Engine
NHTSA campaign 20V750000 · 2020 · reported 12/02/2020
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2015 Kia Soul Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine — runs 5.9× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
891Complaints
4Recalls
34Crashes
81Fires
32Injured
1Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Engine (70% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Engine complaints here are 5.9× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
3 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 3 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 624 · 70% | Recalled | Recall 20V750000 · Recall 19V120000 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 76 · 8.5% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 73 · 8.2% | Investigation closed | PE19004 → recall 20V088000 · PE19004 → recall 20V100000 · PE19004 → recall 20V101000 · PE19004 → recall 20V518000 · PE19004 → recall 20V519000 · PE19004 → recall 20V750000 · PE19004 → recall 21V331000 · PE19004 → recall 21V844000 · DP18003 → recall 18V907000 · DP18003 → recall 18V934000 · DP18003 → recall 19V120000 · DP18003 → recall 19V204000 |
| Power Train | 60 · 6.7% | No official action | — |
| Steering | 44 · 4.9% | Recalled | Recall 17V608000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 33 · 3.7% | Recalled | Recall 20V750000 · Recall 19V120000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 891 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 4 campaigns
Engine
NHTSA campaign 19V120000 · 2019 · reported 02/22/2019
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Steering
NHTSA campaign 17V608000 · 2017 · reported 09/29/2017
If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
NHTSA campaign 15V123000 · 2015 · reported 03/02/2015
If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“I WAS DRIVING AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE ENGINE STARTED AND CAR JUST CUT OFF TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY SAID THE ENGINE…”NHTSA complaint 11206335 — filed 05/08/2019 · ENGINE
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR FLASHED, THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED, AND THE…”NHTSA complaint 11205714 — filed 05/06/2019 · ENGINE
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A KNOCKING SOUND EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR…”NHTSA complaint 11205685 — filed 05/06/2019 · ENGINE
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Kia Soul?
Engine issues are the most-reported category, cited in 624 of 891 NHTSA complaints (70%), followed by unspecified/other issues (106), fuel/propulsion system (76), electrical system (73). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2015 Kia Soul have?
891 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 34 involved a crash, 81 involved a fire, and 32 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Does the 2015 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 20V750000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2015 Kia Soul's reported problems?
3 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
