Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2015 Kia Soul. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Engine Damage May Cause Fire
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Overheated Catalytic Converter May Damage Engine
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Steering Gear May Separate
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.
Accelerator Pedal may Fracture
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will add a supporting rubber underneath the pedal stopper, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC116.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (898)
898 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 898 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 628 | 69.9% |
| Unknown or other | 107 | 11.9% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 76 | 8.5% |
| Electrical system | 75 | 8.4% |
| Power train | 60 | 6.7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 58 | 6.5% |
| Steering | 44 | 4.9% |
| Exterior lighting | 36 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 31 | 3.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 30 | 3.3% |
How 2015 compares with other Soul years
Best and worst Soul years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 194 | 3 |
| 2012 | 514 | 3 |
| 2013 | 663 | 3 |
| 2014 | 902 | 5 |
| 2015 | 898 | 4 |
| 2016 | 816 | 2 |
| 2017 | 272 | 1 |
| 2018 | 218 | 1 |
| 2019 | 136 | 1 |
| 2020 | 383 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2015 Kia Soul suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 105 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- —
- EPA class
- Small Station Wagons
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 105 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 120 / 92 / 105 | $700 | — |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 335 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 338 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 337 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 344 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2015 Soul for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2015 Kia Soul FAQ
How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Soul have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 20V750000 (engine), 19V120000 (engine), 17V608000 (steering), 15V123000 (vehicle speed control). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2015 Kia Soul problems?
Owners filed 898 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (628), Unknown or other (107), Fuel/propulsion system (76) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2015 Kia Soul get?
EPA rates the Electric · Automatic version at 120 city, 92 highway and 105 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2015 Kia Soul get?
NHTSA rated the 2015 Kia Soul suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (14.7% rollover risk).
How does the 2015 Soul compare with other years?
Among the 2011–2020 Kia Soul model years at least five years old, the 2019 drew the fewest complaints (136) and the 2014 the most (902). The 2015 drew 898. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Summary reviewed on Oct 6, 2026.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.