2015 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 266owner reports
- 89,000median miles
- $5,000median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Jul 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
659 of the 897 complaints on this car are about the engine. 266 of those describe engine failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 Soul.
Narrower sheets: Engine knocking or ticking (132 reports) · Rod bearing failure (29 reports)
Tick what matches of 266 reports
Engine failure on other Soul years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.
What this problem usually is
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (254 reports) and the timing chain (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
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.
All 4 recalls on the 2015 Kia Soul, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Soul
Kia 25v099 piston oil ring recall effectiveness. Closed dec 18, 2025.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
What owners paid
37 of the 266 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $900 to $6,800.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 71,000 and 112,630 miles, from the 198 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 15 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 Kia Soul that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2002Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in (PI2002A, PI2002B and SC200**1) titled “Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement”.
OWNER NOTIFICATION This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2014-2016 MY Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing ...
PITSTOP: LOW OIL PRESSURE AT IDLE AFTER GAMMA 1.6L GDI SHORT BLOCK ENGINE REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information equipped with a Gamma 1.6L GDI regarding a 'low oil pressure' concern during engine idle on vehicles engine due to a missing dowel pin, after a short block engine replacement.
PITSTOP: DTC P0011/ P0014/ P0016/ P0017 DUE TO INCORRECT CAMSHAFT RELUCTOR WHEEL CONFIGURATION This Pitstop provides information on some 2010-2013MY Soul (AM), 2014-2019MY Soul (PS), and 2020~MY Soul (SK3) vehicles equipped with the engines listed below, which may set DTC P0011, P0014, P0016, or P0017 after an engine replacement.
11 more on the 2015 Kia Soul page.
What owners wrote
“On 7-3-2022, I was driving my 2015 Kia Soul on I-5 north with my daughter heading home from a short road trip to San Francisco. We where @ 70mph and started up the Shasta mountain when my check engine light started flashing, and I lost all power, the motor started knocking and smoke started to come from the exhaust. As a semi had to blow his horn and swerved to ovoid hitting us.”
Filed Jul 12, 2022
“My 2015 Kia Soul had a massive engine failure at 80 thousand miles, and the engine is damaged beyond repair.”
Filed Jul 3, 2022
“Increased use of oil with no visible signs of external oil leak. Oil light comes on and knocking sound heard and when oil level was checked it was 2-3 quarts low each time. This has happened at least three times since October 2021. Most recently December 24, 2021 2.5 quarts low, February 4, 2022 3 quarts low.”
Filed Feb 8, 2022
“My vehicle started losing power and was making a loud whomping sound. The check engine light came on and was blinking continuously. I believe the engine blew up. I was at safety risk because these vehicles have a history of starting on fire and also it was below zero. The manufacturer is aware of the history of engine failure and this is a new motor installed from the last one failing”
Filed Jan 31, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 266 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Check engine light or misfire 213 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 185 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 81 reports
- Vehicle fire 74 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 56 reports
- Engine leaks oil 45 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 39 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 38 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 32 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 31 reports