2015 Kia Soul Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 94,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Sudden engine misfire and stall in major metropolitan area in high traffic. Diagnosis from my mechanic was failed valve and complete loss of compression to 2nd cylinder. Symptomatic of repeat catalytic converter issues leading to engine damage. Catalytic converter has been replaced twice-- once out of pocked and once under extended…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the engine was inspected and it was determined that there was no failure with the vehicle. The contact was charged for the diagnostic test. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 145,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 65,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Vehicle recalled by Kia for potential for short and resultant fire from battery pack. Recall performed, traction battery found to be defective. Vehicle taken and held by Kia for six months while awaiting back-ordered replacement traction pack. Advised by Kia staff no timeline for pack due to shortage of parts. After 6 months vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2024

My wife has a 2015 Kia Soul that developed a gasoline leak in the engine compartment. The Kia dealer said some of their other models have been recalled due to gas leaks and fires but this model has not. This model has the same engine and obviously has the same issue as the Kia model that was recalled. We were very lucky that her car did…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 64,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The concern, is that Kia recently (2023) recalled the BMS (and potentially the HV Battery) for vehicles as old as 2015 on the Koa Soul EV, and their warranty on said parts is 10 yrs or 100k miles. The concern is that there is no extended warranty period FOR the cars. So if the cars fail again within a yr, you end up paying out of pocket…Owner complaint, filed 2025

On April 11,2024, I attempted to drive my Soul EV out of the parking lot of my place of employment going less than one block only to have the power severely limited (from a speed of 40mph to 15mph on a busy road at rush hour). I was able to safely get myself to a parking lot and placed the car in park. I noticed both the triangle with…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 93,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle began decelerating and vibrating while driving at approximately 40-45 MPH. When attempting to accelerate forward and switch lanes, the vehicle would hesitate to respond as the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle began overheating causing smoke to come…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 133,000 miles

Transmission leaking after a long drive , fluids replaced in the transmission then car leaked out the fluid after driving the vehicle it doesn’t leak when at restOwner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 35,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

We took our Kia Soul to a Kia Service shop Dec 2022 because the steering is making a clicking sound when the wheel is turned from the 11 o’clock to the 2 o’clock position. This condition is consistent with a Kia Safety Recall issued in November 2017, and has been confirmed by another source. We were told that by the dealership, Brandon…Owner complaint, filed 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that a clicking noise was present when turning the steering wheel in either direction. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the power steering failed causing the steering wheel to seize, rendering the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 85,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 76,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the high-beam headlights and turn signals were not working as needed. The contact stated that the local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 59,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the driver's side headlight became inoperable and while using the turn signal, the driver's side headlight would shut off. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 95,014 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 32,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

An authorized Kia dealership (Car Town Kia in Lexington Ky) refused to complete federal safety recall SC334 after a technician snapped a bleeder screw, instead demanding a $3,022.83 payment for an unauthorized full brake overhaul. Citing rust buildup to deny the mandated safety repair violates federal regulations, prompting a request for…Owner complaint, filed 2026

My car was returned to me in a dangerous condition following a recall repair. I have a receipt that says that my break system was operating as it should be after recall work was completed but as I was driving it home from picking it up from dealership my break system comply went out for the second time while driving it. The dealership…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 92,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

Subject: Possible Design Flaw in Accelerator Pedal, Kia Soul 2015 Dear Kia/NHTSA Representative, I am the owner of a 2015 Kia Soul and would like to report a concern regarding the design of the accelerator pedal. I have observed that when the vehicle is turned on and in “Park” mode, the accelerator pedal can be easily pressed…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated his mom was driving the vehicle on the expressway at 55MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle did not accelerate and the speedometer was decreasing. The contact stated no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle resummed to perform as normal and the contact drove home. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 90,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 6,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. At 4-way intersection w/ traffic light other driver going northbound blew through their red light (maybe on phone or other distraction) at what seemed like a high speed. I was driving westbound at about 30/35mph with a clear green light. Was able to avoid getting t-boned in my door, but couldn't avoid t-boning…Owner complaint, filed 2024

I was involved in a head on collision with a F250 truck and the airbags did not deploy. I did hit my head on the steering wheel and have a bruise above my eye and some scratches on my knee. I had pain in my shoulder from seat belt. I took off from work on 2/2 to take care of car getting towed and I went to care now to be checked out and…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 45,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (16).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

White paint is peeling off roof and back hatch. Had been washing car at automatic car wash and noticed edges were all chipping. Stopped wash in car as afraid it would get worse. Just hand washed the roof and now the whole roof is peeling chipping. This has been occurring for over a year. When I bought the car there was a spot on the hood…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The rear of the car is always filling up with water where the spate tire sits. The cat isn't water tight. This has occurred on many occasionsOwner complaint, filed 2018

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 31,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Seatbelt on front passenger side locked up and continued to tighten until passenger had to release. Then seatbelt never returned to function. It locked up completely.Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her son was driving at 30 MPH, after becoming briefly distracted, the vehicle ahead dramatically reduced speeds, and as a result, he collided with the rear of that vehicle. After this, the seat belt failed to restrain him, and he hit his head on the windshield, causing him…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 80,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 17,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact leased a 2016 kia soul equipped with nexen tires, tire line: cp671, tire size: 205-60-r16(na), dot number:[VIN]. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the passenger side front tire experienced a blowout. The contact temporarily lost control of the vehicle and struck the curb three times before the vehicle came to a…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 22,337 miles

Mechanically, technically the vehicle is fine. My problem is there is no spare tire, no even a donut. There is an inflator/tire repair kit but that does no good when one gets a hole in the side of the tire. Kia does have 24 hour free tow to the dealership to rectify the situation, and I believe even motel accommodations in case this…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 11,110 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the braking system was erroneously activated, causing the brakes to engage without the brake pedal being depressed. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would drift to the right. The contact stated that there was also an abnormal…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 32,000 miles

I took my 2015 kia soul to miami lakes kia twice in december 2019, to check a clicking noise when turning both left and right, more consistently when turning right. I'm not sure but I have an inkling that this noise may be related to a problem with the steering column, cv joints or the axle. When I picked up my car the 1st time, as I…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 33,950 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

put car in reverse and camera worked normal. when placed in drive camera contuined to stay on so i was drivieng with the camera showing me my back end . i feel this is dangerous. arrived at destnation and placed in park, turned car off and camera still was on with no key. i was in disbelife so i took a pic of the camera and me holding…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Driving down the highway went to make a turn and the steering wheel came loose. I almost lost control and crashed. There's a loud clicking noise when you turn the steering wheelOwner complaint, filed 2021, at 116,000 miles