2021 Kia Soul problems and complaints
Owners have filed 244 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Soul. The most-reported areas: Engine (142), Engine And Engine Cooling (49), Power Train (27).
Key takeaways
- 244 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 12 involve a crash, 3 a fire, 5 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 142 | 58% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 49 | 20% |
| Power Train | 27 | 11% |
| Unknown Or Other | 27 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 15 | 6% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 10 | 4% |
| Steering | 9 | 4% |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 2% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 6 | 2% |
| Suspension | 5 | 2% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2021 Kia Soul
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia Soul SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train,engine - filed 2026-11-04
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) did not identify the ...
Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-11-02
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that on several occasions while stopped at a red light, the engine seized. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the oil warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V09...
Engine - filed 2026-10-30
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 September 17, 2026,...
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More for the 2021 Kia Soul
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.