Kia SOUL EV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
23,535 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 39 complaints (41.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 25.6% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 23.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 10.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
Electrical System: 16; Power Train: 9; Service Brakes: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Engine: 5; Visibility/Wiper: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 18 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2017: 7; 2018: 6; 2019: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 11; 2024: 8; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11574931 · 2024-03-01 (March 1, 2024)
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul EV. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V218000 (Electrical System) and the vehicle was repaired under the recall. The contact stated that after the repair was completed, the vehicle went into "Reduced Power" and "Power Limp Mode" while driving at various speeds and initially after starting the vehicle. The vehicle was returned to the dealer where the recall repair was completed the recall repair; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The v…
Owner-reported narrative. 111,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11574931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11525858 · 2023-06-07 (June 7, 2023)
My 2017 KIA Soul EV battery has not been holding a full charge since the beginning of April. The dealer was notified in early May that the charges were seeming to cut off early & provided with a log of charging/driving. We waited, then were told that a replacement battery would be ordered, installed, & considered under warranty. Diagnostic tests were run, we were advised. We were told that the car was safe to drive, although with about 50% of the mileage available (50-51 miles). The final paperwork (vehicle registr.) copy was filed on May 18. N…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11525858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10992957 · 2017-06-02 (June 2, 2017)
AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. I WAS DRIVING IN THE "B" MODE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, BUT LATER HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY REPORTED THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR FIGURE OUT WHAT CAUSED IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,566 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11164351 · 2019-01-01 (January 1, 2019)
I WAS PULLING INTO A DISABLE PARKING SPACE. I PUSH MY BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKE. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK MY CAR CONTINUE TO GO WITHOUT STOPPING. I PUSH MY BRAKES MANY TIMES, PUSHING IT AS FAR AS I CAN. THE ONLY WAY IT STOP IS WHEN THE CAR HIT THE FAT ROUND CEMENT POLE. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING BRAKES. I'M JUST HAPPY THAT I WAS NOT ON ROAD. PLEASE REVIEW, THIS A DANGEROUS ISSUE,WHICH MAY CAUSE LIVES.
Owner-reported narrative. 83,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 11164351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11228534 · 2019-06-30 (June 30, 2019)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO PARK AFTER DRIVING. THE CAR INDICATED IT WAS IN PARK, HOWEVER THE CAR ROLLED - IT WAS NOT IN PARK. APPLYING THE FOOT BRAKE WORKED. APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE WORKED, HOWEVER THE GEARSHIFT DID NOT ENGAGE PARK PROPERLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,532 miles reported. Look up ODI 11228534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11480710 · 2022-08-23 (August 23, 2022)
The car rolls with the transmission gear placed in PARK. Kia USA has repeatedly failed to acknowledge the problem or respond to my multiple communications regarding this issue. Kia USA has failed to offer an inspection of the problem. There are no warning lights, messages or other symptoms.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11480710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11278018 · 2019-11-04 (November 4, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SOUL EV. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF CERRITOS (18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703, [phone removed]), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,606 miles reported. Look up ODI 11278018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11568210 · 2024-01-27 (January 27, 2024)
The 2017 Kia Soul EV+ vehicle turned off coming down a steep hill (at the bottom of the steep hill is both a school bus stop and and entrance/exit to a condominium community). When the car shut off all power steering and power brakes were lost, making control of the vehicle very difficult and unsafe. The dealer reported finding a code for the battery overcharging but cleared the code and did not offer any explanation. This has happened multiple times including when I was videotaping the dash to document irregular discharge occurring from the ba…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11568210 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 3