What do I do about my 2016 Kia Soul shaking?

Hi everyone, I’ve got a 2016 Kia Soul that I bought a couple of years ago. Today, my wife was driving it up a hill when the check engine light started blinking, and the engine started shaking. I’m really stressed about this because car problems always get to me—especially after I had a bad accident six years ago. I’m not in the best financial spot, but I’ve got a friend who can tow it to the dealership when he has time. From what I’ve read, this might be serious, like something with the engine or maybe the KDSD (not entirely sure what that is). I don’t know much about cars, so I’m hoping someone here can help. Any advice is appreciated.

Sounds like your cylinders might be misfiring. I had the same issue with mine, and after replacing the spark plugs and ignition coils, it was back to normal. If you can, try scanning for error codes. It could give you a clearer idea of what’s wrong.

@RadiantRogue
Yep, same thing happened to me last year. Replacing the spark plugs and coils fixed it. Did it myself, and it wasn’t too bad.

This happens to me a lot. It’s really annoying. You can take it to AutoZone, and they’ll check the check engine light for free. Last time this happened, I needed a new ignition coil. I got it at AutoZone for $70, and the guy there actually replaced it for me in their parking lot—it took him about 20 minutes. I just bought him a Starbucks gift card as thanks. If you’re up for it, you can get a four-pack of coils on Amazon for around $40 and replace them yourself.

@gabu
Thanks for the suggestion! There’s an AutoZone less than a mile from where the car is parked. The check engine light stopped blinking after we had it towed, but the car is still shaking a lot. I’m nervous about trying to drive it even that short distance, though.

@gabu
Sometimes a misfire can also be caused by the fuel injector or fuel coil. This happened to my 2016 Soul. At first, I replaced the fuel injector, thinking that was the issue, but it turned out to be the ignition coil. It’s a pretty easy fix if you’ve got the right tools. If you’re not sure, start with the ignition coil—it’s the more common problem.

I had the same issue—one of my coils was dead. I replaced all the coils and plugs since the others were likely to fail soon. It’s a simple job if you’re into DIY repairs. Coils cost me $120 for a good set from Rock Auto, though you can find cheaper options on Amazon. I also got NGK spark plugs for about $30. My total was $150, and the dealership quoted me over $800 for the same job. If you’re serious about saving money on car repairs, it’s worth getting an OBD code reader so you can check error codes yourself. Good luck!

I have a 2015 Kia Soul, and this sounds familiar. My issue was a bad ignition coil and a misfire in cylinder 3. I replaced that one coil and spark plug, and it’s been fine since. If you decide to do it yourself, you’ll need a 10mm socket and a flathead screwdriver to unlatch the coil pack. It’s pretty straightforward.

I had this issue with my 2016 Soul too—turned out to be a bad ignition coil and spark plugs. Don’t take it to a dealership unless you absolutely have to—they’ll charge way more than necessary. Also, if the engine light turns off but it’s still shaking, don’t drive it like that. It could leave you stranded or make the problem worse.

By the way, if you ever get a check engine code like P0420, have your catalytic converter checked. Mine was recalled, but no mechanic mentioned it until I pushed them to look into it. Just a heads-up!

I’ve got a 2016 Kia Soul too. A few months ago, my check engine light came on, and the car wouldn’t accelerate properly. I was close to home, so I kept driving (later found out that’s a bad idea when the light is flashing). The next day, I had it towed to a shop, and the mechanic found out it was completely out of oil—almost to the point of the engine seizing. He did an oil flush and refill, and it’s been running fine since. Make sure to check your oil levels regularly.