2015 Kia Soul Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report engine problems far more than anything else: oil that disappears without visible leaks, then knocking, stalling or a seized engine, often in the 60,000-130,000 mile range and described as sudden. Catalytic converter failures and a related loss of power show up alongside the oil complaints, and a smaller group reports hesitating or jerking acceleration that shops trace to the converter or fuel system. Headlight flicker, steering pinion concerns and occasional engine-compartment fires also appear in the sample.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine oil consumption leading to knocking or seizure

   • 392 complaints (43%)
   • median 91,050 mi at 5.8 yrs old (242 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,900 (median of 36 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe adding a quart or two of oil between changes with no puddle or smoke, then later hearing ticking or knocking from the engine that worsens quickly. Several report the oil warning light came on with the engine already nearly dry, and some say the engine stalled or seized while driving. According to complaints, dealers ran oil consumption tests, added oil at each check, and in some cases replaced the engine; other owners were told the vehicle was outside a mileage limit or that no recall applied, and repairs were declined. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 130,000 miles, frequently within a few thousand miles of an oil change.

   Recall 19V120000Recall 20V7500005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for oil change records and whether consumption tests or a software update were done; check the dipstick level and look for a fuel smell in the oil. Listen for ticking at cold start and confirm the engine is original.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Problem with the engine light come on. They tell me nothing is wrong with the engine light. Also I have a problem with loosing oil I do not have an oil leak. No oil no where. Kia service been doing a oil test every 2000 miles they have to add oil every time. One day I was on the highway the oil light came on I stopped to check my oil level the engine was dry with no oil. I had 600 mile before a oil change.”

   NHTSA complaint #11390114, filed 2021-01, 72,000 miles

   “I had an oil change done march 8,2020. May 9th,2020 I hear a ticking. I checked my oil,there was none. I have no oil leaks., I added oil,drove about a mile,the ticking got louder and then my engine shut off. I had it towed home. I have no idea why there's no oil and no leaks. I was driving about 30 MPH when it stalled. No smoke,nothing. My indicators for low oil or check engine never came on. They still aren't on.”

   NHTSA complaint #11325462, filed 2020-05, 126,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Catalytic converter failure and loss of power

   • 388 complaints (43%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (236 state mileage)
   • 32 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,474 (median of 28 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the check engine light coming on, then a converter diagnosis, loss of acceleration, hesitation, or a rattling sound that persists after a converter replacement. Owners often link this to high exhaust temperatures and oil burning, and several say the dealer replaced the converter without addressing the engine condition behind it. Some report repeated converter replacements and continued trouble afterward. Typically reported from about 55,000 to 140,000 miles, often after oil consumption has been noticed.

   Recall 19V1200002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the converter was replaced and whether the engine was inspected at the same time. A pre-purchase scan for converter and oxygen sensor codes is worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My catalytic converter just went out on me ..I show that the Kia SOUL has a recall but only for the 1.6l on the converter, I believe the same issue is happening to the 2.0l and I just bought the car a year ago ..I called Kia and they adv my car just got out of warranty at 80000 miles ...I'm at 820000 and the problem was happening before the warranty ended ....it wasnt until the part went out is when they found the issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339981, filed 2020-07, 82,000 miles

   “I brought my vehicle up to benson Kia to get recalls repaired on my 2015 Kia SOUL. There were issues with the catalytic converter due to a recall and I was informed by the servicing station at benson Kia that the issue was resolved. There is a rattling noise that is coming from the vehicle. Before I drove my vehicle off the lot the ratting noise was still present. I asked them to look at the vehicle before I drove off the lot. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11341808, filed 2020-07, 116,193 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Hesitation, jerking and stalling while accelerating

   • 196 complaints (22%)
   • median 91,140 mi at 5.7 yrs old (146 state mileage)
   • 26 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,800 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle hesitating for a few seconds when the accelerator is pressed, then surging or jerking, sometimes while cruising or using cruise control. Some report the engine stalling at low speed or refusing to go past a certain speed with the check engine light on. Complaints mention converters, coils and spark plugs being replaced with the symptom returning. Most commonly reported between roughly 45,000 and 110,000 miles, including at low speeds and at highway speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test-drive from a stop and at steady speed, watching for stumble or surge under light throttle; scan stored codes and ask if ignition coils or plugs were recently replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About several months ago the car was skipping. I was told it was a coil. I had it replaced. It then drove fine. Then in Christmas Day it started again and the engine light came on once again. I took it to a mechanic and he thought it was the plug for the coil. They changed it and it did it again. He said that with Kia and Hyundai cars there is always problems like this. He said he fixed a Kia with the same problem as mine about a week ago. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11564163, filed 2024-01, 163,873 miles

   “So I was on my way home from running errands, current speed was 45 because of traffic signs and then had to yield because I needed to turn left, started going once I was able to so speed was about 0 this time, tried to turn and start to get car up to speed again when car decided to start stuttering and the car ended up not going past 20 MPH. It went from 45 to 20 and refused to go higher, even went down to 10. Check engine light came and was forced to pull over. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11415619, filed 2021-05, 106,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine compartment fire or smoke

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   A few owners report fire or heavy smoke from the engine bay, in some cases shortly after a knocking sound or while driving at moderate speeds. Complaints describe the engine subsequently being diagnosed with piston or block damage. Others mention a burning smell and being told by the dealer that no fault could be found despite an open recall notice. Reported between about 55,000 and 115,000 miles, while driving.

   Recall 20V750000

   What to check: Confirm any open engine-fire recall campaign was completed and ask for the service record; check for a burning smell and look for oil residue around the engine bay.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was notified of engine fire recall on my Kia SOUL. I have taken my vehicle in complaining of burning smell, engine light, tire lights coming on - every time they refuse to fix anything. I was told at the dealership by service staff that 'he's sure my car if fine and it would pass thier' inspection, so there is nothing they will do. Even with the recall letter. The staff person also said that the media (news) is 'making it all up'. I am disabled and they refuse to help with my car and the engine fire recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11400168, filed 2021-03, 56,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2015 Soul checked for oil consumption and stored engine codes before purchase, and ask for proof that the engine related campaigns were completed; a history of documented oil changes is worth requesting, since some owners report repair coverage depending on it.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.