2020 Kia Soul: complete transmission failure

Filed Jul 2, 2026 · Engine · TN

A service campaign/safety recall was issued, necessitating an engine replacement. Bramlett Kia in [XXX], performed this service in late May/early June of 2025. It took them an entire six weeks to do the work. Upon completion of the job, my husband attempted to drive it off their lot, only for the transmission to go out immediately. Kia also replaced the transmission. After this was done, my husband drove the car back to our house in [XXX]. It sat in our garage from June until two weeks ago. My brother has been driving the car between [XXX], and [XXX]. Two nights ago, as he was leaving work, the vehicle started, ran for 30 seconds and made a rumbling sound before breaking down. He restarted the car and started driving it, but the car quickly overheated. As an emergency measure, he drove it to a service shop in [XXX], where it was discovered that the AC compressor and serpentine belt had come loose. This was because the bolts securing the engine were overtightened during the engine replacement in [XXX], and two of them had broken off while the vehicle was in motion, thus allowing the compressor and serpentine belt to loosen. We had the car towed to Cavenaugh Kia in [XXX]. They will not perform the work and say that the vehicle should go back to the dealership in [XXX]. The Alabama dealership says it is not their problem. Kia Customer Affairs also says that because the work was performed just over a year ago, it is no longer covered under warranty. Furthermore, they will not pay to have it towed. I called Gossett Kia in [XXX], where the car was purchased, and they are not sure they will be able to do the work either. I feel so stuck and without recourse in this situation. We are stuck with a [XXX]old car that is undrivable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 30, 2026 · Transmission · PA

While driving on the interstate at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suffered a sudden and complete loss of forward motive power. The engine revved, but the vehicle completely ceased forward acceleration and could not maintain highway speeds. This created an immediate safety hazard, forcing me to navigate across active lanes of highway traffic without power to reach the shoulder, narrowly avoiding a rear-end collision. Once stopped, the vehicle completely refused to engage any forward gears (Drive). However, the transmission will still engage and move backward in Reverse. This is the second time this vehicle has experienced a total transmission failure in 6 years, despite having previously had the transmission replaced at an authorized dealership under Kia Service Campaign SC199. The replacement Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) component has suffered an identical, catastrophic mechanical failure to the first unit. The manufacturer’s previous campaign remedy failed to permanently resolve this severe highway safety defect.

Filed Aug 15, 2025 · Engine · ME

So the actual oil piston ring problem started with the 2020 Kia soul, I had a recall and I took it to the Kia dealership, over 3 hours away and they performed their noise test and checked it over, I complained about burning quite a bit of oil and they said they would have to do a oil consumption test, so I agreed and they changed my oil and guess who had to pay for that, yes me, so I drive back home 3 hours and I decided to check my oil in the morning, they purposely over filled the oil, was half an inch over the fill level, but needless to say nothing was done about anything just like the 2021-2023 models, now I'm seeing a bunch of transmissions dieing out with the same model and yes my transmission died out a few weeks ago and nothing is being done about it, we're does it end with these car companies, extremely disappointed in the care and service I received from Kia, hopefully the transmission issue can get taken care of soon and hope that future models don't have to go through the same thing

Filed Jun 17, 2024 · Engine · WA

The car had transmission failure at 44000 miles.

Filed Jul 3, 2023 · Transmission · CA

Approximately 30 miles into a trip, with mostly highway driving, the transmission failed completely. Stepping on the gas pedal caused the engine to roar but did not move the car. Unfortunately, this happened while I was driving eastbound on the San Francisco Bay Bridge, causing a very dangerous situation. There was a slight downhill at that point, so I was able to coast, but eventually the car stopped. Once it stopped, I turned off the engine and restarted it and put the car in Drive, but this did not enable me to move the car. I tried this a few times. This put me in great danger of being hit by other cars. Fortunately, the passenger was able to call 911 and a CalTrans tow truck arrived soon and pushed my vehicle, first to the shoulder and then into a bridge parking facility between the eastbound and westbound lanes. Another fortunate thing was that the traffic was moving well below the speed limit.

Filed Apr 24, 2023 · Transmission · NJ

My experience: My transmission failed while driving at full speed on the highway. My car initially started balking, with RPMs jumping between 2000 and 3000 RMPs. Then, it revved high and RPMs suddenly jumped into the red while the car was not propelling forward at any real speed. It was an extremely dangerous, scary situation in the rain, with an 18-wheeler right behind me. I am grateful to have made it to the dealer without having a crash. There were never any warning lamps and this happened out of the blue, without prior warning. Dealer report: "Metal debris on speed sensor; transmission internal failure. Techline authorized transmission replacement." Transmission has been replaced.

Filed Mar 18, 2023 · Transmission · OK

Transmission failed when driving 70 on a highway.

Filed Jan 23, 2023 · Transmission · NC

Transmission completely cut out. Had to tow to dealership and get an entire new transmission. 30k miles.

Filed May 11, 2022 · Transmission · 21,500 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated during acceleration and would not exceed 40 MPH. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would escalate it for review. The failure mileage was approximately 21,500.

Filed Jul 16, 2021 · Transmission · 4,175 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the transmission failed causing the vehicle to stall. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the transmission needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,175.

Filed May 17, 2021 · Transmission · PA

Purchased car on 7/16/19 with 13 miles. On 1/26/20 the car had 6,764 miles when the car started to appear as though it was in neutral while driving down the highway at 70 miles per hour. Even when giving it gas the RPM would increase and engine sounded revved up but transmission was not working. Then it would sporadically kick in enough that I put my 4 ways on, got off the interstate (81) and limped that car home because the car would not go more that 20 MPH once it came to a full stop, it couldn't even make it up the very small grade to get onto my driveway. Called KIA roadside and it was towed to the dealer, Fred Beans Mechanicsburg PA. Told it needed a new transmission, got car back a month later 2/25/20. On 4/19/21, car has 14,953 miles and the same exact thing happens, I'm on Interstate 83 and the car starts lunging, going in and out of neutral. Once at a full stop car would limp along till reaching a total MPH of 20. Car was towed to Fred Beans KIA, Mechanicsburg PA and yes the transmission again. Dealer said transmission was replaced , this time it took 2 weeks, got the car back on 5/1/21. I asked why does this keep happening and the dealership refused to provide any information, shrugged their shoulders. The attendant at the service counter just kept saying I just work here and don't know anything about the cars! Very scary situation, I or anyone driving with this problem could cause a terrible accident and even a fatal accident. The first time this happened could have been manufacture defect but the second time creates a question as to the potential harm this vehicle can cause to all drivers. No explanation and no trust in this car's dependability. I am not able to financially unload this car at this time. Worst car I have ever purchased and I have purchased many brand new cars but first and last time for KIA.

Filed May 3, 2021 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 20,000 miles · MO

We purchased a 2020 kia soul in january 2020, with 11 miles on it. Everything was fine for the first few months, until one day my wife was driving at about 40 miles an hour and was slowing down to take a right turn, the steering wheel locked up and she almost wrecked, thankfully she jerked the wheel hard enough to break it loose, but in doing so the speedo cluster glad shattered. It was fixed but the dealership tried to blame us saying someone had to of punched it. But when looking at the glass cluster it's obvious that not even a baby's hand could fit down into the cluster to hit the glass. Then at 20k miles almost exactly, the transmission went out, again the dealership took care of it, took about 2 weeks for a new transmission. It started revving up and would jerk like it was being down shifted while going down the highway at 70 MPH. Since then we've put about 9k miles on the new transmission and is doing the same thing again. The dealership told me there was 2 recalls on the vehicle for the transmission when it first happened, one was for an electronic update, the other was for the actual transmission, but I haven't seen any recalls posted, this is the worst new car I've ever owned