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: exterior lighting
36 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 26, 2019
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN USE. UPON INSPECTION THE CONNECTION TO THE BULB SOCKET WAS FOUND MELTED AND BLACK
Exterior lighting, Aug 24, 2019
THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY AND THEN REMAINED OFF. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, INITIALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AND THEN PARKED. THIS OCCURRED IN AN APARTMENT PARKING LOT.
Exterior lighting, Jul 22, 2019
THE HOUSING UNIT FOR THE LEFT HEADLIGHT MELTED CAUSING THE HEADLIGHT NOT TO FUNCTION. THE LIGHT IS NOT BURNT OUT. THE LIGHT IN THE HOUSING IS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY LIGHT. THE KIA DEALERSHIP WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION. TH DEALERSHIP STATED THERE HAS ONLY BEEN A RECALL ON THE SORENTO MODEL FOR THAT PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2019
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN SHUTTING OFF FROM 5 ALL THE WAY UP TO 30 SECONDS AND THEN COMING BACK ON. WHILE DRIVING DOWN ANY GIVEN ROAD
Exterior lighting, Jun 28, 2019
HEADLIGHTS MYSTERIOUSLY BEGIN FLICKERING AFTER USING TURN SIGNAL OR FLICKER WITHOUT USING THE TURN SIGNAL. LIGHTS HAVE TURNED COMPLETELY OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT NIGHT CREATING AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION.
Exterior lighting, May 30, 2019
THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS BLOWN 3 BULBS WHEN CHANGING TO LAST BULB IT APPEARS THE CONNECTOR HAS OVER HEATED AND MELTED THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CONNECTOR BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT RECALLED FOR MY VEHICLE PER THE VIN NUMBER
Exterior lighting, May 9, 2019
WHEN DIVING AT NIGHT ON THE STREETS OR ON THE FREEWAY I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHT FLICKERING AND THEN THE TURNING OFF COMPLETELY MOMENTARILY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A VERY RURAL WINDING ROAD WHERE I FEARED FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE I COULD SEE NOTHING FOR A FEW SECOND WHEN THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME BUT IT DID HAPPEN LAST NIGHT WHEN GOING OVER A RAILROAD CROSSING, WHICH IS WHY I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT.
Exterior lighting, Jan 21, 2019
RIGHT SIDE HEAD LIGHT WILL NOT ALWAYS GO ON ( I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO WORK) , I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY MECHANIC ALSO/ THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TIME OF WHEN MY LIGHT WILL WORK OR NOT . THIS IS NOT NORMAL.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 10, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY PIGTAIL FAILED TO FUNCTION AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHTS WERE SHORTING AND BEGAN TO FLICKER. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO GET THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THEY CONTINUED TO FLICKER AND SHORT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC KIA (902 WALTON DR, TEXARKANA, TX 75503, (903) 793-4623) WHO REPLACED THE BULB. WITHIN A WEEK, THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN. CLASSIC KIA WAS CONTACTED AGAIN AND WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PART. THE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FLICKER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO CROWN KIA (2001 W LOOP 281, LONGVIEW, TX 75604, (903) 759-4667) WHO WAS ABLE TO SUPPLY THE PIGTAIL AND LIGHT, WHICH WAS REPLACED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE A SECOND TIME. MONTHS LATER, THE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FLICKER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFED MONTHS LATER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 27, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND CAME BACK ON APPROXIMATELY A SECOND LATER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BROWNS KIA IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,543.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 6, 2017, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLUGS WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAILURE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 11/06/17*LJ *JS