Body & structure
Filed Jun 14, 2026
There are hundreds of on-line complaints regarding 2020 Kia Soul with paint flaking and peeling off. This is especially true for cars painted white. This is happen to the Soul I purchased a few years ago. I can no longer use a car wash. Please see pictures. The exposed areas will lead to rust and corrosion. If the metal supporting the engine, cabin, or bumpers flakes off or has holes, the vehicle loses its ability to protect occupants during a collision. A rusty car can be highly dangerous if the corrosion has spread to critical structural or mechanical components. Rust on surface areas will eventually let water leak through to a vehicle's frame, suspension, or braking system which will significantly compromise safety and increases the risk of catastrophic failure. One of the attached photo's will show paint that came off the car with painters tape which I used on the back of a credit card to show the relative size of another area where paint has come off!!!
- NHTSA ID
- 11744019
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Jun 4, 2025
The pearl white paint is pealing. And chipping
- NHTSA ID
- 11664837
- Incident
- Jul 15, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Dec 4, 2024
My 2020 Kia Soul is not even five years old yet and under 20k miles and I noticed that the paint has started to lift and this should not happen. I have heard that other Kia models with the same paint, Snow White Pearl, have had the same reported issue over the past few years. The paint started bubbling/lifting on the side of the back passenger door.
- NHTSA ID
- 11628767
- Incident
- Dec 1, 2024
Body & structureEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 15, 2024
The entire car is infested with Mold due to a prior evaporator leak that was improperly installed prior to my purchase of the vehicle. The dealership Lighthouse Point Kia in Pompano, Florida, refusing to fix the car issues.
- NHTSA ID
- 11614672
- Incident
- Aug 8, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Sep 3, 2024
My 2020 Kia Soul S is not even five years old yet and far under 100k miles and I noticed that the paint in several places has started to lift and this should not happen. I have heard that other Kia models with the same paint, Snow White Pearl, have had the same reported issue over the past few years. The paint started bubbling/lifting on the hood and above the drivers side rear door handle which has now peeled off.
- NHTSA ID
- 11612384
- Incident
- Aug 1, 2024
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 16, 2023
I purchased this car (Used) on 8/1/2023 and on 8/7/23 I called Kia and stated that the car started shaking while driving and I took the car to the dealership on 8/10 and they stated they could not find any problem, they would have if they had taken it out for a drive. After waiting all day from 9:30 until 4pm they found nothing. I saw my car just sitting there and no one doing any work or anything on my car. My car still shakes so bad while driving that even the steering wheel is shaking and now when I stop at a red light the car takes a few minutes before it will move. I have had this car for a month and 2 weeks and they will not return my calls to setup an appointment. Kia Corporate can't even get them to respond. What can I do to get help with this. I am even afraid to drive this car (2020 Kia Soul). I need some advice on what I need to do. HELP
- NHTSA ID
- 11544970
- Incident
- Aug 6, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Nov 11, 2019
MY 2020 KIA SOUL, I ONLY HAVE IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND THE FOG LIGHTS GOT WET AND FOGGY, I TOOK THE CAR THE DEALER AND SPOKE TO SERVICE, AND ORDER NEW PARTS, TO INSTALL IN THE CAR, IT REALLY CONCERNS ME THAT A BRAND NEW CAR GET THESE FOG LIGHTS WET, WHICH CAN CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH THIS LIGHTS FOGGY, DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO HUMIDITY.
- NHTSA ID
- 11279413
- Incident
- Nov 5, 2019
- Mileage
- 702 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Jul 9, 2019
PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED - APPROX 45MPH. SEVERE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DID HAVE A NEW-ENOUGH MACHINE TO ALIGN THE CAR. HOW CAN KIA OF IRVINE, NOT HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO FIX THE CARS THEY SELL? INSIDE REAR COWLING THAT GOES AROUND THE SMALL PORTAL WINDOW ON THE RIGHT WAS WARPED FROM THE FACTORY. CAR WAS NOT MOVING. GOT A REPLACEMENT PART; HOWEVER, IT WAS A POOR INSTALL JOB AND THE FRONT PART OF THE COWLING DOES NOT ALIGN WELL WITH ITS LOWER CONNECT PIECE. RIGHT FRONT TIRE IS BECOMING SEVERELY WORN BECAUSE OF ALIGNMENT ISSUE THAT CAN'T BE FIXED. EXTERIOR PLASTIC COVER ON LEFT-SIDE A-FRAME PILLAR CAME FROM THE FACTORY SCRATCHED AND LOSE. KIA OF IRVINE WILL NOT FIX IT - THEY ONLY WANT TO BUFF THE PLASTIC. NOT A PROPER FIX BECAUSE THE PART IS STILL LOSE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11230612
- Incident
- Apr 22, 2019
- Mileage
- 200 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.