2021 Kia Soul engine problems
182 of the 234 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Soul name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 25 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 182 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 86 · 2026: 64
Half of the 57 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 41,000 and 96,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
234 complaints in all about the 2021 Kia Soul, 64 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Soul engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I believe my specific vehicle should also be assigned the recall no. 21v259000. My vehicle experienced engine stall, loss of power and leaking oil onto hit components which could have resulted in fire. I was stalled and in traffic and could also have been in hit by another vehicle.
good day my kia soul consumes excessive oil. I have noticed it since the last three oil changes and when you turn it on you can hear a slight knocking in the engine. I took it to the dealer but they demand a deposit of 300 dollars to check it and they do not guarantee original parts.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
I was driving into work and when I got off the expressway my car started rattling loudly. I finished my drive into work and parked the car. I asked a co worker to see if he could see if my muffler was still connected and he mentioned that the noise was coming from my engine.
I am very concern with the 2021 KIA Soul that I drive presently. The vehicle is in my son’s name; however, I pay the monthly payments and I am the primary driver for this automobile; this is also listed on my insurance policy as well. I have been experiencing some dangerous mechanical conditions with the car.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 25V099000 HighFeb 17, 2025 · 137,256 vehicles
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
- 21V259000 HighApr 13, 2021 · 147,249 vehicles
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
NHTSA investigation
- AQ25001 Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectivenessopened Aug 6, 2025 · closed Dec 18, 2025
- On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.’s (Kia) remedy program for Safety Recall 25V099, involving incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which may damage the engine causing a loss of motive power or fire. This AQ was opened in response to consumer complaints alleging of an ineffective remedy, in…
25 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- TSB_ENG263 Service bulletinAug 5, 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: MISFIRE CONCERN DUE TO OVERRUNNING ALTERNATOR DECOUPLER - This bulletin provides information to address unresolved misfire events on some 2020–2024MY Forte (BDm) produced from January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2024, and 2020–2022MY Soul (SK3) vehicles produced from November 1, 2018 through May 31, 2022 equipped with a Gamma 1.6L T‑GDI engine. In certain cases, misfi
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P1327 P0017 P0014 P0605 P2181 P0300 P0302 P0303
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Kia Soul names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2021 Kia Soul?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 182 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (78% of everything owners filed about it), and 25 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2021 Kia Soul?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 25V099000, 21V259000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Kia Soul?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 75,000 miles; half of them between 41,000 and 96,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.