2021 Kia SOUL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
231 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 65 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 131 of 231 complaints (56.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 83 | 35.9% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 7.4% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 131 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 46 |
| Power Train | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Steering | 9 |
Engine: 131; Engine And Engine Cooling: 46; Power Train: 26; Unknown Or Other: 26; Electrical System: 15; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Service Brakes: 10; Steering: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 166 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 92 |
| 2026 | 70 |
2020: 3; 2021: 15; 2022: 12; 2023: 25; 2024: 14; 2025: 92; 2026: 70
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 83 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 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 11399233 · 2021-03-05 (March 5, 2021)
TWO MAJOR ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD A VERY LOUD TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH STARTED ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO. BEFORE THEN THE CAR RAN SILENT. CAR IS IT APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE CLICKING STARTED GETTING LOUDER AND THEN THE CAR STALLED TWICE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING! ONE WAS ON A STREET GOING ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR! THE OTHERWAS ON A SIDE STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE EC OH MODE WAS ON IN THE CAR. ALSO' WHEN YOU TURN ON THE HEATER FAN ON HIGH IT STARTED MAKING A HIGH-PITCHED SQUEALING SOUND. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421958 · 2021-06-23 (June 23, 2021)
My vehicle has stalled several times. I was speeding up to merge on the freeway, pressed my foot hard on the gas, it went slow and a lot of smoke came from the back of the vehicle. I took my vehicle to a Kia dealership and was told that has nothing to do with the recall. I was there less than 30 minutes and feel like my issues were not taken seriously.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11421958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366841 · 2020-10-28 (October 28, 2020)
VEHICLE KEEPS PULLING. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. PERFORMED A STEERING ANGLE RELEARNED, AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. CROSS ROTATED TIRES AND NOW THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. TOLD NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE AT THIS TIME. CAR IS CONSTANTLY. FIGHTING ITSELF WITH STEERING ASSIST.
Owner-reported narrative. 631 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11406532 · 2021-04-05 (April 5, 2021)
HAD CAR 1 WEEK - 204 MILES. POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55. THEN THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. THEN ALL WARNING LIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING OFF AND ON THEN FINALLY JUST OFF. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT WHERE ALL SYSTEMS STOPPED WORKING. WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO CLOSE SUN ROOF. NO POWER DOOR LOCKS - HAD TO OPERATE MANUALLY. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THANKFULLY I AM A STRONG PERSON AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT WITHOUT INCIDENT. I AM NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENED SINCE I DID NOT EVEN HAVE WORKI…
Owner-reported narrative. 204 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11416073 · 2021-05-11 (May 11, 2021)
I I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND DECELERATED. IT SEEMED TO LOSE POWER, I TURNED AROUND AND STARTED HOME AS I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED. THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS, DECELERATED WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE TACHOMETER WAS SWINGING AROUND WILDLY. THE CAR MOST OF THE TIME SEEMED TO HAVE NO POWER. I WAS AFRAID OF A REAR END HIT BY ANOTHER CAR OR FLYLING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT. I WAS TRYING TO LIMP IT IN TO THE DEALER. THE CAR ONLY HAD 3400 MILES ON IT AND I HAD HAD IT FOR 7 MONTHS.…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,437 miles reported. Look up ODI 11416073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11441786 · 2021-11-27 (November 27, 2021)
The vehicle started loosing power. the engine would rev up but the car wouldn't go. the car had to be towed to the dealership because the vehicle would not engage into drive or reverse. the dealership is replacing the transmission. It is the IVT transmission
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11441786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11387530 · 2021-01-11 (January 11, 2021)
I WAS GOING TO GET MY MAIL ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHERE I ALWAYS PARK. I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SPED UP AND HIT TWO MAILBOXES. I COULDN'T GET IT TO STOP. I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST IT WAS GOING WHEN I HIT THE MAILBOXES
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11387530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11504389 · 2023-01-30 (January 30, 2023)
On or approximately January 6, 2023 my 2021 Kia Soul with ISG technology began to display Check Engine Light. Took to AutoZone where they hooked to analyzer and came up with P0017 code. Notified local Kia dealership (Galeana in Columbia, SC) and was told could not get appointment until 01/24. Told if engine light no blinking could continue driving. No overt issues when driving at that time. Reset light by disconnecting negative battery terminal but immediately reappeared. On 01/19/23, engine began cutting out and running rough, turning of…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11504389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11543795 · 2023-09-11 (September 11, 2023)
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that after activating the air conditioning the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Also, the contact stated while depressing the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal extended to the floor causing the braking distance to be extended. The co…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11543795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11621372 · 2024-10-22 (October 22, 2024)
My car has never had the gas mileage that is advertised; it’s always been about 3-4 mpg less than the 28 mpg city/31 mpg highway. Recently, I had multiple engine system failures with the plug-in check devices at places like AutoZone saying my ignition coils were misfiring, and after bringing it to the dealership twice for about 1.5 months each time for a total of 3 months, they replaced the fuel injectors and a few other parts the first time before releasing the car to me only to have the same errors come back within 24 hours and I ended up bri…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11621372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11648188 · 2025-03-13 (March 13, 2025)
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was unable to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway and was assisted in pushing the vehicle to a safe location, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel pump. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance.…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11648188 at NHTSA ↗