2020 Kia Soul transmission and drivetrain problems
89 of the 381 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Soul name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 33 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 89 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 6 · 2020: 29 · 2021: 25 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 5
Half of the 60 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 4,000 and 16,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
381 complaints in all about the 2020 Kia Soul, 5 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Soul transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I bought a 2020 Kia Soul s aug 30 2020 december 23, 2020 I found out my transmission needed replacing 5600 miles on car. Dealer said it would be 2 to 3 months as they are on back order.
On december 23rd the car was being driven on the highway at 70mph when it dropped to 1st gear and rpm's increased dramatically. We were able to get off the off ramp to a parking lot but the car never came out of 1st gear. We tried to use the manual option but there was no difference.
Complete transmission failure at 9,200 miles. Car locked up coming off interstate exit ramp and would not take gear at all. Very strong smell of burning transmission. Unit needed complete transmission. Has been at dealer for over 6 weeks
2020 Soul ex with about 8100 miles. Driving on interstate and suddenly tach redlined and lost acceleration/power. Limped car into dealer a couple miles away, where check engine light came on and diagnostic warning appeared on display. Dealer confirmed later that day that transmission had failed and needed to be replaced.
Car had issues accelerating after stopping and turning on the auto engine shutoff . 24 no lights came on. 12 hours later driving on interstate rpms redlined while going about 60-65 . I was able to pull off the interstate . At the stop light directly off the interstate car would not accelerate, smelt heavily of transmission fluid.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications33 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SC199_OWNR_SK3_3 EmissionsFeb 19, 2026
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC199 FL301) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting Voluntary Service Campaign to update the software programming on the Transmission Control Module (TCM) and, if necessary, replace the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) on certain 2020-2021 MY Soul vehicles.
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Kia Soul names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Kia Soul
Source: the same files- engine problems 249 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2020 Kia Soul?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 89 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (23% of everything owners filed about it), and 33 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2020 Kia Soul?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 1 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2020 Kia Soul?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 9,000 miles; half of them between 4,000 and 16,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.