine light and various warning lights illuminate during failure
Codes mentioned: Automatic start feature disabled (message displayed)
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster replacement attempted in one case without success. Multiple dealers unable to diagnose root cause. One dealership noted multiple vehicles with same problem arriving in shop but no solution identified after 5+ months.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships unable to pinpoint cause. One dealer requested owner not bring in vehicle until solution determined, noting another customer had identical problem. No manufacturer response documented in narratives.
Engine stall / loss of oil with incomplete warning system
Engine seizes or stalls while driving with little to no warning; some cases involve rapid oil loss without triggering oil-pressure warning light. One case involved engine seizure after sputtering; another involved complete oil starvation.
When: At 10,000 miles (first stall); around 13,400 miles (acceleration issue tied to low oil)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine seizes while driving with sputtering sound; Engine shuts off abruptly with no warning lights; Sputtering noise from engine; No oil on dipstick despite no visible leaks; Loud ticking noise from engine; Improperly accelerating after low oil condition; No check engine light or oil-pressure warning prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Oil consumption test initiated in one case; dealership found insufficient oil but attributed acceleration issue to low oil rather than diagnosing mechanical failure. No repairs documented in narratives; one owner refused further dealership service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia corporate told owner 'dealership knows best' when escalated about acceleration issue. No other manufacturer response documented.
Engine knock and hard starting (cold start issue)
Engine produces knock or thumping sound on startup or during operation. In one case, restart feature delayed engine start at traffic light, leaving owner vulnerable to traffic.
When: Within first 2 months of ownership; around 80,000 miles (restart failure case)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knock present but not previously observed; Abnormally loud thumping sound from engine during operation; Auto-restart feature fails to start engine immediately at traffic light; Delayed engine start during idle-stop/restart sequence
Repairs/costs cited: One narrative mentions 'engine knock that wasn't there previously' but no repair details provided. Restart failure case scheduled for dealership inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Synthesized from 87 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
I purchased this car new with approximately 50 miles on it. On day 34, while driving on a two lane rural road the rpms began going up and down wildly, a strong smell (which I now know is transmission) and the car would not move forward or backward. Being in an s curve with flashers on, I was almost hit by a car coming around the curve. Two more vehicles were behind the first one and stopped,…
The problems with the KIa Sol began with the "check engine" light continuously coming on in January of 2025. Took it to the dealership twice and numerous repairs were made and the vehicle continues to malfunction. It sputters and has created a dangerous condition to drive. For example, my 21 year old son was on the freeway and the car started sputtering. Thank God that the truck behind him moved…
While driving along the interstate, going 70 MPH, I noticed the RPM gauge started to fluctuate. Shortly after, I started having issues maintaining the speed. I pressed the gas pedal, but the vehicle wouldn’t speed up - instead started loosing speed. I started to hear grinding noises as I pressed the gas pedal. Eventually, I kept loosing speed and there was nothing I could do to make the vehicle…
Today while driving home. My 2020 Kia soul hit 23000 miles. Shortly after as I was on highway on way home still. My vehicle started sputtering like bad gas. Then started jerking and rpms kept revving up even thou I wasnt pushing on gas any harder.about 27miles from home rpms shot up and car started slowing down. Quickly pulled over. So I put in park the shifted to drive again tried to give lil…
I stopped at stop sign and the car shut off and made a ding sound but radio never disconnected. Not the usual shut off this was different. Then it started but it made an unusual ding sound. Plus, sounds like the transmission is dragging it was a recall and I took the car back for maintenance and now it's doing same thing again plus this time it was whining for about 10 seconds while I was driving.
While driving my 2020 Kia soul gt, there was a loud bang and the car lost all power. Fortunately, I was able to get it pulled to the side of the road. I was on a country road and not on a major highway where it would have caused an accident. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealer.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2020 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 powertrain problem on the 2020 Kia Soul?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 87 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 57 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 4,200 and 16,000 miles, with the median around 9,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,200; a quarter make it past 16,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2020/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.