2015 Kia Soul Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2015 Kia Soul.

20142016
Complaints
1,202
per 10K Sold
81.7
US Sales
147,133
Crashes
59
Fires
111
Injuries
59
Fatalities
2
Recalls
4

Worst 2015 Kia Soul Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1614 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:94,725 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:57
#276 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:68,588 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:6
#373 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:87,322 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:8
Considering a 2015 Kia Soul?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2015 Kia Soul.

Engine Problems
614
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
57
Avg Miles
94,725
Fuel System
76
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
6
Avg Miles
68,588
Electrical Faults
73
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
8
Avg Miles
87,322
Transmission / Drivetrain
58
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
8
Avg Miles
92,915
Steering Defects
44
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Avg Miles
39,609
Engine & Cooling
33
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
112,494
Headlight/Taillight Failures
33
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
79,505
Brakes
28
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
1
Avg Miles
88,906
Unintended Acceleration
28
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
71,979
Airbags
20
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
Avg Miles
23,508
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
103,895
Body Structure
15
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
7
Avg Miles
45,627
Seat Belt Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
60,427
Wheel Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
28,482
Wipers & Visibility
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
2,165
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Camera System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Immobilizer/Proximity:Key/Sender
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication:Filter/Screen
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2015 Kia Soul. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2015 Kia Soul

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,224,962 vehicles.

20V750000Engine
~294,756 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

19V120000Engine · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor
~378,967 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.

17V608000Steering
~342,381 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.

15V123000Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
~208,858 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Soul and Soul electric vehicles manufactured July 21, 2013, to January 8, 2015. A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.

Other Kia Soul Years

2015 Kia Soul — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2015 Kia Soul reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2015 Kia Soul has 1,202 NHTSA complaints, 59 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 614 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2015 Kia Soul?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (614 complaints, avg 94,725 mi); Fuel System (76 complaints, avg 68,588 mi); Electrical Faults (73 complaints, avg 87,322 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2015 Kia Soul?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 86,327 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2015 Kia Soul?
NHTSA complaints for the 2015 Kia Soul include 59 crash-related reports, 111 fire reports, 59 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2015 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,224,962 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2015 Kia Soul?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (engine problems) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Kia Soul reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2015 Kia Soul

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99