2020 Kia Soul Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

223Engine complaints

62.1%Of all 359 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE223 · 62.1%

POWER TRAIN84 · 23.4%

Unspecified / other47 · 13.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM27 · 7.5%

STEERING16 · 4.5%

Share of the 359 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2020 Kia Soul overview page.

What owners report

“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, a fluttering sound was present coming from the engine compartment…”NHTSA complaint 11424733 — filed 07/14/2021

“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number:21V259000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall was unavailable…”NHTSA complaint 11422087 — filed 06/24/2021

“Took the vehicle in for oil consumption issues earlier this year. Kia cooperate stated the consumption was abnormal, but within parameters and would not fix…”NHTSA complaint 11421623 — filed 06/21/2021

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Kia Soul have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2020 Kia Soul: 223 of 359 complaints on file (62.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2020 Kia Soul have in total?

359 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 9 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 6 reported injuries, and 8 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.