My 2022 Kia Soul (VIN: [XXX], ~57,000 miles) is subject to Safety Recall 25V‑099 (SC336) for defective piston oil rings causing rapid oil loss, engine noise, stalling, seizure, and fire. On XXX, my vehicle suffered severe engine rattling and was towed to Kia of Frisco (TX). Technicians physically inspected it and documented two critical findings: 1. The oil pan was completely dry/empty. 2. The engine exhibited heavy carbon buildup in the combustion chamber. The vehicle was 1,000 miles UNDER its maintenance interval, with the previous service done at this same dealership. A dry oil pan and carbon fouling are direct physical proof of defective piston rings allowing oil to burn rapidly. REMEDY FAILURE & FALSE NEGATIVE: Despite documenting a bone-dry oil pan and carbon fouling, the dealership ran Kia's PNSS sound/vibration test, which yielded a false "pass." Based on this false negative, Kia of Frisco and the regional DPSM formally refused on XXX, to authorize recall engine replacement. Instead, they are forcing me to drive this internally damaged, oil-starved, rattling vehicle on public highways for a 1,000-mile oil consumption test. SAFETY HAZARD & AUDIT AQ25001: Ordering a consumer to drive an oil-starved, rattling engine on public roads creates an immediate hazard of high-speed engine failure or fire. Kia Consumer Affairs refuses to transfer calls, leaving me stranded with out-of-pocket rental costs. This directly demonstrates the flaws investigated under the federal safety agency Audit AQ25001 regarding unreliable 25V‑099 recall protocols. I request the federal safety agency investigate Kia for issuing false-pass inspections and forcing consumers to operate severely compromised, fire-risk vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2022 Kia Soul problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine76
- Transmission12
- Electrical10
- Fuel system7
- Acceleration6
- Driver assistance4
- Airbags3
- Brakes3
- Seat belts2
- Steering2
- Body1
- Suspension1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2022 Kia Soul
Stalling 23Check engine light 20Engine failure 19Oil consumption 19Loss of power 7Knocking 6Jerking 6
Trouble codes owners of the 2022 Kia Soul mention
P0017 4P0014 3
Recalls 1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
- What is wrong
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
- Risk
- Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.
Recall number 25V099000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 2022 Kia Soul
Defect investigations
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.’s (Kia) remedy program for Safety Recall 25V099, involving incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which may damage the engine causing a loss of motive power or fire. This AQ was opened in response to consumer complaints alleging of an ineffective remedy, inconsistent inspection results to determine whether an engine replacement was needed, and the unavailability of recall remedies. On August 11, 2025, an Information Request (IR) was issued to Kia requesting: 1) why the inspection test was revised from requiring a ‘cold’ engine to a ‘warm’ engine; 2) why the recall remedy was suspended from April 30, 2025 to May 7, 2025; 3) how Kia notified customers of the recall remedy suspension and the need to re-test engines that failed the ‘cold’ engine test; 4) the number of post-recall remedy complaints alleging engine or other engine related failures; and 5) the warranty coverage Kia is offering to vehicles that passed either inspection tests. On September 10, 2025, Kia responded to the federal safety agency’s IR: Kia reported the change in temperature from ‘cold’ to ‘warm’ engine testing was done to increase accuracy. The inspection test uses diagnostic tools that detects abnormal engine vibrations to identify damaged engines. From the initial launch of the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) on April 4, 2025 through April 28, 2025, ‘cold’ engine testing resulted in a higher-than-expected failure rate when compared to the pre-recall warranty claim rate. This discrepancy led Kia to re-evaluate its inspection test and found that performing the inspection on a ‘cold’ engine can result in imprecise test results due to normal cold-start vibrations. Kia revised the inspection to ‘warm’ engine testing to minimize vibration interference. Kia sampled the field and performed a comparative analysis between ‘cold’ and ‘warm’ engine testing, and validated that ‘warm’ engine testing was more accurate in identifying damaged engines. Kia also reported the suspension of the recall remedy was due to a software error in the diagnostic tool, which was introduced in concert with the April 29, 2025 launch of the TSB that revised the inspection from ‘cold’ to ‘warm’ engine testing. The software error resulted in all inspection tests reporting false positives for a damaged engine. On April 30, 2025, Kia suspended the remedy until May 7, 2025, which was when the software error was corrected with the release of the latest TSB and software update. The recall remedy remains available to eligible customers. Kia reported owners were not mailed letters concerning the suspension to the recall remedy. Kia reasoned since it resolved the issue faster than it would have taken to draft and mail letters, Kia did not want to create unnecessary customer confusion involving an issue that would have already been addressed upon receipt of a letter. Kia also determined that mailing letters about re-testing engines was unnecessary since those vehicles were already at the dealer awaiting engine replacement. In most instances, Kia Customer Care agents would respond to customer inquiries related to the recall, including remedy availability, dealer issues, and questions about differing test results. Kia provided ODI a review of engine related consumer complaints received on post recall-remedied vehicles. Kia did not find any common patterns or trends related to those complaints following completion of the recall, as the complaints included issues that were unrelated to the subject defect. To aid in the diagnosis of whether a complaint is related to the recall, the remedy includes the installation of a software program, the Piston-ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS), that monitors the engine for unusual noise patterns (an indicator of potential damage to the piston oil rings), and alerts the customer by flashing the check engine light and setting Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P1327. Kia confirmed that it is not offering any specific warranty coverage for this recall. Instead, Kia has instructed dealers to replace the engine, at no cost to the customer, with no time or mileage limitation, following the installation of the PNSS software and the presence of DTC P1327. On September 4, 2025, Kia issued Subsequent Repair Action (SRA) # SC336YZ, which provided engine diagnosis and replacement instructions for vehicles with a potentially related complaint following completion of the recall. Under this SRA, customers whose vehicles set DTC P1327 will have their engine replaced. If DTC P1327 is not set and it is unclear whether the issue is related to the recall, dealers are instructed to contact Kia's Technical Assistance Center to ensure the issue is appropriately handled. Kia notes that any issues determined to be unrelated to the recall are subject to the 10-year / 100,000-mile Powertrain warranty for original purchasers and a 5-year / 60,000-mile Limited Basic Warranty for subsequent purchasers. In summary, Kia identified the insufficiencies of its initial inspection test that led to a pause to its recall campaign, explained why it did not mail letters to affected customers about the paused campaign or revised inspection test, reviewed existing consumer complaints that did not identify any potential trends related to the recall, and identified its warranty coverage for any vehicles exhibiting qualifying engine symptoms. After review of Kia’s response to the IR, ODI has determined that no further action from Kia is necessary at this time, and ODI will close this AQ investigation accordingly. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
AQ25001
Technical service bulletins for the 2022 Kia Soul 77
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Reimbursement form (WTY041)
- Owner notification (WTY041)
- Dealer principal memo (WTY041)
- Dealer parts and service manager memo (WTY041)
- Question and answer (WTY041)
- Misfire concern due to overrunning alternator decoupler
- Customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition: cylinder protector & decal installation (CS2311)
- Customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (CS2312)
- Key and cylinder set replacement
- Infotainment system software update using update.kia.com
2022 Kia Soul fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 28-29 | 33-35 | 30-31 |
| 1.6L 4‑cyl | FWD | 27 | 32 | 29 |
What 2022 Kia Soul owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the dealer only inspected the engine and had not installed the piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after the recall repair. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound and failed to accelerate, and there was an abnormal smoke odor. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then to an independent mechanic, who determined that the engine had failed. The vehicle was then towed to a second dealer, DeMontrond Kia (14101 N Fwy Service Rd, Houston, TX 77090); however, the contact was informed that manufacturer authorization was required to perform the recall repair again under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the engine was not replaced under the recall. While the contact's wife was driving 10 MPH, the vehicle started sputtering. The vehicle later lost motive power while the contact was driving. Upon inspection, the contact discovered there was no engine oil inside the engine. The vehicle was taken to O'Reilly's and diagnosed with a cylinder #3 misfire. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed an oil change, but after 3,000 miles there was no oil in the engine. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer several times for oil consumption tests, and the spark plugs were replaced; however, the contact was informed that the engine could not be replaced under recall because the engine oil level was full at inspection. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.
My 2022 Kia Soul was previously serviced under Safety Recall SC336 (the federal safety agency Campaign 25V099000), and the dealership only uploaded the monitoring software. The safety recall remedy has now completely failed. The software's warning triggers are active: the oil light is flashing, the check engine light is flashing, and the engine is vibrating violently and failing to run. The manufacturer's remedy did not fix the physical defect, and the car is now dangerously disabled."
The paint above the windshield is peeling.
The paint above the windshield is peeling off.
Jake Sweeney Kia opened a repair order for Safety Recall SC336 on my 2022 Kia Soul at 8:00 AM on Wednesday. At 3:10 PM the exact same day, they finalized the ticket with a 'PASS' result and issued an invoice. The manufacturer’s official Technical Service Bulletin for Campaign SC336 explicitly mandates a 24-hour overnight cold engine soak before the PNSS acoustic test can be executed. The dealership completely bypassed this federal safety mandate, testing a warm engine in only 7 hours, and uploaded closed-out safety data to the manufacturer network to wipe the open recall from my VIN.
Engine oil light came on and went to take in to get an oil change though it had 1000 miles or so to go. Had oil change but light did not go out, and service said to get it diagnosed at mechanic. Made an appointment and car then driven by my daughter stalled when entering the freeway. The car started and I had her drive it home. I tried it the next day and had no problem other than lack of power. At the car appointment, stated that it looked like a National Safety Recall problem and to take it to Kia for the problem. At Kia, they said there were a number of recall's that the fixed on the vehicle, but the safety recall for the engine did not apply as they didn't "hear" anything. They agreed it was losing power and it stalled when coming to a stop, turning and or accelerating. They said for $250 they could run a diagnostic. Having already done that with a trusted mechanic, I seemed at a loss on what to do. I had another mechanic look at it with the same recommendation that it was a recall problem and engine should be replaced.
The oil consumption is outrageous. I have to check the oil every week. I keep taking it to WYATT JOHNSON KIA but they refuse to report the oil consumption problem to KIA
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH uphill, there was an abnormal knocking sound from the rod bearings inside the engine. The contact stated that the rod bearings had gone through the engine block, and there was black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle became inoperable after the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The diagnostic test and repair were pending. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
Compare the 2022 Kia Soul
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Other model years
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Questions about the 2022 Kia Soul
Is the 2022 Kia Soul reliable?
Owners have filed 97 complaints about the 2022 Kia Soul, fewer than a typical Soul model year.
What is the 2022 Kia Soul year score?
The 2022 Kia Soul scores 87 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Kia Soul: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2022 Kia Soul?
Engine and cooling, with 76 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles. Next is transmission (12).
How many recalls does the 2022 Kia Soul have?
1 recall, covering engine and engine cooling.
Was there a recall on the 2022 Kia Soul engine?
Yes, 1 recall: 25V099000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
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).
What gas mileage does the 2022 Kia Soul get?
Official estimates for the 2022 Kia Soul range from 29 to 31 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 28-29 city and 33-35 highway.
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