2021 Kia Soul Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · data through 07/12/2026

41Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

18.6%Of all 220 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine and engine cooling ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE127 · 57.7%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING41 · 18.6%

POWER TRAIN26 · 11.8%

Unspecified / other24 · 10.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15 · 6.8%

Share of the 220 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2021 Kia Soul overview page.

What owners report

“The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was…”NHTSA complaint 11663371 — filed 05/28/2025

“The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that…”NHTSA complaint 11663331 — filed 05/28/2025

“The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that on…”NHTSA complaint 11663135 — filed 05/27/2025

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Kia Soul have engine and engine cooling problems?

Engine And Engine Cooling is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2021 Kia Soul: 41 of 220 complaints on file (18.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2021 Kia Soul have in total?

220 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 12 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine and engine cooling category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

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.