Are you trying to track down problems with a 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2024 Kia Soul? Here’s the short version. Federal safety regulators have recorded several recalls for the Soul. These cover engine damage, air bags that deploy unexpectedly, and a dashboard screen that can go blank while you drive. Which problems apply depends on your exact model year.
Say your 2022 Soul has been to the dealer three times this year. Maybe the check engine light keeps coming on, and the shop can’t find the cause. That kind of repeat visit is exactly what Texas law looks at. It helps decide if a car qualifies for a buy back or replacement.
What problems does the 2021 Kia Soul have?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists two recalls for the 2021 Soul. Both recalls are tied to the engine.
Recall 21V259000 covers Souls with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been heat-treated correctly. This can damage the engine.
A damaged engine can stall or leak oil onto hot exhaust parts. That raises the risk of a crash or a fire. Kia’s fix is free: an engine inspection, an engine replacement if needed, and new sensor software.
Recall 25V099000 covers a separate batch of 2021-2023 Souls. In these, the piston oil rings may have been made incorrectly. The risk is the same: engine damage that can cause a stall or fire.
The fix is free too: an inspection, an engine replacement if necessary, and new sensor software.
What problems does the 2022 Kia Soul have?
NHTSA’s records show one recall for the 2022 Soul: recall 25V099000. That’s the same piston oil ring issue described above. Engine damage from this defect can cause a stall or fire.
Kia’s fix is a free engine inspection and replacement if needed, plus new sensor software.
What problems does the 2023 Kia Soul have?
The 2023 Soul has the most recalls on NHTSA’s list, four in total.
Recall 23V298000 covers the digital instrument cluster. The screen can fail to show anything when you start the car. That means you might not see your tire pressure warning or other warning lights.
The fix is a free software update.
Recall 23V531000 covers the electric oil pump controller used in the Idle Stop & Go system. Damaged electrical components inside it can cause the pump to overheat. That raises the risk of a vehicle fire.
Kia told owners to park outside and away from buildings. This should continue until the pump controller is inspected and replaced, free of charge.
Recall 23V830000 covers the side curtain air bags. A manufacturing error can cause them to deploy when they shouldn’t, which raises the risk of injury. Dealers will inspect and replace both side curtain air bag modules for free.
Recall 25V099000, the piston ring engine recall described above, also applies to the 2023 Soul.
What about 2024 Kia Soul problems?
A recall is only one way a defect shows up. Plenty of problems get reported and repaired under the original factory warranty without ever becoming a recall.
Say your 2024 Soul has a defect that keeps coming back. It doesn’t matter how many times the dealer has tried to fix it. You don’t need a recall number to have a case.
What matters under Texas law is whether the defect is covered by the written warranty. It also matters whether the dealer has had a fair shot at fixing it.
Does a recall mean my Kia Soul is a lemon?
Not by itself. Our article on whether a recall is enough to make a car a lemon goes into more detail. The short version: a recall just tells you about a defect.
The Texas Lemon Law may help if you’re having repeated problems getting a defect properly repaired under the manufacturer’s warranty.
Under the Texas Lemon Law, three things have to be true. First, your vehicle needs a substantial defect, meaning a serious flaw covered by the manufacturer’s written warranty. Second, you have to report it to the dealer or manufacturer while the warranty is still active.
Third, you have to give the dealer a reasonable number of chances to fix it. Even after those tries, the defect must still exist. It also has to substantially hurt the car’s use or value, or create a serious safety hazard.
How many repair attempts does Kia get?
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles lists ways to determine a reasonable number of repair attempts: the four-times test, the serious safety-hazard test, and the 30-day test. You only need to pass one.
Under the four-times test, you’ve taken the car in four times for the same defect. This happened within the first 24 months or 24,000 miles. The car is still broken.
Under the serious safety-hazard test, the number drops to two attempts. This applies to a defect that’s life-threatening. It also applies if the defect creates a substantial risk of fire or explosion.
Under the 30-day test, your car has been out of service for repairs. The total has to be 30 days or more. This has to happen in that same 24-month or 24,000-mile window.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Per the TxDMV, you have six months to file a Lemon Law complaint. The six months starts after the earliest of three events. Your express warranty (the manufacturer’s written promise) runs out, 24 months pass after purchase, or your car hits 24,000 miles.
What should I do next?
Keep every repair order from every dealer visit. Write down the date and what the dealer told you each time.
Maybe you’re not sure if your Kia Soul or another Kia model meets the standard. Our do I qualify page walks through the same questions a lawyer would ask you across a desk.
The Lemon Lawyers