Where Are Kia Souls Made

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The Kia Soul is a subcompact crossover SUV that Kia[1] presently produces and markets on a global scale.

The Soul, which was created at Kia’s design studio in California and had its debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, is made in South Korea. Kia has been selling the Soul EV, an electric model, since 2014.

Kia Souls are made in the USA?

The Kia Soul is not made in the United States for the American market. In Gwangju, South Korea, Kia operates one assembly factory for the Kia Soul.

Kia Motors America then distributes and sells the entire lineup of the Kia Soul in the country (KMA).

  • available Kia Soul models for the American market are:
  • X Soul
  • Soul S
  • Spirit GT-Line
  • Spirit X-Line
  • Body EX
  • Spirit Turbo

Do Kia Souls have many issues?

The Kia Soul dominated the market for more than ten years with its boxy appearance, which people either love or detest, good safety ratings, and a long list of standard amenities. Today, the Soul is among Kia’s best-selling vehicles and is still a serious competitor in the subcompact crossover SUV market.

Despite being a reliable small SUV, there have been several problems, complaints, and recalls across a number of model years. There are some Kia Soul years to stay away from when purchasing used.

The worst Kia Soul years to steer clear of due to reliability difficulties are listed below, along with the safest years for used purchasing.

Which Kia Soul Years to Avoid?

If at all possible, stay away from buying a secondhand Kia Soul from one of the following model years:

  • Kia Soul 2012
  • Kia Soul (2013)
  • Kia Soul (2014)
  • Kia Soul 2015
  • Kia Soul 2016

Kia Soul

The 2012 Kia Soul should be avoided at all costs, according to the people from Car Reports, who cite 470 NHTSA complaints. Body integrity issues and flawed safety features were its principal shortcomings.

Clunking noises when turning are this Soul year’s most prevalent problem. Owners have mentioned hearing a clunking or popping sound when rotating the steering wheel. Additionally, some owners have heard loud rattles when driving on roads or hitting small bumps. Owners are perplexed that there hasn’t been a recall because this body integrity issue is so prevalent.

The 2012 Soul’s unlatched hood while driving is another potential issue. Although this is a rare problem, it poses a serious safety risk, particularly on roads or freeways.

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Kia Soul

Several owners of the 2013 Soul have suffered engine failure, which has been known to occur at roughly 85,000 miles or more. Some users reported hearing a banging sound emanating from the engine, while others just experienced an engine failure. The expected fix for this issue is to replace the engine, which will set you back a whooping $5,000.

A few owners reported that their Soul’s engine had started to make a ticking noise, which is less serious. The ticking noise, which may be anywhere from mildly bothersome to frighteningly loud, compels owners to visit their nearby Kia dealership. With an average repair cost of $4,100, we cannot recommend the Soul model year.

Kia Soul

The 2014 Kia Soul is the greatest loser in terms of complaints. The 2014 Soul is unquestionably one of the worst Kia Soul years to stay away from, receiving more than 900 complaints. Similar to the 2013 Kia Soul, the 2014 model similarly receives a pitiful 1 out of 5 stars from Consumer Reports.

One of the 2014 Soul’s most serious problems, according to a number of Consumer Reports owners, is engine failure. This issue appears to be connected to the oil pump in the Soul, which results in higher-than-normal oil consumption by the engine. One owner said that the car began requiring a quart of oil every 300 miles.

The 2014 Soul has a terrible comeback of the engine’s annoying ticking/knocking noise. The initial diagnosis by technicians is that this occurs at about 105k miles and is caused by low oil. However, the owners who are meticulous and keep up with their oil changes are the ones who complain the most.

Kia Soul

The 2015 Kia Soul is another vehicle you ought to stay away from, with more than 700 NHTSA complaints and four recalls to its name. The 2015 model of the Soul has numerous engine problems, just like the other problematic Souls on our list.

Engine failure is the issue that needs to be addressed first. Around 80k miles is the typical mileage at which this problem appears. Many customers have noted that the engine initially made knocking or ticking noises or began to burn more oil. The Soul’s engine finally just stopped working. You will be responsible for paying the estimated $4,620 cost of the engine rebuild or replacement if this occurs.

Excessive oil use is another area of concern. It seems that the engine guzzles oil like it’s nobody’s business when it’s not breaking down.

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Kia Soul

The number one issue with the 2016 Soul, as measured by the severity scale, is a blown engine. According to several accounts, the 2016 Soul’s engine is prone to blowing up, particularly after 90k miles. This is not only dangerous, but an engine replacement will cost you almost $7,000 as well.

Additionally, Kia Soul owners complained that their car simply won’t start. Although there are indications that there may be a battery issue, most concerns are unrelated to this.

Common Kia Soul Problems

Although the Kia Soul is extremely reliable in every way, there are a few persistent issues that impact cars from a few years ago. Here are a few examples:

  • spike in cruise control There are rumors that some Soul models have a surgey cruise control technology. Owners reported that when the SUV was in cruise control mode, it would suddenly accelerate and then slow down to a crawl. As of the time of writing, Kia has not yet addressed this potentially deadly problem.
  • a ticking clock
  • Although it’s not the most typical of Soul models, 2013 Soul owners find it extremely annoying. Hearing loud knocking or ticking noises emanating from the engine is not enjoyable. The Kia Soul has yet another problem with its engine.
  • spinning while clicking
  • The 2012 Soul’s clunking sounds when turning were a problem for owners. This is unquestionably a body integrity issue that Kia overlooked.

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Kia Soul

One of the most dependable Kia Soul generations was the second one ever produced. A adaptable, reasonably priced, and all-around useful compact SUV is the 2011 Soul. Car Complaints awarded the 2011 Soul a “Pretty Good” Seal of Approval for dependability, stating that it is “pleasant to drive, roomy, and trustworthy.”

Kia Soul

The 2018 Soul features a huge luggage area, a roomy interior, a nimble turbocharged engine, and top-notch reliability ratings. In fact, the 2018 Soul received a fantastic Quality & Reliability score from J.D. Power of 84 out of 100.

Kia Soul

The Kia Soul made a victorious comeback the following year with its 2019 year model. The 2019 Kia Soul received praise for its smooth ride, great utility, and respectable fuel efficiency. You may put your reliability concerns to rest because the 2019 Kia Soul received a reliability rating of 4 out of 5.

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Are Kia Souls reliable vehicles?

Yes, the Kia Soul is a good automobile, especially if you’re looking for something that’s dependable, stylish, and reasonably priced. The brakes are effective, and the engine accelerates rapidly. Furthermore, the inside is spacious and comfy. The Kia Soul is a great SUV option all around, featuring essential features and well-liked improvements.

Who manufactures Kia motors?

Hyundai and Kia produce their own engines, and a recent manufacturing fault may result in the premature death of more than 1 million of those engines.

For the same problem, Hyundai and Kia made separate recall announcements. About 572,000 examples of the 2013-2014 Santa Fe and 2013-2014 Sonata are included in Hyundai’s recall. About 618,160 units of the 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento, and 2011-2013 Sportage are included in Kia’s recall.

One of two enginesa 2.4-liter, direct-injected, naturally aspirated I4 or a 2.0-liter, turbocharged I4powers each of the involved vehicles. The motors’ various production dates range from 2010 to 2014.

The problem is due to manufacturing mistakes. It appears that metal debris in the crankshaft oil passageways wasn’t properly wiped out, and a second mistake led to surface roughness in the crankpins (crank journals). The connecting rod bearings, which enable the connecting rods to move freely, may receive less oil as a result of these two issues.

The engine may begin to knock as the bearing ages from contacting a rough surface without lubrication. The engine may seize up and be doomed to the scrap heap if the driver doesn’t understand what’s wrong and the bearings fail. If the engine seizes while the car is moving, it also poses a safety risk.

In May, notice will be given to dealers and owners, the latter by first-class mail. Owners must visit the dealership so that mechanics can examine and perhaps replace the engine. Owners who have previously paid for repairs must follow certain procedures in order to receive reimbursement from Hyundai or Kia.

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How can you tell whether a Kia was made in the US or Korea?

The opening figure The first character identifies the nation in which the car was made. The VIN code for the United States is 1 or 4, but Japan (J) is a letter-designated nation.

When did the Kia Soul experience issues?

Kia Soul recalls from 2015. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued four safety recalls. The affected models include the 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage.

Why do Kia engines malfunction?

Nearly 485,000 Hyundai and Kia owners in the United States are being advised to park their vehicles outside because they still risk catching fire even when the engines are off.

The two Korean automakers’ recalls are the latest in a lengthy line of fire and engine failure issues that have plagued the businesses for the last six years.

This time, contamination in the antilock brake control module is the issue, which may result in an electrical short. This raises the possibility of a fire occurring while the cars are being driven or parked.

Affected models include some Kia Sportage SUVs from 2014 to 2016 as well as the K900 sedan from 2016 to 2018. Certain Santa Fe SUVs from 2016 to 2018, Santa Fe Sports from 2017 to 2018, the 2019 Santa Fe XL, and Tucson SUVs from 2014 and 2015 are among the Hyundai models that have been recalled.

According to documents published on Tuesday by American safety officials, owners should park the cars outside and away from buildings while repairs are being completed.

When was the Kia Soul manufactured?

  • 253,281 models from 2017 to 2019 Kia Souls built between July 25, 2016, and December 24, 2018
  • 953 Model Years 2017 to 2019 Kia Soul EVs made between May 18, 2017, and September 28, 2018,
  • From March 2, 2017, 108,693 Kia Fortes for the model years 2017 to 2018 were built.
  • up to July 27, 2018
  • 47,690 models from 2017 to 2019 Kia Sedonas built between July 12, 2016 and January 10, 2019
  • On October 4, 2016, 2 (two!) 2017 Kia Forte Koups were produced.

Kia Recall Contact Information

Instructions on how and when to bring their Kia into a dealership should be sent to the owners of these vehicles by first class mail at the address on file. On March 21, 2022, letters are anticipated to be mailed. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. SC226 is the Kia recall number.

The ACU will be examined by dealers. A dealer will swap out the Airbag Control Unit for a “better” one if the airbag warning light is already on. If the light is not on, a software update will be applied that, according to Kia, will guarantee proper airbag deployment in the case of a collision.

Recall Reimbursement and Unaffected Cars

Kia asserts Sedonas produced in 2019 after January 10 come standard with an upgraded airbag control unit. Kia Fortes for the 2019 model year and new-generation Kia Souls for the 2020 model year both received a different component. According to the Defect Notice Report on the NHTSA website, “Kia will reimburse owners for repair charges previously paid pursuant to Kia’s General Reimbursement Plan submitted May 11, 2020.”

According to Kia and NHTSA, there have been no crashes that have been associated with problems with the airbag systems on the impacted Kia models to far. However, 947 warranty claims and 13 customer complaints have been made in relation to the flaw.