2021 Kia Soul: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Engine · 51,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while accelerating from a traffic light at 10 MPH, the vehicle lost power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was later towed from the residence to the dealer. The vehicle was still being diagnosed to determine the cause of the engine failure. However, the dealer stated that the failure was not associated with the piston oil rings. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in a range of vehicle with improperly manufactured oil rings. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

Filed Oct 11, 2026 · Engine · MA

The car was constantly burning through large amounts of oil. One night I was driving and the car started slowing down and lost power completely. This put my safety at Risk because I was on the freeway and came to a complete stop. I brought the vehicle to the dealership and they said it would be 4k to fix and did not fix the recall.

Filed Jul 3, 2026 · Engine · TX

Vehicle: 2021 Kia Soul LX, 2.0L Engine Subject: Loss of Motive Power and Stall While Driving Under Recall SC336 Description of Incident: On 07/02 @ roughly 6:15PM, while driving on the highway I-35E at approximately 60 MPH, my vehicle's engine experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power, stalling while in motion. I was able to safely navigate to the shoulder, activate my hazard lights, and restart the vehicle after pulling over. This stall occurred despite the vehicle being covered by Recall SC336 for defective piston oil rings . The recall condition explicitly warns that engine seizure can result in "loss of motive power," creating a significant risk of crash or injury. Ongoing Symptoms (Documented): · Excessive oil consumption: Over 2.5 quarts low after approximately 1,000 miles since the last oil change. This aligns with the recall's "increased oil consumption" warning. · Audible engine knocking when shutting off and ticking during acceleration. This matches the "abnormal noise from the engine" described in the recall. · Active Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) stored: P0017, P0014, P000B, P0172, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304. These indicate timing issues, misfires on all four cylinders, and oil pressure-related failures. Vehicle had similar codes when visited for recall February of this year. Was told everything looked fine. · The vehicle shows signs of instability when accessories (A/C, headlights) are engaged, suggesting the engine is struggling to maintain idle. Safety Risk: The vehicle is unsafe to drive. The stall on the highway presented an immediate crash risk due to the sudden loss of power, which also disables power steering and power brakes.

Filed Apr 20, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

What component or system failed or malfunctioned? The engine (piston rings) and catalytic converter failed. The catalytic converter is available for inspection upon request. How was safety put at risk? The engine ran low on oil without any external leak, causing warning lights and engine rattling. Low oil pressure can lead to sudden engine seizure or fire. The failed catalytic converter can clog, causing loss of power on highways and increasing the risk of a crash. Has the problem been confirmed by a dealer or independent shop? Yes. A Kia dealer found the engine 2 quarts low, with no external leak, and recommended replacing the catalytic converter at a cost of over $6,000. An independent mechanic confirmed code P0420, which indicates catalytic converter failure. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer? The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Kia dealer, but they did not complete the required inspection for Recall SC336 (defective piston oil rings). They did add the software. Were there warning lamps or other symptoms? Yes. The oil pressure warning light and other dashboard lights came on. The engine made a rattling noise. The vehicle later felt sluggish on acceleration, fuel economy dropped, and the exhaust developed a smell. The check engine light came on and later turned off, but code P0420 was stored in the system.

Filed Apr 15, 2026 · Engine · CA

I am filing a complaint regarding a safety recall (the federal safety agency Recall 25V099) on my 2021 Kia Soul that was marked as completed, but the defect was not properly repaired. On 3/17/26, I took my vehicle to a Kia dealership to have the recall addressed. The dealership performed only a software update and diagnostic testing and marked the recall as complete. No engine repair or replacement was performed. Within approximately one week of this recall service, my engine suffered a catastrophic failure while driving, resulting in a hole in the engine block and total engine failure. This created a serious safety risk due to sudden loss of power and fire hazard. I then had the vehicle inspected by a second Kia dealership. They informed me that the engine failure was consistent with the defect described in recall 25V099 (piston oil ring failure) and that the prior recall repair did not correct the underlying issue. This indicates that the recall remedy performed on my vehicle was incomplete or ineffective, and that the vehicle was returned to me in an unsafe condition. I am concerned that other vehicles may be receiving only software updates without proper inspection or repair, which could lead to similar dangerous failures. I am requesting that this situation be investigated as a failed recall remedy and a continued safety risk. Timeline: 3/17/26: Recall repair performed (software update only) 3/29/26: Engine failed catastrophically 4/2/26: Second dealership confirmed failure related to recall defect

Filed Feb 9, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · FL

The transmission on the vehicle has gone bad twice since we purchased it used. The car has 34,400 miles on it. The problem puts the driver in an unsafe situation as the problem causes the car to lose power while at high speeds. The piston rings have also been replaced as part of the recall. Kia just keeps replacing these parts with more defective parts. I have videos if you want them.

Filed Jan 22, 2026 · Engine · MS

vehicle is consuming over 2 quarts of oil in less than 1000 miles and it causing the oil light to come on and loss power.

Filed Jan 7, 2026 · Engine · 136,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lost power. An independent mechanic was contacted. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the residence and then was towed to the dealer, who refused to repair the vehicle under recall because the vehicle had failed to start. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V099000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with the same information as the dealer. The failure mileage was 136,000.

Filed Aug 22, 2025 · Engine · FL

We are experiencing problems consistent with the issues identified in recall SC336, which pertains to defective piston rings potentially leading to increased oil consumption and engine damage. Specifically, for an extended period of time we have encountered significant oil consumption, the check engine light turning on repeatedly, engine overheating, and abnormal temperature gauge readings. Additionally, our vehicle has stalled multiple times while driving, lost power, and exhibited jerky acceleration, along with strange noises from the engine. These stalling incidents, in particular, were extremely frightening and created unsafe conditions on the road for our traveling family. We previously contacted members of Kia’s corporate office in early April 2025 (we can forward email), but unfortunately, we initially never received a response from Kia with respect to our email. We brought our vehicle to Wesley Chapel Kia for the recall service on June 9th; however, no repairs were made. Our engine was not replaced. We were told our vehicle passed the vibration test, which we find insufficient. The check engine light returned shortly after the visit to address the recall. We are aware that Kia changed the procedure for the recall inspection after the initial recall was announced. We have read accounts online from other Kia owners whose vehicles originally failed the recall inspection and were due for engine replacement—only to pass under the new testing protocol. This shift in procedure was never explained to us during our recall appointment, and we have serious concerns about the effectiveness of the updated remedy program. The lack of transparency and the unresolved issues with our vehicle leave us deeply dissatisfied and looking for answers. We are seeking assistance in understanding what steps we can take to ensure the safety and reliability of our vehicle and to hold the manufacturer accountable for following through on their recall commitments.

Filed Aug 15, 2025 · Engine · IL

My vehicle was originally diagnosed (after recall) with a defective engine and I was to be notified when the replacement engine arrived. On a subsequent visit to the dealer to repair an additional check engine light episode I was informed that the replacement engine was no longer needed and that Kia was installing software to monitor the condition of the piston rings. On [XXX] (third incident) while operating my vehicle in heavy traffic the check engine light went on and the vehicle immediately started to lose power and developed an engine noise which continued as i immediately drove to the Kia dealership and when I arrived there was a burning smell when I got out of the vehicle and I was told it would be two weeks before they would diagnose the incident. The vehicle continues to sit at International Kia of Orland Hills, Il 60462. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 12, 2025 · Engine · CA

My car had sputtered leaving gas station I took it to my mechanic February 17 had engine coil and spark plugs replaced There was a anti theft recall for software update I took my car to Kia dealer and they preform the update As I was waiting I looked up my vin for any other recalls and there was one but letters would not be sent out till April 4 2025 On May 10 th my car had loss power and on the 12 th I called Kia and they said there was a recall for sc336 piston oil rings I took my car in on May 17 they did a software update 2 days latter my car was making a knocking sound I had that repaired by my machanic on May 20th I received a email from Kia reference a up date to the recall and says my car will be fixed with no charge I spoke with a Kia representative and out in a claim for reimbursement but was denied…. WS my repairs related to the recall SC336 if so I would like to be reimbursed please help me get this resolved I would think Kia would send me a detailed explanation on why my part that was repaired are not reimbursed

Filed May 20, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · IN

Our 2021 Kia Soul experienced complete engine failure without warning. The engine suddenly lost power and became inoperable while driving. The dealership's diagnostic testing identified a camshaft sensor code, but no definitive cause for the catastrophic failure was provided. We believe the failure is related to internal engine damage potentially caused by defective piston oil rings, consistent with the federal safety agency Recall Number 25V099000. Kia has not conducted a full internal engine inspection to rule this out. The vehicle is in Kia's possession and is available for inspection upon request. The sudden engine failure occurred without warning and caused a complete loss of power while the vehicle was in motion. This could have led to a serious accident had the incident occurred in heavy traffic or on a high-speed roadway. The inability to accelerate or maintain control of the vehicle poses a serious safety risk to both the driver and others on the road. Yes. The vehicle was inspected and diagnosed by a Kia dealership. While they identified a camshaft sensor code, they did not perform a full inspection to determine the internal cause of the engine failure. They declined to attribute the issue to the known piston oil ring defect and refused to repair it under the recall. Instead they want to submit it to the TechLine for the power train warranty. We had to spend hours calling places and collecting information of all oil changes and maintenance on the vehicle over the last 4 years. We can show a CLEAR pattern of regular maintenance of the vehicle. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Kia dealership. No inspections have been conducted by the police, insurance representatives, or other third parties. There were no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or performance issues prior to the engine failure. The vehicle was regularly maintained and had been operating normally up to the point of the incident.