2015 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Engine rattles or ticks
- 56owner reports
- 90,000median miles
- $6,200median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
659 of the 897 complaints on this car are about the engine. 56 of those describe engine rattle.
Tick what matches of 56 reports
Engine rattle 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. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021.
What this problem usually is
Owners in this group hear something before anything breaks. Most describe a ticking or tapping at idle, a rattle that's worse on a cold start and fades as the engine warms, or a noise that comes and goes over weeks. Some report the check engine light following a while later. It's the early-warning end of the engine complaints, and the reports that end in a named part are useful to anyone hearing the same sound.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (6 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
8 of the 56 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $5,000 to $7,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 71,400 and 116,000 miles, from the 46 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Was driving on the highway I hard a pop sound and I look in my mirror and saw a big white smoke fog and then hard tapping from the hood and pulled over and my car would not start had it towed and had 2 mechanic look at it told me my engine is blown and there is a hole in it that my engine is defective”
Filed Apr 3, 2024
“Catalytic converter failed. Car can over heat and catch on fire. Took to dealership and has been confirmed catalytic converter failed. Vehicle only has 83,000 miles. No warning engine start rattling really bad and vehicle was struggling to go up bridges and speed up.”
Filed Oct 16, 2021 · 83,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 56 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 266 reports
- 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 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