Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 2 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

2 total · 2 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Engine recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V099000 · Feb 2025

Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V259000 · Apr 2021

A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

232 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
187

Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

sudden stalling 106fluid leaks 25
A recent report: Recall 25V099/SC336 was not performed on my vehicle when it was in the dealership. My vehicle is now disabled at Capitol Kia San Jose with complete engine failure. They are denying any responsibility…
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Recall 25V099/SC336 was not performed on my vehicle when it was in the dealership. My vehicle is now disabled at Capitol Kia San Jose with complete engine failure. They are denying any responsibility and refusing repair coverage. I have written a formal letter to Kia Corporation requesting an immediate review of my vehicle. With this being an NHTSA recall I am hoping to get some intervention somewhere regarding this situation.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763092 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
14

Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

sudden stalling 5electrical shorts 4
A recent report: The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled. All of the warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it…
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The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled. All of the warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11736143 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
8

Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 6 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

loss of braking 4unintended acceleration 3premature wear 1
A recent report: I am filing this complaint to report a serious safety failure involving the service braking system and the failure of Forward Collision‑Avoidance Assist (FCA) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) on…
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I am filing this complaint to report a serious safety failure involving the service braking system and the failure of Forward Collision‑Avoidance Assist (FCA) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) on my 2021 Kia Soul. During an imminent collision event, the vehicle failed to brake as expected, and FCA/AEB did not activate, despite conditions that should have triggered emergency braking. This created an extremely dangerous situation and placed me and other motorists at risk of serious injury or death. The vehicle is currently subject to an active recall and has now been inoperable at the dealership for approximately one month under the lemon law process. The failure involved federally regulated safety systems, not supplemental or convenience features. I reported this incident to Kia America Customer Care, but the manufacturer has declined to conduct a manufacturer‑level safety investigation unless I personally pay for removal and shipment of the ACU/Event Data Recorder (EDR). Kia America has also declined to provide any transportation assistance while the vehicle remains unsafe and inoperable and has referred the matter back to the dealership and my insurance instead. Kia America has stated in writing that they rely solely on dealerships for diagnosis and repair and that they will not investigate further unless I incur additional costs. This refusal to independently investigate a braking system failure raises serious safety concerns, particularly given the potential risk to other drivers if this defect is not addressed. Due to the prolonged loss of use of the vehicle, I am experiencing significant financial hardship and risk to my employment, as I can no longer afford a rental vehicle. I am submitting this complaint so that NHTSA is aware of a potential defect involving brake system failure and non‑functioning collision‑avoidance systems on this model.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11724786 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
7

Most reports here involve loss of steering.

loss of steering 4software faults 2
A recent report: Noise while driving and over bumps and steering

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11750863 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 3 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 3
A recent report: I had a crash that severely impacted the front end of this vehicle and the airbags did not deploy. I have minor injuries.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11540150 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
6

Most reports here involve fire. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

fire 1
A recent report: Manufacturer defect: Massive paint delamination/adhesion failure on the roof. Large sheets of paint are flaking off while the vehicle is in motion, creating a debris hazard for following drivers and…
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Manufacturer defect: Massive paint delamination/adhesion failure on the roof. Large sheets of paint are flaking off while the vehicle is in motion, creating a debris hazard for following drivers and distracting the operator. The failure has exposed the bare metal structure, which may lead to premature rusting.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11730709 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
7

Most reports here involve fluid leaks.

fluid leaks 1
A recent report: Nothing happened - YET. I'm reporting a manufacturing error. Refer to my upload. I wouldn't be suprised that this defect has been the root cause of some accidents though.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11746339 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 232 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2020 and 2026, roughly 40 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2021 has 232 complaints on file, fewer than the 2020 (378) and more than the 2022 (88). Of the 16 model years of the Kia Soul we cover, the 2014 has the most (898). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.