Is the 2015 Kia Soul a bad year?
903 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 646, 8.5× a quiet Soul year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2015 Kia Soul were filed between 75k and 120k miles. You're at 94,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2015 Soul owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 94,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 645 (71%) | 75k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 79 (9%) | 45k–98k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 75 (8%) | 35k–103k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 61 (7%) | 77k–118k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 30 (3%) | 27k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exhaust | 21 (2%) | 77k–120k miles · around this mileage | Exhaust leak repair $200–$1,500 · Catalytic converter replacement $500–$4,000 |
| Steering | 44 (5%) | 10k–71k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 36 (4%) | 67k–93k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 32 (4%) | 14k–89k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 20 (2%) | 10k–89k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 16 (2%) | 11k–79k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 10 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 94,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 903 complaints: 34 mention a crash · 84 mention a fire · 23 report an injury · 123 say the car was towed.
46 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Vehicle out of nowhere while driving on expressway started to decelerate I immediately pulled over safely and noticed the lights on my dashboard were illuminated check engine light and engine oil light.
Went to get an oil change and was told to see a mechanic because car should not have lost as much oil as it had in a short amount of time.
I live in the bay area and I was driving back from oakland to vallejo, ca when the issue occurred. I accelerated to get over when I noticed my car's engine sounded like there was a knock sound going from under the hood.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 94,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2015 Kia Soul: 4
An engine compartment fire can occur while driving. An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
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. Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly. If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture. If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 119
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 Kia Soul. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Product improvement campaign: engine replacement instructions for DTC P1326 (PI2002Y/Z)
Low oil pressure at idle after gamma 1.6L GDI short block engine replacement
DTC P0011/ P0014/ P0016/ P0017 DUE TO INCORRECT CAMSHAFT RELUCTOR WHEEL CONFIGURATION - This Pitstop provides information on some 2010-2013MY Soul (AM)…
1.6L GDI with MIL on DTC P050A ECM logic improvement (SA485)
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Engine Fires
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
Neighbouring years
2014 Soul: 904 complaints, consider selling · 2016 Soul: 824 complaints, consider selling.
Every Kia Soul year
2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · All Soul years side by side
Other Kia models: Kia Amanti · Kia Cadenza · Kia Carnival · Kia EV6 · Kia EV9 · Kia Forte · Kia K5 · Kia Niro · Kia Optima · Kia Optima Hybrid · Kia Rio · Kia Rondo · Kia Sedona · Kia Seltos · Kia Sephia · Kia Sorento · Kia Spectra · Kia Sportage · Kia Stinger · Kia Telluride. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2015 Kia Soul a bad year?
903 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 646, 8.5× a quiet Soul year. At 94,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2015 Kia Soul were filed between 75k and 120k miles. You're at 94,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Kia Soul?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (645), fuel system (79), electrical system (75), transmission and drivetrain (61), speed control (30). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 75k–120k miles.
How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Soul have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 20V-750), Exhaust (NHTSA 19V-120), Steering (NHTSA 17V-608), Speed control (NHTSA 15V-123). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.