repaired · 2026 Q3
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk. Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
2021 Kia SoulProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 245 owner complaints about the 2021 Kia Soul, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-099 the manufacturer reports only 64% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Kia Soul has problems
245 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
143Engine2 crash/fire/injury
49Engine and engine cooling
27Power train1 crash/fire/injury
15Electrical system
10Service brakes
10Fuel/propulsion system
9Steering
6Visibility/wiper
6Exterior lighting
228 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 143 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 49 | 0 |
| Power train | 27 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 15 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 1 |
| Steering | 9 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 |
| 8 other systems | 22 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2021 Kia Soul recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Engine
Risk. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
13 owners mentioned a cost$6,000median
Middle half: $315 – $7,476
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2021 vs. every other Soul year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Soul median. How we score
'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2021 Kia Soul safety ratings
2021 Kia Soul SUV FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (14.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2021 Kia Soul, and the recalls they led to.
- Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall EffectivenessNo recall
In owners' words
What Soul owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Vehicle completed Safety Recall 25V-099 (SC336) in April 2026 and developed internal engine noise and stalling. McGrath Arlington Kia (Palatine, IL) recorded a technician video confirming lower engine vibration noise, then deleted the video, ran a late PNSS test (PASS), and Kia Corporate confirmed…
My 2021 Kia Soul Turbo with the 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) has an ongoing transmission failure. It has difficulty reversing and accelerating, and the check engine light is on. This creates a safety risk when pulling into traffic or backing up. In September 2026, Westside Kia (Katy, TX)…
Subject: Safety Complaint Regarding Kia Recall SC336, Excessive Oil Consumption, and Engine Knocking I am filing this complaint against Valley Kia regarding its handling of Recall SC336 on my 2021 Kia Soul S. I was informed by Valley Kia that the recall repair was completed in May 2025. However, on…
Own a 2021 Soul?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.