2015 Kia Soul problems
NHTSA has received 1,231 complaints about the 2015 Kia Soul, and 56% of them involve engine. After that come fuel system (6%) and electrical system (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,231 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 56% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 59 and 115
- Injuries and deaths
- 59 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 87,000 miles 707 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 80 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 37 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 52 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 129 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 146 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 115 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 86 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 33 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 20 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 7 |
What the data shows
Among the 707 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 87,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 98,000 miles (430 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 59 complaints mention a crash; 115 complaints mention a fire; 59 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2015 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 15 model years of the Kia Soul with enough data (563 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 kia soul. While driving at an undetermined speed, the driver lost control of the vehicle, veered left, and crashed into an oncoming vehicle. The driver sustained fatal injuries, which included a severed aorta and fractured cervical spine. The coroner indicated that the fatal injuries may have been caused by the air bag. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The cause of the crash was under investigation.
When driving this Vehicle my daughter was in a single car acciedent. The engine combusted. The piston rod went into engine. When we took it to the auto shop this is what they told us casued the engine to malfunction and my daughter run off the road. She is very luck she has not been hurt more than she has. We have tried to contact KIA. First we called Royal KIa in Tuscon then Jim Clickk Kia in Tucson. They told me it did not matter that the vehicke had a recalll. We would be financially responsable for fixing it.
This incident occurred on saturday, the 11th of august, 2018 at 12 noon. In motion on interstate I75 southbound. Medium traffic, dry and clear conditions. I heard what sounded like a rock or other road debris hitting the bottom of the car. About 15 seconds later I started hearing a sort of tapping noise from the engine compartment. All the gauges showed normal. I pulled over thinking I may have picked up something under my car. I pulled to the shoulder and examined under the car and saw nothing.
Received a recall notification dated january 25, 2021 referencing a potential of an engine fire. The notice indicated two mil lights, check engine and oil. The vehicle had been illuminating these lights for approximately 6 weeks. However, they would never stay illuminated; continued to turn on and off. Visited the local kia dealership, sussman kia of roslyn, pa. Informed that the problem was a leaky oil pan. Part was ordered. Scheduled an appointment for march 24.