2015 Kia Soul problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (458) · Power Train (50) · Fuel/Propulsion System (44)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Soul model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
538 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Engine 2020-12-02 · campaign 20V750000 · 294,756 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Engine 2019-02-22 · campaign 19V120000 · 378,967 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Risk: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Steering 2017-09-29 · campaign 17V608000 · 342,381 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Risk: If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal 2015-03-02 · campaign 15V123000 · 208,858 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Soul and Soul electric vehicles manufactured July 21, 2013, to January 8, 2015. A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.
Risk: If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will add a supporting rubber underneath the pedal stopper, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC116.
Service bulletins (164)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-08-25 · SC334_OWNR_201 · Service Campaign
voluntary service campaign: owner renotification (sc334 flight 201) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting a voluntary service campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain 2014-2019 my soul vehicles that were originally sold in or a
Structure:body 2026-06-09 · CS2311_TSB_R4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition: cylinder protector & decal installation (cs2311) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provi
Engine 2026-03-24 · SC176Y_TSB_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: subsequent repair action: catalytic converter replacement and engine inspection/replacement (sc176y) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin pr
Engine 2026-02-24 · PI2002B_OWNR_701 · Other
product improvement campaign: owner renotification (pi2002b fl701) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting a product improvement campaign to perform a software update on 2014-2016 my soul vehicles equipped with 2.0l gasoline direct injection (“gdi”) engines to pro
Structure:body 2025-12-19 · CS2311_OWNR_PC201 · Other
customer satisfaction campaign: postcard owner renotification (cs2311) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting customer satisfaction campaign. kia has developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade and can be installed at the ignition
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2025-12-09 · PS797 · Other
pitstop: technical operations: external damage to ultrasonic sensor: this pitstop provides information related to parking distance warning (pdw) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. the pdw system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal
Showing the 6 most recent of 164 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-18 · Unknown Or Other“recall sc176 incomplete- while driving in an unincorperated area in [xxx] ([xxx] in [xxx] county) the vehicle suddenly lost engine power and due to the sudden loss of engine power the vehicle was difficult to stop on a dangerous curve. the vehicle would not start back up. the cruve was situated in such a manor that it was unsafe to try to push it i…”
2026-10-14 · Service Brakes“an authorized kia dealership (car town kia in lexington ky) refused to complete federal safety recall sc334 after a technician snapped a bleeder screw, instead demanding a $3,022.83 payment for an unauthorized full brake overhaul. citing rust buildup to deny the mandated safety repair violates federal regulations, prompting a request for an immedia…”
2026-10-08 · Power Train“my husband purchased our 2015 kia soul 1.6l gdi in 04/18. it was recalled under the nhtsa 19v120 & kia sc176 in 04/19. the recommended fix? update ecu logic. completed: 04/24/19. check engine light came in 07/19. my appointment in 08/19, at #1 cochran kia showed a p0455 large leak code. per invoice, manual leak test found no leak, but found gas cap…”
2026-10-05 · Engine · 145,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owns a 2015 kia soul. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v750000 (engine). the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the engine was inspected and it was determined that there was no failure with the vehicle. the contact was charged for the diagnostic test. while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went…”
2026-09-19 · Seat Belts“seatbelt on front passenger side locked up and continued to tighten until passenger had to release. then seatbelt never returned to function. it locked up completely. …”
2026-09-02 · Engine · 90,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owned a 2015 kia soul. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, there was smoke coming from the exhaust, with an abnormally loud popping sound coming from the vehicle. the vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, and the contact exited the vehicle and became aware that there was a line of fire on the main road…”
2026-08-04 · Unknown Or Other“dealer refusing to honor open recall remedy for sc200 / nhtsa 20v750000 on 2015 kia soul vin [xxx], approx 100k miles. recall shows "no unrepaired recall found" on nhtsa vin lookup, but ksds update and engine bearing test were never performed. kia of cheyenne states: 1) must pay for recall because update not done, 2) must pay for unrelated repairs …”
2026-08-02 · Engine“please see attached documents. i have also put them in the us mail. one to kia: kia customer care center, kia motors america, inc., p.o. box 52410, irvine, ca, 92619-2410 and one to the national highway traffic safety administration: 1200 new jersey avenue, s.e., washing, dc 20590. …”
2026-07-27 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 147,000 mi“the contact owns a 2015 kia soul. the contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 19v120000 (engine, engine and engine cooling); the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle had passed the inspection and no repairs were needed. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds on a…”
2026-07-23 · Engine · 99,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owned a 2015 kia soul. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, bystanders notified the contact that the vehicle was on fire. the contact pulled over, exited the vehicle, opened the hood, and there were flames coming from the engine. no warning light was illuminated. the contact's boyfriend called 911. no injuries were sustained. n…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.