2014 KIA SOUL — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
1,198
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
60
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2014 KIA SOUL
The 2014 KIA SOUL has received a total of 1,198 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 7 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ENGINE. 60 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (535 complaints), Exterior Lighting (124 complaints), and Electrical System (93 complaints).
Recalls for the 2014 KIA SOUL
NHTSA has recorded 7 recalls for the 2014 KIA SOUL, potentially affecting up to 1,860,489 vehicles.
Recall 22V096000 — AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
| 128,280 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014 Soul vehicles. The front air bags may not deploy during a crash if the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) loses communication with the front impact sensors.
Consequence: Front air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ACU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC229.
View full details →Recall 22V096000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 128,280 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014 Soul vehicles. The front air bags may not deploy during a crash if the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) loses communication with the front impact sensors.
Consequence: Front air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ACU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC229.
View full details →Recall 20V750000 — ENGINE
| 294,756 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the...
View full details →Recall 19V120000 — ENGINE
| 378,967 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. 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.
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the...
View full details →Recall 19V120000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
| 378,967 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. 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.
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the...
View full details →Recall 17V608000 — STEERING
| 342,381 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Consequence: If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number...
View full details →Recall 15V123000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
| 208,858 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Soul and Soul electric vehicles manufactured July 21, 2013, to January 8, 2015. A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.
Consequence: If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will add a supporting rubber underneath the pedal stopper, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC116.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2014 KIA SOUL
1,198 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2014 KIA SOUL. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
My car was not accelerating all the time I was pressing the pedal. a mechanic said it was the engine.
My car was not accelerating all the time I was pressing the pedal. a mechanic said it was the engine.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH uphill with her daughter and her small dog inside the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle stalled and shut off unexpectedly. The contact stated that several minutes later, the vehicle started working as intended; however, a fuel smell remained inside the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Neither an independent mechanic nor the dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. There was a fuel odor while attempting to start the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not associated with the recall. The failure mileage was 228,041.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine light illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road. When the vehicle was turned off, oil leaked from the vehicle. The contact drove slowly to a business parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was then towed to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the dealer refused to complete the recall repairs. The contact was informed that the manufacturer refused to do the recall repairs and stated that the warranty had expired. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be removed from the premises. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and filed a claim. Afterwards, the contact was informed that NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V096000 (AIR BAGS), 17V608000 (STEERING), 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), and 15V123000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) were associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while accelerating, the accelerator pedal was depressed to the floorboard, and the vehicle was sluggish and slow to accelerate before responding as needed. There was an abnormal, rotten odor coming from the vehicle. The ABS, engine, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was contacted and suggested a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.
Safety Rating for the 2014 KIA SOUL
The 2014 KIA SOUL received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2014 KIA SOUL
Kia America, Inc. has issued 60 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2014 KIA SOUL. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
PI2002B_OWNR_601 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2002B) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2014-2016 MY Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0L Gasoline Direct Injection (“GDI”) engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage....
PI2002B_OWNR_601 — ENGINE
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2002B) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2014-2016 MY Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0L Gasoline Direct Injection (“GDI”) engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage....
CS2306L_OWNRPS — EQUIPMENT
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is now making steering wheel lock devices available directly to certain Kia vehicle owners. These devices can help deter a theft attempt. We are making this device available to customers free of charge and will...
PI2002B_OWNR_301 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the renotification to the 2014-2016 MY Soul vehicle owners advising them to have the Product Improvement Campaign (PI2002B) performed. Upon completion, Kia will warrant any engine long block assembly repair needed due to connecting rod bearing damage for 15 years/150,000 miles...
PI2002A_TSB_R2 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN - 1.6L GDI KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI2002A) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information related to a software...
PI2002A_OWNR_102 — EQUIPMENT
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the notification to the owners of all 2012-2016 MY Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection ("GDI") engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage (PI2002A).
PI2002A_OWNR_102 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the notification to the owners of all 2012-2016 MY Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection ("GDI") engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage (PI2002A).
PI2002A_DP_U1 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO - This document is the notification to dealer principals of the updated warranty coverage for the product improvement (PI2002A). Upon completion of this Product Improvement Campaign, Kia will extend the warranty coverage for the engine long block assembly to 15 years from the date...
PI2002A_DSM_U1 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO - This document is the notification to dealer Parts and Service Managers of the updated warranty coverage for the product improvement (PI2002A). Upon completion of this Product Improvement Campaign, Kia will extend the warranty coverage for the engine long block assembly...
PI2002B_OWNR_U1 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the notification to the 2014-2016 MY Soul vehicle owners advising them of the updated warranty coverage for the product improvement (PI2002B). Coverage has been expanded to cover the engine long block assembly for 15 years from the date the vehicle was...
Showing 10 of 60 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2014 KIA SOUL
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the KIA SOUL
- 2010 KIA SOUL — 192 complaints
- 2011 KIA SOUL — 268 complaints
- 2012 KIA SOUL — 662 complaints
- 2013 KIA SOUL — 849 complaints
- 2014 KIA SOUL (current)
- 2015 KIA SOUL — 1,189 complaints
- 2016 KIA SOUL — 1,094 complaints
- 2017 KIA SOUL — 337 complaints
- 2018 KIA SOUL — 265 complaints
- 2019 KIA SOUL — 179 complaints
Other KIA Models
- KIA SORENTO — 13,451 total complaints
- KIA OPTIMA — 10,045 total complaints
- KIA SPORTAGE — 6,540 total complaints
- KIA FORTE — 3,450 total complaints
- KIA SEDONA — 3,334 total complaints
- KIA SEPHIA — 3,080 total complaints
- KIA TELLURIDE — 2,109 total complaints
- KIA RIO — 1,784 total complaints