2020 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Check engine light or misfire
- 79owner reports
- 64,000median miles
- $2,000median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
258 of the 381 complaints on this car are about the engine. 79 of those describe misfire.
Tick what matches of 79 reports
Misfire 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 reports start with the check engine light. Many describe the engine running rough or shaking at idle, a P0300-series code, or a catalytic converter code. A worrying number say the light was flashing. Owners often list ignition coils or spark plugs already replaced, and the light coming back afterward.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the sensor (10 reports), the spark plugs (8 reports), the catalytic converter (6 reports) and the ignition coils (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
The recall on the 2020 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
12 of the 79 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $315 to $5,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 25,053 and 100,000 miles, from the 49 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 7 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 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.
MISFIRE CONCERN DUE TO OVERRUNNING ALTERNATOR DECOUPLER This bulletin provides information to address unresolved misfire events on some 2020–2024MY Forte (BDm) produced from January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2024, and 2020–2022MY Soul (SK3) vehicles produced from November 1, 2018 through May 31, 2022 equipped ...
This bulletin provides instructions to perform an engine vibration inspection using the Kia Diagnostic System (KDS) tablet on certain Kia engine/model vehicles.
SERVICE ACTION: MIL ON DTC P0605 AND/OR P2181 ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA463) This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Engine Control Module (ECM) on some 2020-2021MY Soul (SK3) vehicles and 2021MY Seltos (SP2) vehicles produced in the date ranges shown below, equipped with NU 2.0L ATK engines, which may exhibit ...
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.
3 more on the 2020 Kia Soul page.
What owners wrote
“Check engine light code P1327 According to what I have read on the internet, it says that this code is usually associated with improperly heated rings. This causes excessive oil use and oil leaking and possible fires if the oil leaks on the exhaust. It can also causes shaking or knocking which leads to the engine knock sensor sending a code to the computer.”
Filed Aug 24, 2025
“Rod bearing pop while driving on highway. Car stalls out. Only warning was oil light and battery light appearing. Rough idle and sluggish...sounds like it's going to blow .”
Filed May 29, 2025
“Error codes possibly 3 times diagnose. P0017. Crankshaft - camshaft 1 correlation bank b .Could be timing chain being stretched vigorously. Still have excessive oil consumption after getting piston rings replaced.”
Filed Mar 13, 2025
“I had transmission changed out in May of 23 and then in November the check engine lights starts blinking and now I need a new engine, prior to needing a new engine the car would cut off it was loud and it wasnât taking off like it should.”
Filed Dec 28, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 79 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 Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 125 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 86 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 41 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 36 reports