Kia Soul engine problems, 2016–2025
1,633 of the 2,268 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Soul 2016–2025 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2016 (668), 2020 (249), 2017 (203). Filed under the same heading across these years: 4 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recall campaigns, 3 NHTSA investigations. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Kia Soul engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 4 | 14% | — | 3 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 14 | 27% | — | 8 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2022 in depth | 70 | 80% | 70k | 17 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2021 in depth | 182 | 78% | 75k | 25 TSBs · 2 recalls · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2020 in depth | 249 | 65% | 30k | 34 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 93 | 67% | 73k | 61 TSBs · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 150 | 68% | 78k | 65 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 203 | 70% | 83k | 67 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 668 | 81% | 91k | 72 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2017: 1 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 66 · 2020: 104 · 2021: 183 · 2022: 224 · 2023: 248 · 2024: 204 · 2025: 360 · 2026: 233
Across the model years, half of the 650 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 60,000 and 108,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Check engine light came on. Vehicle taken into a auto shop. Told it was the catalytic converter. I saw that 2016 Kia souls were being recalled with damaged catalytic converters. Wanting to know if my vehicle qualified
Driving on highway and car started slipping gears and having trouble accelerating from a stop. Oil light came on and it had no oil, added proper amount and type of oil. When idling check oil light flashes red even with proper oil level. Dealership states sounds like, they currently are checking it, engine and rod issue
Vehicle RPM began fluctuating while on cruise control in rainy weather. Switched to manual (sport mode) control and the problem lessened. Vehicle began to loose power and was shifting randomly between gears automatically, eventually redlining while maintaining 74mph.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle decelerated independently. The vehicle was towed to a dealer (hendrick Kia of concord located at 7550 hendrick auto plaza nw, concord, nc 28027) to be diagnosed.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul EV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal battery voltage warning displayed. The vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact stated that the battery failed to charge. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 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.
- 19V120000 CriticalFeb 22, 2019 · 378,967 vehicles
- 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.
NHTSA investigations
- 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…
- DP22003 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…
- EA21003 Engine Firesopened Dec 22, 2021 · closed Feb 5, 2024
- On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, includ…
4 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Aug 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
- Apr 8, 2026
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2107 Flight 501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting an important Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2017-2019 MY Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter Nu GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. The update will be done free of charge an
- Mar 24, 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (SC176Y) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides catalytic converter and engine sub-assembly diagnosis and repair information on certain 2012-
- Apr 3, 2025
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Kia Soul
Source: the same filesCommon questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Kia Soul years have the most engine complaints?
2016, 668; 2020, 249; 2017, 203. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2016 (81%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Kia Soul?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 25V099000 (2023), 21V259000 (2021), 19V120000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the Kia Soul?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 82,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 60,000 and 108,000. 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.