2012 Kia Soul: misfire or rough idle

Filed Mar 16, 2026 · Engine · CA

Check engine light came on. Car starts to shutter upon acceleration as well when its idling. Changed spark plugs 3 times since Jan 2025 and coils twice. Code for engine misfire in cylinder 3. Also have to add oil every 2 weeks.

Filed Nov 21, 2025 · Engine · IN

P1326 code followed by loss of power (limp mode) followed by multiple misfires and loss of compression in cylinder 2. Loss of power going up a hill on interstate with a full car one under age 10. Dealer and firestone states no compression in cylinder 2 and says needs engine.

Filed Dec 3, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · 143,449 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally, with the oil and check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact drove back to the residence and inspected the vehicle and became aware that oil was leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact raised the hood and noticed that there was oil all over the engine compartment and the dipstick had blown off. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was a misfire in cylinder #2 and the engine and battery needed to be replaced. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) as a possible cause for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,449.

Filed Aug 8, 2023 · Engine · 149,000 miles · WA

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the engine was misfiring. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road for 20 minutes. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred a week later. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.

Filed Dec 30, 2022 · Engine · NJ

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 be replaced. I called the Kia Consumer Assistance number, filed a claim with them, and waited for close to two months for a response. The basis of the claim is that they did not resolve the issue with the COP logic upgrade and the catalytic converter should be replaced, at no cost to us, per the recall notice. The claim was denied by Kia. We ended up replacing the catalytic converter at Burlington Kia, at a cost of $2201.88. We picked up the car, drove it for two days, and it began running rough again, hesitating and stalling. The check engine light came on again. We took it back to Burlington Kia who now diagnosed it as needing new spark plugs which will be another $300 expense. We are waiting for it to be repaired. Our concerns now is that when we pick it up again, it's not just going to be a spark plug issue and the catalytic converter fail, which was never corrected in the recall, will cause engine failure, or worse, an engine fire as there is a similar recall on other Kia models underway now. We are looking for reimbursement from Kia for the catalytic converter fail, per the recall notice and a guarantee that them not replacing the converter with the 2019 recall will not result in engine damage.

Filed Dec 11, 2019 · Engine · OK

Vehicle constantly misfiring or attempting to stall with a check engine line that doesn't stay illuminated whether running, driving, or at a stand still. Potentially very dangerous!! When able to read code it states it's a cylinder 2 issue, but only provides generic code. Still has issues despite getting fixed! This kia should be a part of the engine recall as well!

Filed Oct 6, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 95,000 miles · NC

Car is jerking/bucking and misfiring while idle and when driving it jerks. Car check engine light constantly turns on and off on its own.

Filed Mar 15, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 207,465 miles · IA

My 2012 kia soul (base) with the 1.6l gdi recently had a problem on I-80 traveling between des moines, ia and denver, co. (there had been no prior symptoms) after reaching around 65 MPH, the engine began misfiring emmiting obd error code 0336 indication a bad crankshaft position sensor. I stopped at the nearest autozone, bought a appropriate replacement, and installed the part in the parking lot. Upon ignition, the car immidiately began misfiring and died. On the second attempt, the car started and misfired; but it sent the same 0336 code then the tachometer died. Although the techometer died, the engine continued to idle (and run) without further misfires. Upon seeing this, I figured it was the cam shaft position sensors (as the symptoms are very similiar). I found, and replaced both engine mounted cam shaft position sensors, but no new symptoms untill I test drove the vehicle. During the test drive, the vehicle emmited 3 obd codes, and didnt start misfiring until the tachometer went over 3500 RPM. By then, I was doing a highway test on I-80 outside lincoln, ne, and the car just died at around 55-65 MPH. It emmited code 0336 for a bad crankshaft position sensor, 0565 for cruise control on signal malfunction (I have the base model, so there is no cruise control), and 0517 for battery temperature circuit malfunction. I managed to get the vehicle off the interstate, and back home where the problem changed again. Now it misfires untill the tachometer hits 3500, then the tachometer dies and the vehicle appear to run normal (dispite the reoccuring odb2 codes 0366, 0517, and 0565) it appears the engine heated up enough to burn out a brand new crankshaft position sensor, and cause problems with the battery. (and possibly the ecu as it now reports my non-existant cruise control is malfunctioning)