2014 Kia Soul: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Jun 16, 2023 · Brakes, Engine · VA

I was driving the speed limit of 60 mph and all of a sudden it sputtered and hesitated; stalling out while attempting to accelerate going lower speed. My vehicle luckily got a parking spot at an automotive repair shop. No warning signal illuminated during my driving incident. The next morning the engine wouldn't start, but eventually they get it to start. They got the "Check Engine Message Center Warning" showing during Road Test. The automotive repair shop did a diagnostic test on it saying that the technician diagnosed the problems to a bad fuel injector fouling out the spark plug #4 cylinder recommending to replace all 4 fuel injectors and spark plugs, my transmission has no dipstick, OE Factory Maintenance due and is required, tires were getting weather cracked and recommending tires soon, technician noted that the car had some oil leaks and needed to be diagnosed further, cabin air filter missing and need to install a new filter; recommend cabin filter replacement service: includes anti-bacterial duct service, Tune Up Items: Fuel induction service recommending tune up labor 3-part fuel induction system service to where tune up is due/overdue by mileage if not already done so, Engine Oil was Over Filled Dark/Contaminated with Fuel in Oil and recommended oil change after changing Fuel Injectors and Plugs (BUT, I had my oil changed about a week before all of this occurred), Air Filter: OE Maintenance Interval Dirty and recommended installing new engine air filter, Brake Fluid: OEM recommended service interval/Brake Fluid Exchange service recommended due by mileage if not already done so. I purchased this vehicle December 10, 2022 and then this all occurred after just 4 month of purchasing this vehicle. It took 3 weeks to fix this vehicle. I had this fixed and still I have to wonder how safe is it really? I'm concerned so much so that I plan on taking this vehicle to a Kia Dealership appointment tomorrow June 17, 2023 to have a Multi-Point Inspection.

Filed Apr 24, 2023 · Engine · 94,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked significantly and hesitated to respond. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving under 40 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would jerk while at a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer declined to cover the repair as the vehicle had passed the bearing clearance test. 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 vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Apr 20, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · MI

Since I bought this car, I have experienced hesitation, stalling, high RPM idle, fluctuating idle, burning smell, lurching, running though gas very fast (not due to increased driving), engine noises, dash panel half lighting up, hard to accelerate when the headlights are on, or heat, or air con, odd noises..and through this entire time, check engine light comes on and off and on and off...along with my gas gauge saying empty when its full. I have reported ALL of this throughout the entire time since all bought it. Every single time they say "software update" and send me home with nothing ever fixed. EVER. Now again check engine and false fuel reading, hesitations, etc....again! This engine and fuel pump is bad and explains all of my complaints since 10kmiles. My car has under 80k mi on it, its been a lemon from the start. Hesitation with no pick-up at an intersection and noises....just beyond dangerous. I have not driven my car on the freeway in 5 years because itis not safe, but Kia NEVER checks out problems. They charge for inspection and say "software update". Its maddening.

Filed Jan 19, 2023 · Airbags, Engine · 80,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V75000 (Engine), the vehicle sputtered and hesitated while attempting to accelerate above 40 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the spark plugs were cracked. After replacing the spark plugs, the vehicle continued to experience failure. The contact stated that occasionally the vehicle stalled during the failure. Additionally, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact stated that the cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed Apr 28, 2022 · Engine · 100,000 miles · WA

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that he had received an unknown recall notification. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and four unstated recall repairs were performed. Upon return of the vehicle, the contact stated that the vehicle would stall and hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the oil pump, oil sender, and air compressor were all replaced. Days after the repair, the check engine light appeared on the instrument panel. The independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The mechanic then called the dealer and he was informed that the vehicle was under warranty. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it remained in their possession for a week; the dealer then informed the contact that the manufacturer would not cover the repair under warranty. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Dec 3, 2021 · Engine, Steering · 90,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle wobbled and hesitated to accelerate. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming excessive amounts of oil. The local dealer and Gurley Leep Kia (4028 Grape Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46545) were made aware of the failure. Both dealers informed the contact that the next available appointment was on December 20th. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact learned that there were two recalls associated with the VIN; the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V608000 (Steering) and 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Filed Oct 20, 2021 · Engine · IN

Engine making knocking noise, car turns off while driving, it won't start sometimes, hard hesitates when gears change, I'm mostly concerned about it turning off while driving in a high way it happened three times already to me!

Filed Feb 2, 2021 · Engine · 175,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 kia soul. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v750000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle loss motive power and hesitated to accelerator above 50 MPH. The vehicle was taken to kia country of charleston (2361 savannah hwy, charleston, sc 29414 (843) 573-2300) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle had oil consumption failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact managed to drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed a second time and determined that the catalytic converter failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 175,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Dec 29, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 136 miles · KY

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 just quit altogether, and from that point on its been bogging down like a giant sat on the hood upon pushing the accelerator to get more speed, and upon backing off 9f the accelerator pedal the loud revving noise eased up and car seemed to recover somewhat until the next acceleration...the car has hesitated, engine idle is, for the most part, ok, but 55-60 is as fast as it will go unless going downhill, then I can 65 MPH until the next time it needs to go up an incline then it shows to 40-45 with obvious stress trying to maintain a certain speed.

Filed Aug 25, 2020 · Engine · 140,000 miles · TX

My wife and I are the formerly proud owners of a 2014 kia soul 2.0 our first kia was a 1996 sportage, we bought it new at one of the first four kia dealers in the us, bob lanphere in beaverton or. We have been kia evangelists for many years. However, over some time, our 2014 soul seemed to be slowly losing power, and also losing some oil between changes. We used it in town, rarely at highway speeds. I guess it is an example of slowly turning up the heat on the pot of water for the frog; but we just didn't pay much attention. We happened to take it to our mechanic to have the brakes done, he called up, said the brakes were ready but that the car had little power and asked 'how did we drive it like that?' he further volunteered that the exhaust emitted a metallic odor he associated with a dying catalytic converter, and that a clogged converter can significantly hamper the power. We were surprised to hear the news but the gentleman has proved his acuity and integrity a number of times over the years with other vehicles. We subsequently had the entire converter replaced with an aftermarket product for a "mere" 900 dollars. After the fact, we thought there was still some hesitation when acceleration was required, but it clearly ran much better. Then we found out about the 1.6 recall, and a class action suit for the 2.0! Now we worry that if there is a programming issue it could damage another converter and even worse if the converter is not the instigator then the car might stop dead and/or catch on fire at any time regardless of a new converter. It runs very hot, and has less power than it should. Nobody can explain why the bad ecu programming would not effect the 2.0 engine's catalytic converter, we have asked the dealership and the kia customer assistance center to explain the distinction both verbally and in writing with no real answer.

Filed Aug 14, 2020 · Engine · 127,000 miles · PA

The vehicle hesitated, smoke entered the cabin, and then the engine blew while traveling at speed on a 4 lane highway. Once pulled over there was oil leaking out of the engine and running down the highway.

Filed Aug 7, 2020 · Engine · 130,000 miles · SC

My daughter was driving her 2014 kia soul 2.0 gdi home from work this afternoon when she said without warning the engine hesitated then started knocking, she made it home but at great risk to her safety. I checked the oil and it did not show on the stick.I had to add 3.5 qts. Engine continues to knock very loudly and has no power. Oil was changed only two months ago.there are no visible leaks and there is every indication that the engine has burned the oil. After doing some research I see that there has been numerous recalls for kia engines because of engine failure and oil buring. I don't understand why this particular engine has not been recalled? How many complaints does it take? Now she has a undrivable car that is also not paid for. Warranty has also expired.