2015 Kia Soul

2015 Kia Soul SUV FWD

Overall

★★★★★

Front Crash

★★★★★

Side Crash

★★★★★

Rollover

★★★★☆

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.

Campaign: 20V750000

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.

Campaign: 19V120000

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.

Campaign: 17V608000

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.

Campaign: 15V123000

ENGINE

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was smoke coming from the exhaust, with an abnormally loud popping sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, and the contact exited the vehicle and became aware that there was a line of fire on the main road leading to the bottom of the vehicle. The contact stated that a week prior to the failure, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from inside the vehicle. The contact called the Emergency Services, and the Fire Department arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

Dealer refusing to honor open recall remedy for SC200 / NHTSA 20V750000 on 2015 Kia Soul VIN [XXX], approx 100k miles. Recall shows "no unrepaired recall found" on NHTSA VIN lookup, but KSDS update and engine bearing test were never performed. Kia of Cheyenne states: 1) must pay for recall because update not done, 2) must pay for unrelated repairs first, 3) must provide all oil receipts, 4) will not perform free remedy. Second dealer Fort Collins Kia service phone rings no voicemail. Request NHTSA reopen recall and enforce free remedy per 49 USC 30120. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ENGINE

Please see attached documents. I have also put them in the US mail. One to KIA: Kia Customer Care Center, Kia Motors America, Inc., P.O. Box 52410, Irvine, CA, 92619-2410 and one to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washing, DC 20590.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle had passed the inspection and no repairs were needed. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on a slightly inclined road, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an oxygen sensor, catalytic converter, and other unknown engine failures. The vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

ENGINE

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, bystanders notified the contact that the vehicle was on fire. The contact pulled over, exited the vehicle, opened the hood, and there were flames coming from the engine. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's boyfriend called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A Police report was not filed. The Fire Department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,000.

STRUCTURE

White paint chipping

ENGINE

Engine went into limp mode on highway on June 30th 2026 and is available now for inspection. Partner and daughter were almost hit by a semi. VIN was registered on Kia website..Kia and dealership inspected and took responsibility for engine recall and deemed it safe on October 6th 2025. Check engine light came on.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My engine light came on about 6 months ago because I was smelling a gas. I had it run on a code computer and it just showed a gasket needed changed. I didn't think that that was serious enough to address urgently because was unsure how much the cost would be. But was going over a big mountain about a week ago and car was on cruise control at 55 Mpr and all of a sudden it just started dropping down totally stopping on me in very active traffic had my grandchild in the car also, got off the road barely in ongoing traffic and called for roadside assistance, but my son showed up and got it to start I barely got it back to his house in Rogersville tn. Where I was staying for a visit , I Ran a code computer on it again and it said it was the Cadillac converter, I looked it up and there is a recall on this situation. Why your sight is saying it's 0 idk why. This is my report and I think u need to change that problem there . I am currently still at my sons house staying cause I can't get my car home cause it won't climb clinch mountain or any sharp hills. Thank you

ENGINE

The vehicle burns an unreasonable amount of oil. This clogs tue catalytic converter creating risks of breakdown or fire. There are many documented cases of this on the vehicle models and yet Kia has not resolved. Instead we pay for the issue. Car ownership has been consistent on maintenance and yet this issue remains.

ENGINE

the car burns oil. I am having to put in 1 to 3 quarts a month.