2020 Kia Soul: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 14, 2026 · Engine · CA

On XXX my 2020 Kia Soul while on the freeway, would not accelerate and silently stalled. The check engine, oil, and battery light all came on. Putting it into Park and then Drive again, the vehicle began shifting backwards. The vehicle could not be safely driven and was towed to Kearny Mesa Kia in [XXX]. The dealer diagnosed code P0017 (crankshaft position and camshaft position correlation). The technician found the exhaust camshaft out of sync because the pin on the CVVD gear had broken, which allowed the gear to spin on the camshaft. The recommended repair is replacement of the exhaust camshaft, CVVD gear and bolt, timing chain tensioner, and valve cover gasket, quoted at $3,285.34. A borescope inspection found no valve damage. The service advisor told me this is a common problem on these vehicles. An internal engine part failing like this at about 99,000 miles is a premature failure, not normal wear. A sudden loss of camshaft timing can cause stalling or a loss of power while driving, which is a safety risk. I am the third owner and bought the car used through Carvana at about 55,000 miles, so the powertrain warranty does not cover this repair. Kia America denied my request for goodwill assistance. I ask the federal safety agency to look into CVVD gear and camshaft timing failures on the 2020 Kia Soul 2.0L engine. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 8, 2026 · Engine · 79,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the engine started knocking on the passenger side of the vehicle underneath the hood. The contact accelerated to 45 MPH and continued driving. After refueling, while continuing to drive at 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost engine power, and the vehicle started coasting. The vehicle was stopped, restarted, and the contact continued driving. A short while after restarting the vehicle, the failure reoccurred. The contact stopped the vehicle, waited, then restarted the vehicle a second time. The vehicle was driven to the destination. An image of an engine was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle continued to make a knocking sound. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine was failing and needed to be replaced. The certified mechanic informed the contact about the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine); and associated the vehicle with the recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, who confirmed the diagnosis; however, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer declined to provide the engine replacement under recall or warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

Filed Jan 29, 2026 · Engine · GA

I purchased my 2020 Kia Soul GT-Line brand new in October 2019. The vehicle was later subject to a Kia oil piston ring recall, which was performed by an authorized Kia dealership in July 2021. Rick Case Kia - Duluth, Georgia Despite the recall being marked as completed, the engine has now suffered catastrophic failure. An authorized Kia dealership (Nalley Kia, Lithonia, GA) performed an inspection and documented the following diagnosis: “Engine has loss of compression in 3 of 4 cylinders due to piston ring failure.”  This confirms that the engine failed due to piston ring failure, the same defect addressed by the recall. The vehicle is currently inoperable and unsafe to drive due to engine failure and loss of power. Despite identifying the cause of failure, the servicing dealer and warranty administrator are refusing to process warranty coverage unless I personally pay $1,949.56 for a complete engine teardown. The cause of failure has already been documented by the dealership, making the teardown demand unnecessary and unreasonable. I do not consent to teardown at my expense. This appears to be a case of failed or ineffective recall remediation, resulting in engine failure and creating a serious safety risk due to loss of engine power. I am requesting the federal safety agency investigation into the effectiveness of Kia’s oil piston ring recall remedy and post-recall engine failures.

Filed Jan 22, 2026 · FL

My 2020 Kia Soul is suffering catastrophic engine failure from a known safety recall defect involving the piston oil rings. I received a safety recall notice from Kia on July 5, 2021 warning that defective piston oil rings could cause engine damage and engine fires. I brought the vehicle to a Kia dealer for recall service on July 5, 2021 and again on February 1, 2022 for the same safety recall. Kia did not replace the engine and did not explain what repairs were performed. Now, despite having complied with both recall repairs, my engine is knocking, burning oil, losing power, and the check engine light is blinking. The vehicle has stalled in traffic, creating a serious safety risk. I am afraid to drive it due to the risk of engine failure and fire. The Kia dealer is now telling me the engine needs to be replaced at a cost of $5,000 or more, or I must replace the vehicle. They claim the recall was already performed and the vehicle is no longer under warranty, even though the same recalled defect has now caused engine failure. This appears to be a defective and ineffective recall remedy that did not correct the safety defect and has resulted in dangerous engine failure.

Filed Nov 19, 2025 · Engine · NJ

Component that failed: The engine (2.0L Nu MPI) suffered a sudden internal mechanical failure. A connecting rod broke and punctured through the engine block. The failure was catastrophic and occurred without any warning lights, oil pressure warnings, overheating messages, or performance symptoms beforehand. Safety risk: The vehicle stalled instantly and lost all power while I was driving, which put my safety at risk. A sudden engine failure at speed can cause loss of control, a crash, or the inability to move the vehicle off the roadway. This type of failure is a serious safety hazard. Inspection and confirmation: The failure was confirmed by Kia of Riverdale on November 13, 2025. Their mechanic documented that the engine rod blew through the block due to internal damage. The dealer stated the vehicle is no longer drivable and needs a full engine replacement. Manufacturer response: Kia declined assistance because I am the second owner and the warranty has expired, even though this type of failure is consistent with known engine defects in Kia’s 2.0L engines involving connecting rods, oil starvation, and internal bearing failures. Kia did not inspect the vehicle beyond the dealership diagnosis and did not offer goodwill repair. Warning signs before failure: None. No warning lamps, noises, or messages appeared prior to the incident. The engine failed suddenly without any advance symptoms. Best assessment of cause: Based on the dealer inspection and Kia’s documented history of engine defects, the failure appears related to the same connecting rod and internal lubrication issues affecting similar Kia engines from nearby model years. Although my VIN is not currently included in an active recall, the mechanical failure matches the defect patterns described in existing Kia engine recalls. The vehicle remains unsafe and completely inoperable.

Filed Aug 15, 2025 · Engine · OH

Was driving home from work and the car started smoking and making nose. Full power loss but was able to safely pull over to side of the ride. Had vehicle towed to mechanic and a piston had blown a hole through the engine. Mechanic estimated the cost of repair $7000 or more to replace the engine.

Filed Oct 15, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · IN

While driving vehicle; stalling, sputtering, failure to shift gears, engine knocking/shaking car. Altinator was replaced and stopped sputtering. Following day I was going 55 mph and car completely stalled out on a busy road and almost got rear ended and car lost power car was towed to Kia Dealership for further diagnostics test. Failures of systems have been on going but always started back up after leaving dealership where purchased. After altinator was replaced batter light and oil light came on dash along with check engine light stalled for about a minute I turned car off and back on and it was able to drive off lot. Place of purchase would do a temporary fair and also changed transmission fluid. One hour later was when vehicle stalled out and lost power.

Filed Feb 26, 2024 · Transmission · SC

The vehicle started with what felt like the car was going gently slower and faster as if it was almost out of fuel but had a full tank. This happened a couple times and I had the dealership check it out but they were unable to recreated the problem. This progress to a more obvious gear shifting harder or not when it should. There are times where when I try to accelerate, it shutters and doesn't want to go. I just recently had an issue after stopping for gas, where it lost power all together and started to almost redline. I pulled off to the side of the road and made several attempts to get going again and it would rev up but was not giving any power to the wheels. I shut off the vehicle and let it sit for a for moments and turned it back on and tried again and was able to get moving again. It didn't act up again until a few days later when I was heading to work. It would have this gentle feeling of having power and loosing power on the highway. When I got off the highway and started to go after I stopped it shuttered hard and I took my foot off the gas and it stopped and I was able to go. This is all the same characteristics of the vehicles with this transmission that do have a recall. This recall needs to be extended!!

Filed Mar 27, 2023 · Engine · NC

Compete engine failure at just over 100,000 miles. Driving down a busy road and vehicle suddenly lost engine power. Had to unsafely travel at well below speed limit to local Kia dealership. Dealership evaluated engine and stated it would need replaced entirely. There was no reason or explanation given.

Filed Dec 8, 2022 · Steering · 14,000 miles · IA

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while starting the vehicle in a parking lot, the steering wheel locked, and the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact shifted the vehicle into park(P) and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated a symbol of a steering wheel in a circle with a line through the steering wheel was illuminated. The contact stated she drove the vehicle to her residence and turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.

Filed Oct 25, 2022 · Transmission · TX

My 2020 Kia Soul Turbo transmission had a complete lost of power failure on September 26, 2022 at highway speed without an warning. I was lucky enough to get to the shoulder of the road and limb into a gas station at 5 mph. And contact Kia service to have my car towed to the nearest Kia dealership because my car as only 19,067 on it. It was there later I was told the will need to be replaced and Kia would not pay for the replacement because it appeared that maybe the transmission plug was tampered with. The car did not display any warning signs or lights prior to this breakdown

Filed Mar 20, 2022 · Transmission · FL

Driving car on I-10 west. Near Pensacola, FL tachometer started fluctuating wildly. Car seemed to be losing power regardless of whether using accelerator or cruise control. Passed exit with a Kia dealer too late to exit, so drove to next exit 4 miles down. Light at end of exit was on hill. Stopped, but when light turned green, car would not move. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT ANY TIME. Took Kia Roadside Assistance about 2.5 hrs for tow. Towed to Team Gunther, Daphne, AL Kia dealer. Service rep thought was transmission prob as another customer had reported similar situation. Had to wait til Monday, 2/28/22 to get official word that transmission needed to be replaced. Covered by warranty but since wld take about 2 wks to get part and do work, had to find way to get back home to Jacksonville, FL. Kia Travel Interruption assistance covers max of 3 days and $100 a day, so have been reimbursed for some, but not all expenses since total expense over $300. Car ready for pick up on 3/12/22 and picked up 3/15 after getting back to the area from Jax FL. Could have been major safety probs if I had been unable to exit I-10 or if car had lost power on road with no shoulder....