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2018 Kia Soul engine problems

148 complaints (67% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 73,454. 1 crash reported.

owner complaints
148
of this car's complaints
67%
typical mileage
73,454
crashes
1
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor
    1
  • Engine: engine control module (ecu/ECM)
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Kia Soul engine problems in other years

2010201520202025

Specific symptoms reported on the 2018 Kia Soul engine

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Knocking 53Engine failure 48Check engine light 42Oil consumption 42Stalling 24Loss of power 19Misfire 8

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2018 Kia Soul owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 25, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · RI

**Vehicle:** 2018 Kia Soul\ **Mileage:** Approximately 198,000 miles 1\. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The engine appears to have experienced a serious malfunction, and the vehicle is no longer moving. I believe the engine may have failed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2\. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** There is no immediate safety risk at the moment because the vehicle is not being driven. However, an unexpected loss of engine power or the inability to move could create a dangerous situation if it occurred in traffic. 3\. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** No. The vehicle has not been inspected or diagnosed by a dealer or independent service center. The exact cause of the failure has not been confirmed. 4\. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others?** No. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or any other party. 5\. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?** The check engine light came on, and the vehicle showed misfire codes for cylinder 1 and cylinder 3, along with an oxygen (O2) sensor code. The vehicle was also producing a significant amount of white smoke from the exhaust. These symptoms occurred before the vehicle stopped moving. The exact cause has not yet been determined because the vehicle has not been professionally inspected.

Filed Oct 14, 2026 · Engine · SC

I am reporting excessive engine oil consumption in my 2018 Kia Soul, VIN [XXX], with over 150,000 miles. The engine consumes approximately 1-2 quarts of oil every 1,000 miles. There are no visible external oil leaks, and the vehicle does not produce visible exhaust smoke. I am concerned that this excessive oil consumption may indicate an internal engine defect and could lead to engine damage or sudden engine failure if the oil level becomes too low . Having to add oil so frequently creates an ongoing risk that the engine could become dangerously low on oil between checks, potentially resulting in engine failure while driving and creating a safety hazard for the driver and other motorists. I contacted Kia America to report the problem and request assistance with diagnosis and engine repair or replacement. Kia reviewed my VIN and stated in writing that there are no applicable oil-consumption recalls, service campaigns, or warranty extensions for my vehicle. Kia also denied my request for goodwill assistance. I am concerned that this problem may affect other Kia Soul owners and believe it warrants further investigation. I am submitting this complaint so that the federal safety agency can document the excessive oil consumption and determine whether further investigation is warranted INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Engine · MA

This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Engine · MA

This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Engine · MA

This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Engine · MA

This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Engine · MA

This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.

Filed Aug 11, 2026 · Engine · IL

My car has very high oil consumption. I regularly take it for oil changes and have never missed an oil change. In between oil changes I need to put anywhere between 2-3 bottles of oil in. I have taken it in to the dealership for a couple of oil consumption tests that both failed step one so they kept it overnight and did some kind of flush or cleanse and then it passed step 2 both times. The car is good for a little while and then it starts consuming alot of oil again. Due to the high consumption of oil my catalytic converter is going bad and the engine seems very sluggish at times. I do have a yellow check engine light constantly on and the code is for the catalytic converter due to high oil comsumption. The dealership told me they can't do anything about the warning light until it starts to flash yellow instead of being solid yellow. I brought it into the dealership for that and they acknowleded my year make and model are known for excessive oil consumption which can cause the catalytic converter to go bad. They won't do anything about it because it passes step 2 of oil consumption test. but they keep giving me a hard time about just permanently fixing it under the warranty since it passes step 2 even though I am back months later for the same problem. I feel they are trying to run my warranty out so they won't have to fix it. My car now won't pass an emissions test because of the catalytic converter.

Filed Jul 25, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NC

The vehicle is suffering from an extreme internal engine oil consumption defect, burning approximately 3 quarts of engine oil every 500 to 600 miles with no external leaks. The internal oil burning heavily fouled the vehicle's ignition system (spark plugs and coil packs), causing severe engine misfires and a sudden vehicle stall while operating in motion on public highways. This unexpected loss of motive power creates an extreme safety hazard. The local dealership, Paramount Kia of Hickory, refused to follow proper factory Technical Service Bulletin (TSB-ENG219) testing protocols to document the defect, leaving the consumer operating an unsafe vehicle.

Filed Jul 21, 2026 · Engine · LA

My 2018 Kia Soul has failed on oil consumption test and needs and engine replacement. Kia knows of these issues with these cars but will not cover the engine replacement cost bc the class action suit does not cover oil consumption failure only rod bearings. This will be an issue sooner or later with the oil problem. Kia has several recalls on other vehicles for the exact same thing.

Questions about the 2018 Kia Soul engine

Does the 2018 Kia Soul have engine problems?

Owners have filed 148 complaints about the engine of the 2018 Kia Soul, 67% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 2018 Kia Soul engine problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 73,454 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2018 Kia Soul engine?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Kia Soul have bad engine?

The Kia Soul model years with the most engine complaints are 2015 (663 complaints), 2016 (623 complaints) and 2014 (591 complaints).

Other 2018 Kia Soul problems

Transmission 31Electrical 20Airbags 11Fuel system 11Acceleration 8Brakes 7Body 5Driver assistance 5Steering 5Lights 4Visibility 4Wheels 3Seat belts 2Seats 1Suspension 1

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