2018 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 73owner reports
- 80,000median miles
- $7,600median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 21, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
146 of the 218 complaints on this car are about the engine. 73 of those describe engine failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Soul.
Narrower sheets: Engine knocking or ticking (45 reports)
Tick what matches of 73 reports
Engine failure 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
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (72 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
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.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
What owners paid
15 of the 73 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $5,000 to $8,817.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 66,000 and 105,636 miles, from the 40 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 8 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Kia Soul that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2107Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published (PI2107) titled “Nu 2.0L GDI - Knock Sensor Detection System ECU Logic Improvement”.
OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2107) This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2017-2019 MY Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing ...
PITSTOP: LOW OIL PRESSURE AT IDLE AFTER GAMMA 1.6L GDI SHORT BLOCK ENGINE REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information equipped with a Gamma 1.6L GDI regarding a 'low oil pressure' concern during engine idle on vehicles engine due to a missing dowel pin, after a short block engine replacement.
PITSTOP: DTC P0011/ P0014/ P0016/ P0017 DUE TO INCORRECT CAMSHAFT RELUCTOR WHEEL CONFIGURATION This Pitstop provides information on some 2010-2013MY Soul (AM), 2014-2019MY Soul (PS), and 2020~MY Soul (SK3) vehicles equipped with the engines listed below, which may set DTC P0011, P0014, P0016, or P0017 after an engine replacement.
4 more on the 2018 Kia Soul page.
What owners wrote
“Engine started to die while on the highway after a loud knocking started. While braking , engine completely stalled in driving lanes. Defect seemed to be a duplicate of the sequence of events reported from a recall for 2014-2016 of the same engine.”
Filed Nov 2, 2022
“Engine Failure. Car began knocking. Checked oil, it was very low and slugged. No sign of oil leakage. 8k cost to repair. Kia isnât cooperating with warranty coverage. We are challenging them. About a week earlier car had done spontaneous system check and showed no adverse results. No warnings.”
Filed May 12, 2022
“My engine blew it just hit 80,000 miles on the dot and since Iâm purchasing it threw Freedom Chevrolet Buick gmc by Ed Morse and not Kia directly my car cannot get fixed! I still owe a pretty penny and now I have no way of fixing when other Kiaâs have had the same issue with engine blowing I just would like my car fixed. My safety and my kids what put in danger when it decided to do this On a busy road!”
Filed Jan 13, 2022 · 80,000 miles
“At 94,000 miles without warning I have a rod knock. I have maintained oil changes regularly and topped my oil off before this drive. No warning lights no indicators. Just a blown engine.”
Filed Dec 4, 2021 · 94,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 73 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 40 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 40 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 37 reports