2014 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Engine rattles or ticks
- 75owner reports
- 102,000median miles
- $6,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 14, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
585 of the 874 complaints on this car are about the engine. 75 of those describe engine rattle.
Tick what matches of 75 reports
Engine rattle on other Soul years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021.
What this problem usually is
Owners in this group hear something before anything breaks. Most describe a ticking or tapping at idle, a rattle that's worse on a cold start and fades as the engine warms, or a noise that comes and goes over weeks. Some report the check engine light following a while later. It's the early-warning end of the engine complaints, and the reports that end in a named part are useful to anyone hearing the same sound.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (9 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
All 5 recalls on the 2014 Kia Soul, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Soul
Kia 25v099 piston oil ring recall effectiveness. Closed dec 18, 2025.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
What owners paid
5 of the 75 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $6,000 to $8,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 79,250 and 120,000 miles, from the 64 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Oil warning dash light illuminated red. Engine oil dipstick showed empty. Oil had been changed within 4 months. Added approximately 3.5 quarts of oil.”
Filed Jun 14, 2026
“i was driving home and noticed my gas mileage rapidly going down. (before when i filled up i used to get 408 miles till âEâ then got 380) so i knew sowmthing was starting to go wrong. then, my engine light started flashing. i got my catalytic converters replaced but iâm still losing gas mileage bad and engine ticking.”
Filed Jan 17, 2023
“Took car into Dean McCary Mobile, Al on June 13, 2020 for the two recall, engine and air bag Also problems with car, wouldnât pick up speed over 60 miles, with rattling noise, I was putting extra oil in car, because it kept using lots of oil, They told me they did an inspection on engine, and air bag, also they told me under engine was fire red inspection done by Tech: James Allen”
Filed Jun 15, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 75 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 245 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 188 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 187 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 114 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 87 reports
- Vehicle fire 57 reports
- Engine leaks oil 39 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 32 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 31 reports