What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2015 KIA Soul

Typical pattern

2.5% of complaints about the 2015 KIA Soul came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2015 vehicle — around the middle of the 195 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (628 complaints), typically at 6.5 yr or about 93,000 miles.

Complaints
1,221
Median age at failure
6.5 yr
Median mileage
87,000 n=706
Crash / fire / tow
21.1% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
628 reports · 93,000 mi
6.5 yr
18.6%
Other
107 reports · 72,110 mi
6.8 yr
15.9%
Fuel / propulsion
76 reports · 65,000 mi
6.6 yr
14.5%
Electrical system
75 reports · 65,000 mi
5.9 yr
16%
Engine cooling
60 reports · 112,630 mi
8.0 yr
36.7%
Power train
60 reports · 95,000 mi
6.3 yr
18.3%
Steering
44 reports · 35,500 mi
5.3 yr
27.3%
Exterior lighting
37 reports · 80,000 mi
5.9 yr
2.7%
Speed control
29 reports · 95,000 mi
7.3 yr
13.8%
Service brakes
27 reports · 14,000 mi
7.5 yr
37%
Air bags
20 reports · 6,743 mi
8.1 yr
70%
Structure
16 reports · 53,500 mi
5.3 yr
68.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V750000 2020-12-02
Engine

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.

19V120000 2019-02-22
Engine

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.

17V608000 2017-09-29
Steering

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.

15V123000 2015-03-02
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal

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.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 300 mi 1 mo in service crash / fire / tow
WHILE DRIVING DOWN FAIRMOUNT BLVD. I HIT A POT HOLE, CAUSING MY TIRE TO GO FLAT AND THE AIR BAGS CAME OUT. *TR
Air bags 4,000 mi 7 mo in service crash / fire / tow
CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE AS IT PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT. ENDED UP STOPPING IN A STOREFRONT. NO SIGNIFICANT VISIBLE DAMAGE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALL THREE PASSENGERS (INCL ONE 3 YR OLD) WERE COMPLETELY UNSCATHED. *TR
Air bags 10,500 mi 1.0 yr in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAIN BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION LOT WHERE THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATED FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ *TR
Engine cooling mileage not reported 2 mo in service
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

Other Soul model years

2022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010

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