2012 Kia Soul engine problems
209 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2012 Kia Soul — 41% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that the…”
filed Jul 13, 2026
“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled and failed to accelerate with the low oil warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred after the contact’s spouse had added oil to the vehicle. The vehicle…”
filed May 12, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in…Campaign 19V120000 · Feb 22, 2019
Related service bulletins
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (SC176Y) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections…
SC176Y_TSB_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 24, 2026TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar…
TSB_ENG222_R8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 3, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar…
TSB_ENG222_R7 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 28, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2002Y/Z) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
PI2002YZ_TSB_R3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 7, 2024SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (SC176Y) - This bulletin provides catalytic converter and engine sub-assembly diagnosis and repair information on certain…
SC176Y_TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 18, 2024
Engine problems in other Soul years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Soul | 4 | 14% |
| 2023 Soul | 12 | 25% |
| 2022 Soul | 51 | 58% |
| 2021 Soul | 127 | 57% |
| 2020 Soul | 227 | 62% |
| 2019 Soul | 86 | 64% |
| 2018 Soul | 134 | 63% |
| 2017 Soul | 190 | 70% |
| 2016 Soul | 548 | 69% |
| 2015 Soul | 627 | 70% |
| 2014 Soul | 547 | 61% |
| 2013 Soul | 282 | 43% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2012 Kia Soul
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.