2015 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 185owner reports
- 93,269median miles
- $1,400median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Jun 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
743 of the 897 complaints on this car are about the engine. 185 of those describe stalling.
Tick what matches of 185 reports
Stalling 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
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (19 reports), the battery (11 reports) and the ignition coil or plugs (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.
Non-crash vehicle fires. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 20V-088.
Non-crash vehicle fires. Closed may 10, 2019, led to recall 18V-907.
What owners paid
21 of the 185 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $896 to $5,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 70,000 and 123,947 miles, from the 141 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“P0420 code indicated during emissions test. Vehicle shut off after stopping and acceleration after stopping. Hesitates when trying to restart Vehicle. Contact kia manufacturer about engine and P0420 code, however no help was given.”
Filed Sep 29, 2025
“Unknown. Even while the car was still under warranty And under 130,000 miles, it's needed the catalytic converter replaced twice already. It burns/leaks oil to the point where it gets bone dry but will still run just with lost power. Sometimes it has a loud raddle when you first start the vehicle, only for a brief couple of seconds but it could be the lifters potentially. CRANKSHAFT & cams throw codes,”
Filed Aug 13, 2025 · 130,000 miles
“Catalytic converter needed replacing at 100,000 miles! REALLY!! I have NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED BEFORE 200,000 miles! CHEAP PRODUCT installed!”
Filed Sep 3, 2022 · 100,000 miles
“while driving my vehicle all of a sudden in the middle of a busy road I lost power. My vehicle would no longer accelerate and came to a stop. Engine light came on. This caused a big safety risk to myself as well as others on the road due to my vehicle coming to a sudden and unexpected stop. The engine light came on, which was not on prior. I was just able to have my vehicle towed today to a Kia dealership.”
Filed Mar 9, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 185 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
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 266 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 213 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