2021 Kia Soul problems and recalls

57% of owner complaints on the 2021 Kia Soul related to the Engine (129 of 228).

228
Complaints
2
Recalls
12
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
5
Injuries
50.9
Severity index

Severity index 50.9 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 50.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 59 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 36% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 129 complaints (56.6%)129 57%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 46 complaints (20.2%)46 20%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 26 complaints (11.4%)26 11%Power TrainPower Train: 26 complaints (11.4%)26 11%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 15 complaints (6.6%)15 7%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 10 complaints (4.4%)10 4%Service BrakesService Brakes: 10 complaints (4.4%)10 4%SteeringSteering: 9 complaints (3.9%)9 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE12956.6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4620.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2611.4%
POWER TRAIN2611.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM156.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM104.4%
SERVICE BRAKES104.4%
STEERING93.9%

Complaints filed per year

046922020: 32021: 152022: 122023: 252024: 142025: 922026: 67 (partial year)2021222324259226
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20203
202115
202212
202325
202414
202592
2026 (year to date)67
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 4.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (131 against 30).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V25900013/04/2021ENGINEKia 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.
25V09900017/02/2025ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICALKia 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.

Other Kia Soul model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-21. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.