2017 Kia Soul: won't start

Filed Jan 29, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · VA · fire

On 11/07/22 my car started to sputter & lose power while going up a hill, the incident only lasted a few seconds with no warning lights. Later that same day my car wouldn't start and when it finally did start it started sputtering, had no power with no warning lights, plus there was a strong smell of gas from inside the car. I had the car towed to a local shop. The shop cleaned the injectors, put a fuel treatment in the tank and replaced a bad O2 censor. 8 Days later on another hill it happened again. A hard sputtering followed by loss of power, still no warning lights but also no smell of gas. I drove it back to the same shop and after just one day the shop could not get my car to reproduce the same incident but was having difficulty starting it so they installed a new battery. 5 Days later on Thanksgiving my car sputtered hard while driving with no warning lights or smell of gas. I was barely able to get my car across 2 lanes of oncoming traffic in order to pull into a store's parking lot. I had it towed to a new shop. At this new shop it was diagnosed that the car needed new Spark Plugs, a new High Pressure Fuel Pump and new Injectors but the shop took 3 weeks to give me an estimate and so I went and retrieved my car and towed it KIA of Lynchburg, having only had the Spark Plugs replaced. Once at KIA, I was told I had a Catalytic Converter failure and it needed replacing. KIA said that it would be covered under Emissions Warranty. I had the part installed and 3 days later on New Years Eve as I was driving on the highway, I had to come to a stop due to a stop light and when I halted, the car again sputtered and I limped into a nearby parking lot and had it towed back to KIA. KIA tried to say it was Engine Failure this time but the Engineers said the High Pressure Fuel Pump should be replaced. Once installed and during a test drive by the Master Mechanic, smoke emanated from under the hood. Soon after that my Engine bay was on fire which led to a total loss.

Filed Jan 4, 2022 · Engine · OR

It started with stalling on hills, acting sluggish, and losing oomph. This worsened over the course of approximately one month. I did a mini engine flush and changed the oil (at a reputable shop) early, thinking maybe it just needed a little love. A week later, I was driving down the freeway (Interstate 5) at night when the car stalled - all of the dashboard lights came on and the engine disengaged. I pulled off, and turned the car off. I attempted to restart it, and it would not turn over. After waiting on the side of said highway with two children for almost 3 hours, I had it towed. Ultimately, it was taken to two different service shops - one independent and one dealership - who both diagnosed the engine had essentially "exploded"; there were metal shards everywhere, no oil pressure, and lots of knocking/misfiring. The engine needs to be replaced - this has been reported to KIA, who has yet to decide if they are going to address the issue (case number 14385039). Insurance declined to address it. Police were not called.

Filed Jan 3, 2022 · Engine · AR

There has been 3 separate times the car has stalled out for no reason. Sometimes at high speeds. I have taken it to different mechanics and they can find nothing wrong with it. It's like the engine just freezes and it will not start back for some time.

Filed Jun 4, 2021 · Engine · CA

I was headed to a family BBQ on memorial day in my 2017 Kia Soul that I have had about 2 years and is a certified pre-owned vehicle and did not notice any abnormalities or sounds prior to the incident. I went to partk and noticed that my check engine light popped on but thought nothing of it as my gas cap lock was broken and so I turned off the vehicle. I want to note there was no sounds, and no over heating. That evening I went to leave and the car would not turn over and thought maybe the battery was bad, but was reminded that it was replaced one week prior. So I had it towed in the next day to a mechanic and upon initial inspection he found that the engine had siezed and locked up as well as it would not turn over. I'm pretty good about personally completing oil changes, but was sharing vehicle with my ex partner and was told that the oil came up 2 quarts short upon checking, but was told that should not be enough to make the engine seize. So the mechanic replaced the starter and upon turning over the vehicle the engine began to produce a bad knock and I was told that the engine was needing to be replaced and was going to lock up again if driven. The vehicle is at 70,000 miles so is no longer covered under the factory warranty and the extended warranty may not cover it so I'm at a lose at the moment. I find it really hard to believe that after all the research I've done on this engine problem and seeing all the people with the same situation occurring that a recall has not been issued on this year.

Filed Oct 24, 2020 · Engine · 68,000 miles · IL

My son bought a 2017 kia soul less than a year ago with about 57,000 miles. On tuesday oct 11, 2020 the car kept stalling when driving and then wouldn't start. Also, the oil pressure light kept flashing so he checked the oil. He had the oil previously changed on aug 29, 2020. The dipstick came up empty. He added oil and when he drove it to firestone auto repair shop, the oil light flashed every time the car stopped at a light. Firestone first said nothing was wrong. He left there only to find it doing the same thing. It stalled when he was making a turn onto a busy road. He took it back to firestone where the diagnostic finally said it was a bad oil pump. They suggested to him to take it to kia because it would need a new engine. Ford/kia said the engine is blown and it is not under warranty because he is the second owner. The warranty for the second owner ends at 60,000 miles and this car now has 68,000 miles.

Filed Aug 31, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 100,000 miles · IN

My 2017 kia showed no signs of problems until I was driving to store on state road 9 going 40 MPH and while in drive in died out on me. I turned the key over a few times. It finally caught and started. I continued home and it did this again. Only the oil light came on. I got it started and moved off the road and had it towed to my mothers. When I tried to start it again it wouldnt start. My step father looked at it and the piston had flown it to the spark plug. And I was told my moter was blown.

Filed Aug 3, 2020 · Engine · 80,000 miles · AL

I stopped at a red light and my car cut off. I would not crank back up. The. Mechanic said the timing chain broke. My car will need a new motor. I have only 80,000 miles. Never had any problem and loved my car.