2014 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 187owner reports
- 102,000median miles
- $2,011median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 21, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
681 of the 874 complaints on this car are about the engine. 187 of those describe stalling.
Tick what matches of 187 reports
Stalling 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.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (23 reports), the battery (14 reports), the ignition coil or plugs (14 reports) and the fuel pump (3 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.
Non-crash vehicle fires. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 20V-088.
Non-crash vehicle fires. Closed may 10, 2019, led to recall 18V-907.
What owners paid
39 of the 187 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $7,700.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 76,999 and 120,000 miles, from the 147 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The car shut down in the middle of a highway while driving. My partner and I had to wheel the car aside. It then turn on 20 minutes later. The vehicle shakes and shifts. Kia stated they cannot fix issue because the car is out of warranty. We took it when the warranty came out in 2020 and we had to pay out of pocket for $2000 and now the issue is back and our lives are in jeopardy.”
Filed Aug 23, 2022
“Driving car at normal speed suddenly car would not accelerate. had severe loss of bower with no warning. engine stalled and would not start. towed to mechanic and was told engine needed to be replaced.”
Filed Feb 7, 2022
“Banging in engine Consuming excessive amounts of oil Oil light flickering Check engine light on Loss of power Car shakes when idle Gas/ fuel odor Brought to mechanic, valves pistons replaced. Banging stopped other stated problems continue.”
Filed Jul 16, 2021
“Car displays a check engine light. The check engine light reports an issue with the catalytic converter. Car has began to shut off randomly when coming to or at a stop (for example: at a red light).”
Filed Jun 27, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 187 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
- Headlights too dim or fail 114 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 87 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 75 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