Is the 2021 Kia Soul a bad year?
244 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 190, 2.5× a quiet Soul year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 2.5× the complaints of a quiet Soul year, but the 2021 is still young: half of its engine complaints so far came in by 72k miles, and that mark will move as owners add miles. Check your powertrain warranty first.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 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 72,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 190 (78%) | 41k–96k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 27 (11%) | 4k–18k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 15 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 5 (2%) | 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 72,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 244 complaints: 12 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 4 report an injury · 29 say the car was towed.
87 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.
Recalls for the 2021 Kia Soul: 2
The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage. Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage. 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.
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: 64
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Kia Soul. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Misfire concern due to overrunning alternator decoupler
Perform an engine vibration inspection using the Kia Diagnostic System (KDS) tablet on certain Kia engine/model vehicles
Piston noise sensing system (Pnss) inspection
Precautions for transmissions with isg/eop
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
Neighbouring years
2020 Soul: 390 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2022 Soul: 97 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
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 2021 Kia Soul a bad year?
244 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 190, 2.5× a quiet Soul year. At 72,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 2.5× the complaints of a quiet Soul year, but the 2021 is still young: half of its engine complaints so far came in by 72k miles, and that mark will move as owners add miles. Check your powertrain warranty first.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Soul?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (190), transmission and drivetrain (27), electrical system (15), fuel system (11), brakes (10). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 41k–96k miles.
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Soul have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 25V-099), Engine (NHTSA 21V-259). 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.