CarRecallWatchThe 2020 Kia Soul has 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 388 complaints with NHTSA, including 9 crashes, 6 fires, 6 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Engine (245 reports).
NHTSA rates it up to 4 stars overall for crash safety, depending on the version.
2020 Kia Soul recalls
Engine May Stall or Leak Oil, Creating Crash and Fire Risk
Certain 2020-2021 Kia Soul and 2021 Kia Seltos vehicles with the 2.0L Nu MPI engine may have piston oil rings that were not properly heat-treated.
Most common 2020 Kia Soul problems
Problem areas named in the 388 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Engine | 245 |
| Power Train | 91 |
| Unknown Or Other | 52 |
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Steering | 16 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 |
| Structure | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
What owners report
Reason for Dispute & Desired Resolution: I am filing an executive escalation regarding a catastrophic engine failure on my 2020 Kia Soul, which is actively included in the Piston Oil Ring Safety Recall (Campaign SC209). The engine suffered a total structural failure where a rod broke and punctured a hole directly through the engine oil pan. The vehicle is completely undrivable and presents an environmental hazard due to active fluid leakage. Standard Kia Customer Care and Roadside Support lines have officially denied emergency towing assistance and rental car coverage, stating they cannot help. The closest authorized dealership, Kia of Columbia, has an appointment backlog delaying an officia
The car stalled at red light. After a few minutes cranked back up.
On [XXX], my 2020 Kia Soul (2.0L Nu MPI, VIN [XXX], approximately 102,420 miles) suffered total engine failure: complete loss of motive power, stalled and would not restart. This is the exact defect covered by federal recall 21V259000 / Kia SC209 (piston oil rings causing engine damage and stalling). The SC209 recall remedy had already been performed on this vehicle at Kia of Daphne (Daphne, AL) in June 2026. The recall did not prevent the failure. Symptom history matches the defect: the vehicle has burned oil excessively its entire life (oil changed every 3,000 miles; oil like sludge by approximately 2,000 miles) - the textbook piston-ring symptom. Sputtering began June 2026; a spark-plug
On XXX my 2020 Kia Soul while on the freeway, would not accelerate and silently stalled. The check engine, oil, and battery light all came on. Putting it into Park and then Drive again, the vehicle began shifting backwards. The vehicle could not be safely driven and was towed to Kearny Mesa Kia in [XXX]. The dealer diagnosed code P0017 (crankshaft position and camshaft position correlation). The technician found the exhaust camshaft out of sync because the pin on the CVVD gear had broken, which allowed the gear to spin on the camshaft. The recommended repair is replacement of the exhaust camshaft, CVVD gear and bolt, timing chain tensioner, and valve cover gasket, quoted at $3,285.34. A bor
2nd failed motor due to code P1327, was replaced last year for same issue, less than a year later and same issue again.
2020 Kia Soul safety rating
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Soul SUV FWD | ★★★★ 4-star | 4 | 5 | 4 (14.7% rollover risk) |
2020 Kia Soul questions
Does the 2020 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for the 2020 Kia Soul: Engine May Stall or Leak Oil, Creating Crash and Fire Risk. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Kia Soul?
Based on 388 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine (245), Power Train (91), Unknown Or Other (52).
How safe is the 2020 Kia Soul?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings program gives the 2020 Kia Soul up to 4 out of 5 stars overall; ratings vary by version, see the table above.
How do I check if a recall on my 2020 Kia Soul has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.