2020 Kia Soul: excessive oil consumption

Filed Nov 7, 2026 · Engine · NY

Since XXX our Kia Soul has been stalling and burning oil. It stalled out on a city street near me and had to be towed to the kia dealership where it is serviced. They said it was out of oil. We just had it serviced in XXX with complete oil and filter done. On research, we have learned this car burns oil and had a piston defect recall. At the time it was inspected they found no piston defect yet (the federal safety agency Recall 21V259000) They did the initial (PNSS) piston ring noise sensing system or vibration test which was negative AT THAT TIME. I would like to request a Techline case to authorize an oil consumption test TSB SST082 since the car is stalling and burning oil and needs a quart every week or less. It is our only car and we need it for work and activities of daily living. We have had it serviced religiously at the dealer since purchase and can document each and every service done, the laste one in XXX, where they did 4,000 in minor repairs and said we were driving it too much that;s why it ran out of oil. It puts my family's safety at risk. Please authorize an oil consumption test on our vehicle. Please note, we had our oil changed in XXX, then again in XXX at the dealer after the stall out, then again in XXX when it went low again, and then continually we added our own oil from then until now, November, awaiting approval of an oil combustion test at John Stark Kia in [XXX], but they have been giving us the run around. The three uploads document oil changes. I also have credit card proof of purchase of motor oil over these 4 months. Also note, after towing to the dealer, they did 4,000 in minor repairs but did not address the engine issues. Just said we were driving too much. Thanks very much. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Engine · AL

On [XXX], my 2020 Kia Soul (2.0L Nu MPI, VIN [XXX], approximately 102,420 miles) suffered total engine failure: complete loss of motive power, stalled and would not restart. This is the exact defect covered by federal recall 21V259000 / Kia SC209 (piston oil rings causing engine damage and stalling). The SC209 recall remedy had already been performed on this vehicle at Kia of Daphne (Daphne, AL) in June 2026. The recall did not prevent the failure. Symptom history matches the defect: the vehicle has burned oil excessively its entire life (oil changed every 3,000 miles; oil like sludge by approximately 2,000 miles) - the textbook piston-ring symptom. Sputtering began June 2026; a spark-plug replacement bought two to three months before total failure. Diagnostic codes at failure: P0304 (cylinder 4 misfire), P219F (cylinder imbalance), P0014 and P0017 (camshaft/crankshaft timing correlation), P1327 (knock sensor) - internal engine and timing damage consistent with the recalled defect. On [XXX], Kia of Daphne inspected the vehicle ([XXX]). The technician found low compression and wrote the failure 'does not have to do with recall campaign sc209A' and is 'not covered under Kia warranty or recall,' quoting $5,855.28 for an engine long block. I dispute this: low compression plus lifelong excessive oil consumption is the classic signature of worn piston oil rings - the exact SC209 defect. The one-sentence dismissal does not address the documented symptom history. Kia corporate cases [XXX] (opened 09/30/2026) and [XXX]; rebuttal submitted 10/07/2026 requesting field-engineer review; no response as of 10/15/2026, cases now closed. Safety: total loss of motive power AFTER the remedy was performed. This post-remedy SC209 failure belongs in the federal safety agency's investigation of Kia recall remedy effectiveness. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 3, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · LA

Vehicle Details: 2020 Kia Soul, 2.0L Nu MPI Engine Complaint Description: My vehicle is experiencing severe, excessive engine oil consumption at 99,000 miles, which has directly resulted in a P0420 diagnostic trouble code (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold) due to motor oil poisoning the catalytic converter. This vehicle exhibits the exact failure mechanism, symptoms, and manufacturing defects detailed in Kia Safety Recalls SC209 and SC336 (improperly heat-treated or defective piston oil rings). However, when checking my 17-digit VIN on the Kia portal, I am informed that my vehicle is excluded from these recall campaigns. The heavy oil consumption creates a severe safety hazard. The engine rapidly drops below safe oil operating levels between scheduled maintenance intervals without illuminating an oil level warning light, putting the vehicle at high risk for sudden engine stall, total engine seizure, or an engine compartment fire while traveling at highway speeds. Because this is a known, documented manufacturing defect for this specific model year and engine type, Kia should expand Safety Recall SC209 to include my VIN and prevent a catastrophic highway failure.

Filed Sep 22, 2026 · Engine · NY

My 2020 Kia Soul 2.0L has developed serious engine problems. The vehicle initially had diagnostic trouble code P0014 and later P000B. The vehicle has also experienced significant oil consumption. A mechanic inspected the vehicle and determined that the engine has sustained damage related to oil consumption and that the engine requires complete replacement. I was previously advised that the issue could involve the camshaft timing/variable valve timing system or cam phaser, but the engine itself needs to be replaced. The vehicle has approximately 113751 miles. I have maintained the vehicle and have documentation showing that I performed regular oil changes in accordance to the user manual. I am concerned about the premature engine failure and the potential safety consequences if the engine loses power or fails while the vehicle is being driven. My VIN currently does not show an applicable recall. I am reporting this problem because I believe the engine failure and oil-consumption issue should be documented and reviewed for a potential safety-related defect or pattern involving this vehicle/engine.

Filed Sep 3, 2026 · Engine · 70,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs and coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the taillights were inoperative, there was oil leaking from the bottom of the vehicle and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that after the vehicle was restarted, the vehicle returned to normal operation. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and the dealer stated that there was an oil consumption issue with the vehicle; however, cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Aug 26, 2026 · Engine · NC

Back in 2021 there was a safety recall for the engine burning oil and having a high risk of catching fire. I leased this car from the Kia dealership in Asheville, NC and was guaranteed that the issue was not with this car. Here I am a year later and I have to basically put oil into the car at least every two weeks because the engine is burning the oil so fast and the car is basically running terribly. I have made multiple complaints to a bunch of mechanics including the dealership where they are trying to over charge me for a full engine replace because my vin doesn’t follow with the recall notice.

Filed Aug 3, 2026 · Engine · FL

The engine shut down unexpectedly while driving. The dealer confirmed it was due to internal oil consumption. There's a known history of engine failure in these vehicles due to manufacturing defect, including shutting down while driving, noise coming from the engine and even a risk of fire. The warning oil lamp never came up, there was no oil leak spots in my driveway. My safety definitely was at risk, and Kia was sued and lost for these same reason before. I towed the car to Kia City in South Orlando but they wanted to charge me $7500 for fixing the engine under the excuse that the warranty had expired. This is not true, since this vehicle was purchased as a certified pre-owned vehicle with only 3000 miles and still is under the ten year powertrain warranty. I towed the vehicle back home after almost a week in the dealer.

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Engine · MI

Vehicle has 22000 miles and has a major/excessive oil consumption and engine failure. Exhaust camshaft (broken pin) Exhaust CVVT (broken pin) These components breaking caused the vehicle to stall and completely shut the vehicle down while driving 70 MPH on the freeway. The vehicle was inspected by a Kia certified mechanic and mentioned this is a well known concern. The only indicator that there was an issue was an engine light which gave a code representative of a faulty senor, not a major engine concern.

Filed Jul 15, 2026 · Engine · TX

On XXX my family and I were heading home from a family vacation. My engine burned through the oil that was put in my car on XXX. No low oil pressure light came on and there was no warning my vehicle had problems with the oil. We took our car to a Kia dealership in [XXX] and that’s when I was informed that my engine was burning oil. We had no prior knowledge that there was a problem. The service guy we were working with admitted that this issue was due to the fault engines from Kia and submitted a claim to get my engine replaced that was denied due to “low oil” INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 2, 2026 · Engine · NC

I own a 2020 Kia Soul that received Recall SC209. Kia performed the recall remedy and considered the recall complete. Before the engine failed, the vehicle had a documented history of excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was previously diagnosed by an independent third-party mechanic shop for excessive oil consumption, and I repeatedly had to add significant amounts of engine oil between oil changes to keep the engine operating. Despite this known condition, the excessive oil consumption continued after the recall was completed. Eventually, the engine suffered a connecting rod bearing failure and seized. The Kia dealership has denied warranty or recall coverage solely because Recall SC209 had already been completed. Kia Consumer Affairs also denied assistance and stated that the engine failure is not covered because the recall was previously performed. My concern is that the symptoms leading up to the engine failure—including excessive oil consumption followed by connecting rod bearing failure—are consistent with the defect addressed by Recall SC209. In my opinion, the recall remedy did not correct the underlying defect on my vehicle. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate whether the SC209 recall remedy is effective for vehicles that continue to experience excessive oil consumption and subsequently suffer catastrophic engine failure after the recall has been completed. I have maintenance records, documentation from the independent mechanic shop showing excessive oil consumption, proof that Recall SC209 was completed, and documentation of the engine failure and Kia's denial of coverage.

Filed Jun 2, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · IL

There was a recall-SC209A for a faulty piston ring. This vehicle “passed” prior to my purchase. I was unaware that my vehicle was part of the recall- when the VIN is entered in the NTSB website, no active recalls show. Starting in 10/24, the vehicle began having problems accelerating, and when I brought to my local mechanic it was found to be nearly empty on oil despite a recent oil change. I have since experienced continuing issues with low oil and oil consumption. The latest incident was in XXX on a trip to [XXX] . The car seized in the highway, and was brought to a local Kia dealer. They diagnosed a bad transmission, and it was replaced. Despite this, the car has continued to burn oil. I have brought the car to my local Kia in Schaumburg where it was purchased. It was today that I found out it was part of the recall. I asked for an oil consumption test, and I was told this would be at a $200 cost to me. I am worried for my families safety taking this car on the road- the oil light doesn’t come on when it is low. Kia hasn’t offered to retest the car, and I feel at significant risk continuing to drive it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 14, 2026 · Engine · GA

I own a 2020 Kia Soul that, according to Kia Customer Care, had the SC209 engine recall repair completed in 2021 at approximately 28,000 miles under a previous owner. I have the exact repair date written down and can provide it if needed. On May 12, 2026, while driving, the vehicle suddenly stalled and shut off, switching into accessory mode without warning. I was able to restart it afterward. Today, approximately 20 minutes ago, the same issue occurred again while driving — the engine stalled unexpectedly and switched into accessory mode. After the first incident on May 12, I checked the oil level and it appeared full. Today, after the second stall, I checked the oil again and found it significantly low, around 1–2 quarts remaining. The vehicle required approximately 3 quarts of oil to return to full. I want this formally documented because I am concerned there may be an ongoing engine issue related to excessive oil consumption and/or engine failure despite the prior SC209 recall repair having been completed. I have only had the car 27 days.