2021 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 234 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 12 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, engine, hard parts internal/mechanicalFeb 17, 2025
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.
Campaign 25V099000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineApr 13, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.
Campaign 21V259000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
234 reports, newest first.
Power train, May 11, 2021
I I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND DECELERATED. IT SEEMED TO LOSE POWER, I TURNED AROUND AND STARTED HOME AS I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED. THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS, DECELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE TACHOMETER WAS SWINGING AROUND WILDLY. THE CAR MOST OF THE TIME SEEMED TO HAVE NO POWER. I WAS AFRAID OF A REAR END HIT BY ANOTHER CAR OR FLYLING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT. I WAS TRYING TO LIMP IT IN TO THE DEALER. THE CAR ONLY HAD 3400 MILES ON IT AND I HAD HAD IT FOR 7 MONTHS. AT ONE POINT I HAD TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I PUT ON THE WARNING FLASHERS AND TIRED TO EDGE TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET AS THERE WAS A BIT OF SLOPE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALER ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY WITH VERY LITTLE POWER. THEY TOLD ME IT HAS TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THEY ARE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WITH A DIFFERENT KIND AND IT WILL BE SAFE NOT TO WORRY, THOUGH CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE IS DIMINISHED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE IVT TRANSMISSION THAT KIA DEVELOPED IN 2020 HAS BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS.
Power train, May 7, 2021
VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT SLOPE PARKING SPACE BACKING TO A ONE-WAY PUBLIC ROAD IN NATIONAL PARK.IT WAS A DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND IN THE P MODE OF GEAR SELECTION. I EXITED THE DRIVER'S DOOR FOR FEW MINUTES. THEN OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE INTENT TO SHUT THE ENGINE. THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACK, CROSSED THE ROAD, AND STOPPED BY A SANDY EMBANKMENT. I WAS THROWN OFF BY THE OPEN DOOR ON THE SANDY BANK. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND I OBSERVED THE VEHICLE IN D MODE BY ITSELF. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR IN THE P MODE AND WAS PULLED OUT WITH HELP OF SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO OBSERVED THIS NEAR-MISS SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR. NO FURTHER PROBLEMS OBSERVED. CAR RETURNED TO THE RENTAL COMPANY.
Lane departure, Apr 19, 2021
DRIVING 75 MPH SPEED LIMIT ON I-19 (4 LANE DIVIDED) NORTHBOUND NEAR GREEN VALLEY AZ. DRY CLEAR. IS NEW CAR WITH 400 MILES ON IT AND I WAS USING THE LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE HANDS FREE. CLEARLY VISIBLE PAINTED LANE LINES. WORKED FINE UNTIL LANE MARKINGS DIVERGED AT SLIGHT CURVE AND AT OFF RAMP. THE CAR DROVE DIRECTLY INTO/ONTO THE "V" BETWEEN RIGHT LANE AND OFF RAMP UNTIL I MANUALLY STEERED BACK TO TRAFFIC LANE. NO ALARM OR VIBRATION SOUNDED BEFORE I HAD TO MANUALLY STEER BACK TO TRAFFIC LANE.
Steering, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 5, 2021
HAD CAR 1 WEEK - 204 MILES. POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55. THEN THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. THEN ALL WARNING LIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING OFF AND ON THEN FINALLY JUST OFF. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT WHERE ALL SYSTEMS STOPPED WORKING. WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO CLOSE SUN ROOF. NO POWER DOOR LOCKS - HAD TO OPERATE MANUALLY. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THANKFULLY I AM A STRONG PERSON AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT WITHOUT INCIDENT. I AM NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENED SINCE I DID NOT EVEN HAVE WORKING HAZARD LIGHTS.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 5, 2021
TWO MAJOR ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD A VERY LOUD TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH STARTED ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO. BEFORE THEN THE CAR RAN SILENT. CAR IS IT APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE CLICKING STARTED GETTING LOUDER AND THEN THE CAR STALLED TWICE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING! ONE WAS ON A STREET GOING ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR! THE OTHERWAS ON A SIDE STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE EC OH MODE WAS ON IN THE CAR. ALSO' WHEN YOU TURN ON THE HEATER FAN ON HIGH IT STARTED MAKING A HIGH-PITCHED SQUEALING SOUND. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW AS IT WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY.
Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 11, 2021, crash
I WAS GOING TO GET MY MAIL ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHERE I ALWAYS PARK. I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SPED UP AND HIT TWO MAILBOXES. I COULDN'T GET IT TO STOP. I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST IT WAS GOING WHEN I HIT THE MAILBOXES
Engine, Nov 19, 2020
WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT 15MPH THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. SO I TRIED TO RESTART IT AND WHEN I TOOK THE KEY OUT EVERYTHING LOCKED UP AND IT WAS LIKE THAT FOR 5 MIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CAR CAME BACK ON AND FLAHED THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Oct 30, 2020
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, LOST WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS. HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. VEHICLE STATED KEY WASN'T DETECTED IN CAR. WHILE IN MOTION USING OTHER VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY THANKFULLY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT.
Steering, Suspension, Wheels, Oct 28, 2020
VEHICLE KEEPS PULLING. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. PERFORMED A STEERING ANGLE RELEARNED, AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. CROSS ROTATED TIRES AND NOW THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. TOLD NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE AT THIS TIME. CAR IS CONSTANTLY. FIGHTING ITSELF WITH STEERING ASSIST.