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 and engine cooling, May 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The engine misfired and the transmission shuttered. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed catalytic converter. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Seat belts, Apr 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat belt failed to latch and lock securely. The rear middle seat belt was difficult to close. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the oxygen sensor and catalytic converter were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted, and informed the contact that a diagnostic test was needed. The failure mileage was 104,000.
Steering, Engine, Apr 21, 2025
Hello, I own currently a car, Kia Soul 2015 , I bought it from car auction, it was recovered after theft! The car is clean title! When I got it home a mechanic looked at it and told me the piston rod came out through the engine block and engine is seized up and this is a common problem for this model of Kia, piston rod is damaging the block , oil spilling and catching fire and he told me I need to go to the dealership because some people get their cars fixed if they meet the criteria for recall! Also I saw there is one more open recall this car has related to power steering that can lead to accidents if not fixed! I towed my car to Kia dealership and they told me they can't fix my recalls because I bought the car from auction! And I paid 180$ for the inspection they did! They didn't even saw the piston rod came out of block and damaged the piston and the block! They told me I have a broken piston! So is it true if you bought a car from auction they don't fix the recals anymore ? This doesn't make any sense to me! The recall is not a warranty I guess, it shouldn't expire because it can create dangerous situations on the road! So I want to know what can I do in this case to have the recalls fixed! I also asked them for a note about inspection they did and they didn't gave me anything! Thank you!
Engine, Apr 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking and ticking sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that while slowing down to come to a stop, the engine sounded very weak, as if the vehicle was going to shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, and that the catalytic convertor, knock sensor, and the exhaust gasket were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 101,725.
Engine, Apr 3, 2025
No early warning lights displayed, but traveling on the interstate in this Kia Soul, having only 74,000 original miles on it when sudden knocking began. Had to quickly get to a stopping point and eventually have the vehicle towed. Mechanic reported is the very common Theta II motor issue where a spun bearing has occurring and could have easily locked up the engine, causing safety risks. Only after the start of the knocking did the oil lamp indicator begin to flicker; was not even a stead light. Indications are that though some recalls were made for this model, this vehicle was not included, and many others have reported similar issues on the same model.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 31, 2025
High temperatures catalytic converter code went on the car was stalling on the highway as soon as I hit 60 MPH as I was getting on the car will not accelerate like if the engine was going to come out which also caused my car to overheat which was smelling like burnt oil called the dealer regarding this issue and compared to the recalls on the other KIA which is exactly what's happening to my car.
Engine, Mar 27, 2025
Multiple cylinder misfires detected. Knocking/clacking present when symptoms occur. Inspected engine oil and found metal precent, engine has an internal failure and would need to be replaced.
Engine, Mar 21, 2025
The component that malfunctioned is the catalytic converter, which became clogged due to excessive oil consumption from the engine. The oil consumption likely resulted in oil entering the exhaust system and contaminating the catalyst, causing it to lose its efficiency. The dealer replaced the engine but failed to inspect and replace the catalytic converter, which was clogged due to oil consumption from the engine. Yes, the catalytic converter is available for inspection and can be physically examined by a mechanic or technician to confirm the issue. The clogging of the catalytic converter resulted in poor engine performance, to include reduced acceleration, high rough idling and risk of fire. This lead to dangerous driving conditions, the vehicle stalled and had trouble accelerating. The issue of a clogged catalytic converter due to oil consumption has been confirmed by dealer. They performed diagnostic tests and read the vehicle's diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that indicated problems with the catalytic converter. No, the dealer relayed that they did not inspect the catalytic converter. Yes, I noticed symptoms prior to the catalytic converter clogging. Check engine light coming on. Reduced engine performance, sluggish acceleration. These symptoms occurred the day the vehicle became incapacitated. Rough idling was happening over time, during winter months.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 21, 2025
car keeps dying as going down the road.almost completely dies then kicks back in.have had it in several times always says something differant.has around 78000 miles.bought it new in 2015 have had it several times for same issue.have almost gotten in wrecks due to it dying out of the blue!!!
Engine, Mar 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Engine, Mar 17, 2025
I was making a left turn onto a street and the check engine light started flashing and the car immediately went into limp mode. Code is showing p1326
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Mar 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); and the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic was updated to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. After the recall repair was completed, the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was not repaired. The check engine warning light remained constantly illuminated. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 27, 2025, fire
See attached document for complaint.
Engine, Feb 25, 2025
My daughter was driving my car on [XXX] when suddenly there was a pop and the car stopped working. Honestly she could have been killed but by the grace of God nobody was behind or aside her and she was able to coast over to the breakdown lane. This could have been a very different story. An independent mechanic notated engine failure codes, a worn crank shaft which triggered a sensor to seize the engine or go into “limp mode” then heavy metal in the engine oil. Maintenance was performed and AAA unaccompanied towed the vehicle to Wagner Kia in Shrewsbury MA the next day after a storm passed. Wagner Kia then refused to service the vehicle or acknowledge any responsibility. I contacted Kia America and opened a claim and again they denied any responsibility closing out the claim within 48 hours although the company has had class action lawsuits against this make/model and year of car. This is truly a nightmare where the little man wallet takes a hit while being bullied by a large corrupt corporation. I then accepted an offer on the car for what it is worth in its current condition and took a loss of over $4,000.00 on an auto loan that I had to pay off the balance of and hundreds of dollars of repairs over the past few months. This vehicle also suddenly had an evaporation leak prior to the event which cost myself even more money. I do believe when you engine suddenly shuts off with no warning on a highway and could have killed everyone in the car that it should be reported and taken seriously by the manufacturer and dealership. Thank you for hearing our family’s story- INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle was bucking and lurching forward. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recently occurred while driving and the vehicle was lurching while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The mechanic referred the contact to a dealer after relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact searched the VIN online and found that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,881.
Engine, Jan 20, 2025
Incredibly high oil consumption. Spending so much money on keeping oil in it.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 23, 2024, fire
Description of Incident: The engine has experienced a failure that causes oil to blow back from the engine, covering components both under and outside of the engine cover. This has resulted in oil accumulating on the exhaust and other hot components, creating a significant fire hazard. Safety Risks: This malfunction poses a serious risk to my safety and the safety of others, as the oil leakage could lead to a fire while driving. Additionally, the vehicle stalls at various speeds, which increases the risk of accidents or harm to other drivers and pedestrians. There is also a strong smell of oil inside the car, potentially indicating harmful fumes entering the cabin. Inspection Availability: The component/system causing the issue is available for inspection upon request. Reproduction and Confirmation of the Problem: The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by two SAE-certified mechanics. Inspection by Others: The vehicle has been inspected by two SAE-certified mechanics but not yet by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Warning Signs Prior to Failure: Warning signs included consistently losing oil even after a fresh oil change, smoke from under the hood, a strong oil smell inside the cabin, and the car stalling during operation. These symptoms have been ongoing and progressively worsening, with the vehicle now stalling more frequently.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 12, 2024
I was driving about 50mph when my car suddenly stopped accelerating. I rolled down the hill a little before I hit the brake and put the car in park right in the middle of the street in traffic
Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 10, 2024
The engine system in my 2025 Kia Soul malfunctioned, as indicated by the activation of the P1326 warning light. This diagnostic code typically signals serious engine issues, such as potential rod-bearing damage. Despite this warning, the authorized dealership, Jim Bone Kia of Santa Rosa, only replaced the knock sensor after I asked to conduct a Bearing Clearance Test (BCT), which they claimed passed. However, prior inspections had revealed metal debris in the oil, which strongly suggests internal engine damage. The failure to conduct a thorough investigation into the potential engine damage poses a significant safety risk, as the vehicle could experience a catastrophic engine failure while in operation. Such an event could endanger my safety and the safety of others on the road. The dealership has not reproduced or confirmed additional issues related to the P1326 code, claiming they require further symptoms (e.g., audible engine noise or a repeat warning) to proceed with deeper diagnostics. This approach delays necessary repairs and leaves unresolved safety concerns. Additionally, the vehicle’s catalytic converter was initially denied warranty coverage, despite being included under an extended recall. This created confusion and delayed essential repairs. The P1326 warning light appeared before service, and the knock sensor was replaced, but no further proactive measures were taken to address the root cause. The vehicle remains at risk of more severe engine damage and safety hazards.
Engine, Dec 3, 2024
We bought Kia Soul in July of '23 from a dealership. We had no knowledge of a recall on this vehicle from the dealer. Although it was sold to us, and assumed it was in good working order. In December of 2023, the engine/electrical system had an issue. The car was smoking, the battery was changed and it seemed to be mostly solved, although here was smoke coming from the oil area. At no point were we told that there was a recall on this vehicle or sent communications saying so. This was fixed at an independent garage - not Kia, and again we had no idea that there was a recall on this vehicles engine. We received a "Important safety recall" notification around Nov. 1st, 2024 about a problem that needed attention. Using the QR at the bottom to try to schedule the recall, there was not availability at our local dealership until late January to have this remedied. On Nov. 28, 2024, the car started having issues again. The oil light flickered on late on Nov. 27th and then by the 28th the car was unusable/undrivable and we had to have the car towed to the dealership. It was then we realized this may have to do with the recall notification that we received. We told the dealership this so they could see if this issue is part of the recall. The dealership AND Kia Customer Service then told us that the engine issues are not covered under the "extended warranty" because the recall work had not been preformed. I have to stress again A) no availability to do the recall, and B) We're the second owners of this car and were JUST made aware of the issues. The dealership we bought it from did not make us aware of a recall, nor did the places we've had it serviced for problems last year and when getting oil changes. This is UNACCEPTABLE. The repair cost is not covered, and we were told that the engine will cost $8000 to replace. The recall notice specifically says "Kia will Inspect, test, and if necessary repair or replace the engine." Kia should be responsible for this.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with no warning light illuminated. The contact noticed a knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was able to restart however the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and a case was opened. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 96,643.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Oct 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with catalytic converter failure. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 25, 2024
purchased vehicle on 10/12/2024 was driving it home the car started knocking, and loosing acceleration on freeway. the car was smelling of very volatile gas fumes. i put some gas in car for the trip home . drove about 15-18 miles had to pullover into the v shape of the merging section of a on ramp,. could not make it to the emergency lane on the freeway. used family members road side assistance to get car home, took it to the kia dealer (car pros moreno valley) towed to them because they said had to get a appt,. which they set up for today 10/25/2024. the intake person was letting us know it was just a update as if the fuel leak and oil leak was not a part of the recall and it would cost us 9000-13,000 to fix the engine plus the diagnosis of 240.00 getting the run around already for a dangerous situation. the car has caught fire for other owners, of the same year and make. the customer care person stated to me it is just a oil pan leak, as if the car is safe and anything else is our problem. the car reeks of fumes and could not be safe to drive. they were questioning us about the recall as to why it was not done? we told him we were not the owners we dont know if they got the notices? no, unknown only owned the car 0n 10/12/24 for 30 minutes before this started warning lights appeared on dash after knocking and acceleration went out. car was towed and left at kia dealer today. he was talking to us as if it was our fault the car was dangerous and could blow up while driving!!!
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 21, 2024
Earlier last year, we had suddenly had an issue with the Kia Soul. We received a check engine light and noticed a loud clicking noise as the vehicle began accelerating and noticed the vehicle had difficulty accelrating. We left the vehicle parked and then attempted to change the battery and oil to see if either were a contributing factor. When we noticed no improvement upon turning on the car, we took the vehicle to a licensed dealership: Arapahoe Kia to check the vehicle to diagnose the issue and help determine if this was covered under warranty. On our drive (which was about 2 miles from where we had left the car, the engine seized so we had the vehicle towed there. Once we got the diag back, they told us the code but wanted service records to honor the warranty from all oil changes in all states for the past 5 years or pay full cost of vehicle. No mention was made of the prior repaired recalls or determination if the cause could have been because of the unprepared recall that clearly states the syptoms and result being the exact problem we experienced. A few months later when we received notification from a different licensed dealer we had the unrepaired recall (in automated texts and emails), we called back Arapahoe Kia who still had the car, and they again stated service records would be needed to honor the NHTSA recall and also admitted they didn’t attempt to identify if the engine issue we had was caused by the unrepaired recall, as they only looked at the code and visual inspection of oil sludge, and treated it like a warranty claim to deny and did not validate the recall as the cause. But they still have refused to actually inspect the recall concern to determine if the engine trouble was caused by it and repair it as obligated if it was. Instead they keep asking us to pay for the full engine without validating root cause under the NHTSA recall.
Engine, Oct 10, 2024
The car has consistently burned oil, and I’ve had several engine-related repairs: 09/2022: Camshaft replaced. The check engine light came on again, but I was told the camshaft was fine and that the car just needed an oil change. 04/2023: Check engine light came on, AutoZone diagnostic code P0011. 06/2023: Check engine light on again, AutoZone diagnostic code P0011. 09/2023: Check engine light on again AutoZone diagnostic code P0011. 06/2024: Check engine light came on AutoZone diagnostic code P0014. 07/2024: check engine light on-taken to Firestone Auto for an oil change 07/2024: check engine light on- car to Christian Brothers Automotive, where the camshaft and timing chain belt were replaced. Documented a knocking sound in the vehicle. 09/30/2024: Vehicle shook violently on the highway, sputtering as if the engine would fail. Check engine light came on after car began to shake. 10/2024: We Care Auto diagnosed the car. I was told the engine needs replacement due to misfires, low compression, and no oil in cylinders 2 and 3. Safford Kia Brown of Manassas recommended replacing the ignition coil, spark plugs, and conducting a fuel induction service, diagnostic, and synthetic oil change. Given the car’s engine history, I don’t believe this will resolve the root problem, and it’s likely the car will need more repairs soon. Driving under these conditions compromises my safety and the safety of others, increasing the likelihood of a life-threatening situation. Per Motor and Wheel and Fast Company, the December 2020 recall addressed engine issues and fire risks in Kia Souls from 2014-2016. Owners reported hearing knocking noises before their engines failed or caught fire while driving. Some saw smoke before safely stopping, highlighting the dangers of unnoticed warnings. CarMax's warranty acknowledges the issue and is willing to authorize repairs, so I would like to know why Kia will not honor this as well. I ask Kia to reconsider and investigate further.