2015 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 904 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 36 involved a crash and 83 involved a fire. 32 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EngineDec 2, 2020
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.
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 20V750000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineFeb 22, 2019
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 19V120000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringSep 29, 2017
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.
If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 17V608000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, accelerator pedalMar 2, 2015
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.
If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 15V123000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
660 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Aug 17, 2018
MY CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, 112,000 MILES AND MY AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WENT OUT. THE FIX IS OVER $800. I HAVE OWNED 6 CARS IN MY LIFETIME AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN, I'VE NEVER EVEN RAN OUT OF FREON IN MY CARS.
Engine, Jun 1, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY ENGINE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND NO SIGNS OF ANY LEAKAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
Power train, Engine, Apr 25, 2018
OWNER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 HEADING EAST AT APX 65 MILES PER HOUR.WITH NO WARNING , OIL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ,CAR SEIZED UP AND STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD BANGING.OWNER IS A 22 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER AND WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN KILLED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALER.THE SAME DEALERSHIP OWNER PURCHASED CAR. MILEAGE IS 78.000 MILES AND OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE AT RECOMMENDED INTERVALS.OWNER IS WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
Engine, Apr 20, 2018, fire
I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 KIA SOUL ON MY NORMAL ROUTE TO WORK ON 4/5/18. IT WAS A DARK, CLEAR MORNING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS MOVING WITH TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. AT JUST ABOUT 5:30 A.M., THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE AND LOST ACCELERATION. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND PARK THE VEHICLE. I WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES WHEN I SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I EXITED THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. NO OTHER PERSONS OR VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND IT HAD HAD NO SIGNIFICANT MECHANICAL WORK IN THE 2 YEARS THAT I OWNED IT, JUST NORMAL OIL CHANGES AND A COUPLE OF SAFETY RECALLS. NEITHER THE FIREFIGHTER ON THE SCENE, NOR THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER, WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, ONLY THAT IT STARTED IN THE ENGINE.
Engine, Mar 21, 2018
ENGINE DEVELOPED A LOUD KNOCK. WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. FIRST TIME WAS 09/05/2017. IT TOOK 4 MONTHS BEFORE WE GOT CAR BACK. ENGINE WAS WARRANTY REPLACED. TOWED CAR ON 2/17/18 TO DEALERSHIP. STILL WAITING FOR REPAIRS TO BE DONE.
Engine, Jan 5, 2017
THE ENGINE FAILED AT 23,600 MI. I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE "OIL" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE KIA DEALERSHIP DENIED THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY STATING THAT SINCE I DID THE OIL CHANGES MYSELF THE WARRANTY WAS VOID. I PAID A MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THE MECHANIC SAID THEY HAD JUST REPLACED THE ENGINE IN A 2014 KIA OPTIMA AND WHERE MORE THAN FAMILIAR WITH AN ENGINE SWAP ON A MODERN KIA. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATING KIA MOTORS FOR THEIR FRAUDULENT PRACTICES.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 28, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION LUNGED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIGOROUSLY WHILE IDLING OR WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES FAIL TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Engine, Aug 25, 2016, fire
THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE ENGINE. UPON ARRIVING HOME FROM GROCERY STORE PASSENGER NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE KIA EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE WAS CALLED. THE LOCAL KIA DEALER DOESNT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY . KIA CORPORATE ISN'T MUCH HELP EITHER SAYING IT WILL BE 2-5 BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE SOMEONE FROM THERE WILL BE ABLE TO COME AND INSPECT IT. IN THE MEANTIME I AM STRANDED IN FORT WAYNE WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. AGAIN THE CAR IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY!!!!!!!!!
Engine, Dec 24, 2015
CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ECO-BOOST AND ACTIVE "INTERMITTANT STOP AND GO" SYSTEM, WHICH IS ACTIVE EVERY START CYCLE UNLESS "DEACTIVATE" BUTTON IS ENGAGED.CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FOR 3,000 MILES IN 6 MONTHS. THE ENGINE HAS SHUT DOWN AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE RESTARTED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS.BOTH TIMES THE ISG SYSTEM SWITCH WAS DEPRESSED, THE SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED,AND THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. THE SECOND TIME THE CAR SHUT DOWN WAS AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, MY DAUGHTER IS A NEW DRIVER-SHE WAS HYSTERICAL. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, THEY ARE SAYING IT IS OPERATOR ERROR. I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT SHE ALWAYS DEACTIVATES THE ISG EVERY TIME SHE STARTS THE CAR. SHE HAS SEEN THE "DEACTIVE" LIGHT GO OUT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE WERE NOT TOLD BY THE DEALER ABOUT THE ISG SYSTEM WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR, IF WE HAD KNOWN ABOUT IT, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT.I FEEL THERE MIGHT BE A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING UNCOMMANDED SHUT DOWN. DEALER CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.I AM AN AIRLINE AIRCRAFT MECHANIC WITH 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE ON BOEING JETS, AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON CARS FOR 40 YEARS.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 29, 2015
2015 KIA SOUL SPUTTERED WHEN GOING FROM FIRST GEAR, TO SECOND GEAR AND THEN THIRD. CW ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. A DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FIRING ON ALL FOUR CYLINDERS AND THAT WAS THE REASON THE VEHICLE SEEMED SLUGGISH. THE ENGINE COVER WAS REMOVED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED ALL THE CYLINDERS WERE NOT CONNECTED. *JB