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: power train
62 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 27, 2019
THE CAR COMPUTER IS NOT REGISTERING THE CORRECT GEAR THE CAR IS PLACED INTO, THUS CAUSING THE CAR TO BYPASS CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURES. THE CAR'S POWER TRAIN, ELECTRIC SYSTEMS, AND FUEL SYSTEMS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF FAILING NEUTRAL SAFETY INHIBITOR. THE CAR READS THAT THE GEAR IS IN DRIVE INSTEAD OF PARK AND WILL NOT TURN OVER. THOUSANDS OF OTHER KIA CUSTOMERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUES SINCE 2010 WITH NO RESOLUTION. DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP THE CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS DO NOT PICK UP ON THIS SIGNAL FAILURE. THE SEND CAR OWNERS AWAY SAYING THE VEHICLE IS IN GREAT CONDITION ONLY FOR THE CAR TO STALL ON THE HIGHWAY UNEXPECTEDLY A FEW DAYS LATER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND THE CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN NO OPTION BUT TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. JUST CHECK OUT THE NUMEROUS YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF CUSTOMERS ALL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES ACROSS MULTIPLE KIA MODELS STARTING IN 2010.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 27, 2019
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE.SOUNDED LIKE A TRUCK.I CHECK THE OIL AND IT WAS VERY LOW AND DARK.IT HAD RECENTLY GOT AN OIL CHANGE.I PUT IN 3 QUARTS AND THEN IT WAS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL.IT STOPPED MAKING THE NOISE.BUT I SMELL GAS FROM THE TAILPIPE.THIS WAS BEFORE IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRUCK.I STEPPED ON THEE GAS AND THE CAR BARELY MOVES.THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED UP IT WAS MISFIRE CODES MULTIPLE CYLINDER.I HEAR A LOUD HISSING SOUND LIKE A TURBO OR SOME SORT OF EXHAUST LEAK.BAD MILEAGE BURNS A QUART OF OIL EVERY TWO DAYS.THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT TOO AND IT MISFIRES
Power train, Engine, Apr 5, 2019, fire
VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER HORRIBLE RATTLING NOISE. DRIVING IN THE CITY GOING AROUND 25 MPH.
Power train, Engine, Mar 24, 2019, fire
I WAS DRIVING TWENTY MILES PER HOUR. THE ENGINE WAS RATTLING THEN I LOST POWER. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER THAT.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 12, 2018
HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AFTER HAVING VEHICLE IN MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE ENGINE VIBRATION ON 8/18/2018. CAR CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. TOOK CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE RECOMMENDED FUEL INJECTION AND OIL CHANGE. I HAD THIS WORK PERFORMED IN SEPTEMBER 2018. DROVE VEHICLE AND MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND NOTICED CAR WAS EXTREMELY LOW ON OIL. ADDED OIL AND DROVE TO FIND A PARTS STORE TO HAVE PUT ON A MACHINE AND NEVER MADE IT. CAR STARTED HESITATING AND SQUEALING AND I PULLED OVER AND HAD IT TOWED. SERVICE MECHANIC SAID NO WAY SHOULD IT BE THAT LOW ON OIL AFTER JUST HAVING SERVICED A MONTH AGO AND THAT OIL WAS VERY BLACK EVEN AFTER HE ADDED SOME INDICATING WORK THE LAST DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DID HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED. NOW NEEDS NEW MOTOR AND UNSURE WHERE THE OIL THAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE WENT TO. LEFT ME ON SIDE OF ROAD WITH CHILDREN AND NO HELP YET FROM KIA OTHER THAN YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT TO A DEALERSHIP PER THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS PERSON JACOB! THIS WAS ON HIGHWAY 74 EAST RIGHT OUTSIDE OF SYLVA, NC
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.
Power train, Mar 6, 2018
OUR 2015 KIA SOUL EV HAS OVER HEATED THE MAIN CONTROLLER AND SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN CHANDLER (PHOENIX ) ARIZONA AFTER TRAVELING JUST 10 MILES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR CANNOT HANDLE THE HEAT IN ARIZONA, GEORGIA OR OTHER HOT SOUTHERN STATES. THE BATTERIES AND BMS ALSO FAIL AFTER 2-3 YEARS.
Power train, Mar 2, 2018, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH, THE MANUAL CLUTCH SLIPPED AND LOST FUNCTIONALITY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PITRE KIA (9640 EAGLE RANCH ROAD, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87114, (877) 887-1633) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
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.
Steering, Power train, Service brakes, Aug 23, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN, SHIFTER, AND BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEN TO THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V736000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM A CERVICAL STRAIN AND MILD THORACIC FACIAL STRAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Power train, Feb 24, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR AND THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT POWER LOSS IN THE MOMENTUM OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST TO THE POINT OF STALLING BEFORE THERE WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Electrical system, Jan 27, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,600. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER. UPDATED 03/30/16.*JB