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 and engine cooling
58 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 17, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE SOUNDED WITH A LOUD BANG WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 156,000. *BF*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 15, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARRY STOVESAND KIA (528 SAN DIEGO RD, CARBONDALE, IL 62902, (618) 319-4690) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V12000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 24, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STARTED TO SHAKE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND HESITATED TO MOVE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MASTRIA KIA (1555 NEW STATE HWY, RAYNHAM, MA 02767, (508) 802-6800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,600.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 29, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND WOULD NOT EXCEED 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MORITZ KIA FORT WORTH (8501 WEST FWY, FORT WORTH, TX 76116, (817) 502-9181) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 9, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE OIL AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN SLOWLY TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE FOUND; HOWEVER, A TUNE-UP AND OIL CHANGE WERE COMPLETED. AFTER THE CONTACT LEFT THE MECHANIC, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND INFOMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO KIA OF EAST HARTFORD (LOCATED AT 99 ASH ST, EAST HARTFORD, CT 06108, (860) 291-7000) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 10, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A MONTH AGO WITH A FIVE MONTHS OR 5,000 MILE WARRANTY. AT APPROXIMATELY 4,800 MILES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. FAYETTEVILLE KIA (2012 SKIBO RD, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28314, (910) 864-1449) WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT SCHEDULE A REPAIR FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 21, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CRAIN KIA OF FORT SMITH (8200 US-71, FORT SMITH, AR 72908) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
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