2021 Kia SOUL

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2021 Kia SOUL has 292 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (57% of all complaints), specifically: when i was driving at 15mph the car completely shut off. so i tried to restart it and when i took the key out everything locked up and it was like that for 5 min in the middle of the road before the car came back on and flahed the engine and oil light.. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 20 crash reports 9 injuries

292

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

166 complaints

57%

• WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT 15MPH THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. SO I TRIED TO RESTART IT AND WHEN I TOOK THE KEY OUT EVERYTHING LOCKED UP AND IT WAS LIKE THAT FOR 5 MIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CAR CAME BACK ON AND FLAHED THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT.
• TWO MAJOR ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD A VERY LOUD TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH STARTED ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO. BEFORE THEN THE CAR RAN SILENT. CAR IS IT APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE CLICKING STARTED GETTING LOUDER AND THEN THE CAR STALLED TWICE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING! O
• The contact owned a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that soon after purchase of the vehicle, she discovered both low coolant and low oil levels upon inspection of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on two separate occasions. On her

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT 15MPH THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. SO I TRIED TO RESTART IT AND WHEN I TOOK THE KEY OUT EVERYTHING LOCKED UP AND IT WAS LIKE THAT FOR 5 MIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CAR CAME BACK ON AND FLAHED THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

25 complaints

• VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT SLOPE PARKING SPACE BACKING TO A ONE-WAY PUBLIC ROAD IN NATIONAL PARK.IT WAS A DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND IN THE P MODE OF GEAR SELECTION. I EXITED THE DRIVER'S DOOR FOR FEW MINUTES. THEN OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE INTENT TO SHUT
• I I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND DECELERATED. IT SEEMED TO LOSE POWER, I TURNED AROUND AND STARTED HOME AS I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED. THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS, DECELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE TACHOMETER WAS SWINGING AROUND WILDLY. T
• The vehicle started loosing power. the engine would rev up but the car wouldn't go. the car had to be towed to the dealership because the vehicle would not engage into drive or reverse. the dealership is replacing the transmission. It is the IVT transmission

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT SLOPE PARKING SPACE BACKING TO A ONE-WAY PUBLIC ROAD IN NATIONAL PARK.IT WAS A DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND IN THE P MODE OF GEAR SELECTION. I EXITED THE DRIVER'S DOOR FOR FEW MINUTES. THEN OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE INTENT TO SHUT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

• TWO MAJOR ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD A VERY LOUD TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH STARTED ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO. BEFORE THEN THE CAR RAN SILENT. CAR IS IT APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE CLICKING STARTED GETTING LOUDER AND THEN THE CAR STALLED TWICE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING! O
• My vehicle has stalled several times. I was speeding up to merge on the freeway, pressed my foot hard on the gas, it went slow and a lot of smoke came from the back of the vehicle. I took my vehicle to a Kia dealership and was told that has nothing to do with the recall. I was there less than 30 min
• Car was stolen using a known design flaw. Now both of my cars are in the shop because of this

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TWO MAJOR ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD A VERY LOUD TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH STARTED ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO. BEFORE THEN THE CAR RAN SILENT. CAR IS IT APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE CLICKING STARTED GETTING LOUDER AND THEN THE CAR STALLED TWICE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING! O”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

15 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, LOST WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS. HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. VEHICLE STATED KEY WASN'T DETECTED IN CAR. WHILE IN MOTION USING OTHER VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY
• HAD CAR 1 WEEK - 204 MILES. POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55. THEN THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. THEN ALL WARNING LIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING OFF AND ON THEN FINALLY JUST OFF. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT WHERE ALL SYSTEMS STOPPED WORKING. WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO CLOSE
• When exiting the highway, I pushed on brake to slow down and car accelerated at fast speed and had to use emergency brake.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, LOST WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS. HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. VEHICLE STATED KEY WASN'T DETECTED IN CAR. WHILE IN MOTION USING OTHER VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

11 complaints

• I WAS GOING TO GET MY MAIL ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHERE I ALWAYS PARK. I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SPED UP AND HIT TWO MAILBOXES. I COULDN'T GET IT TO STOP. I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST IT WAS GOING WHEN I HIT THE MAILBOXES
• TWO MAJOR ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD A VERY LOUD TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH STARTED ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO. BEFORE THEN THE CAR RAN SILENT. CAR IS IT APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE CLICKING STARTED GETTING LOUDER AND THEN THE CAR STALLED TWICE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING! O
• I am very concern with the 2021 KIA Soul that I drive presently. The vehicle is in my son’s name; however, I pay the monthly payments and I am the primary driver for this automobile; this is also listed on my insurance policy as well. I have been experiencing some dangerous mechanical conditions wit

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I WAS GOING TO GET MY MAIL ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHERE I ALWAYS PARK. I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SPED UP AND HIT TWO MAILBOXES. I COULDN'T GET IT TO STOP. I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST IT WAS GOING WHEN I HIT THE MAILBOXES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 292 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT 15MPH THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. SO I TRIED TO RESTART IT AND WHEN I TOOK THE KEY OUT EVERYTHING LOCKED UP AND IT WAS LIKE THAT FOR 5 MIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CAR CAME BACK ON AND FLAHED THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT SLOPE PARKING SPACE BACKING TO A ONE-WAY PUBLIC ROAD IN NATIONAL PARK.IT WAS A DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND IN THE P MODE OF GEAR SELECTION. I EXITED THE DRIVER'S DOOR FOR FEW MINUTES. THEN OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE INTENT TO SHUT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TWO MAJOR ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD A VERY LOUD TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH STARTED ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO. BEFORE THEN THE CAR RAN SILENT. CAR IS IT APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE CLICKING STARTED GETTING LOUDER AND THEN THE CAR STALLED TWICE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING! O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, LOST WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS. HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. VEHICLE STATED KEY WASN'T DETECTED IN CAR. WHILE IN MOTION USING OTHER VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)