How common are engine problems in the 2019 Kia Soul?

NHTSA lists 92 engine complaints for the 2019 Soul, which is 68% of the 136 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2019 Kia Soul engine?

No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the engine component on the 2019 Kia Soul.

Have there been fires linked to the 2019 Kia Soul engine?

Yes, NHTSA records show 7 fires and 1 injury among the engine complaints for the 2019 Soul, along with 2 crashes.

At what mileage do 2019 Kia Soul engine problems usually appear?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 66,000 miles.

How does the 2019 Soul compare to other model years for engine complaints?

The 2019 Soul's engine complaints make up 68% of its total complaints, lower than years like 2015 (75%) and 2016 (77%) but similar to 2018 (70%).

2019 Kia Soul Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 92 engine complaints for the 2019 Kia Soul, 68% of all complaints for the year, with 7 fires and 1 injury reported. Median mileage at failure is 66,000, and no related recall is listed for this component.

Engine complaints: 92; 68% of 136
Crashes reported: 2
Fires reported: 7
Injuries reported: 1
Median mileage: 66,000 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

Owners report an abnormal, burning odor followed by white smoke and engine fires starting from underneath the hood, sometimes while driving at low speed.
Some describe the check engine light coming on along with an odor, later diagnosed as needing an oil consumption test.
Several report the engine stalling or catching fire while driving on the highway, in one case after the vehicle lost acceleration before shutting off.
Owners describe rough idling, with the car jumping or shaking and skipping while stopped or idling at a light.
One owner reported a missing drain plug causing an oil leak that led the engine to fail and the car to stop working.
Delayed throttle response is reported, where the car takes an extended time to accelerate even with the pedal pressed to the floor and RPMs spiking.

When 2019 Kia Soul engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 22, 2019, latest Sep 15, 2026.

92 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2019 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2025 (7).

Engine recalls for the 2019 Kia Soul

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Soul model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201020 (16%)
201136 (19%)
2012224 (44%)
2013312 (47%)
2014602 (67%)
2015673 (75%)
2016622 (77%)
2017203 (75%)
2018152 (70%)
201992 (68%)
2020251 (66%)
2021179 (77%)
202272 (82%)
202317 (33%)
20245 (17%)
20252 (17%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2019 Kia Soul?: NHTSA lists 92 engine complaints for the 2019 Soul, which is 68% of the 136 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Kia Soul engine?: No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the engine component on the 2019 Kia Soul.
Have there been fires linked to the 2019 Kia Soul engine?: Yes, NHTSA records show 7 fires and 1 injury among the engine complaints for the 2019 Soul, along with 2 crashes.
At what mileage do 2019 Kia Soul engine problems usually appear?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 66,000 miles.
How does the 2019 Soul compare to other model years for engine complaints?: The 2019 Soul's engine complaints make up 68% of its total complaints, lower than years like 2015 (75%) and 2016 (77%) but similar to 2018 (70%).