2015 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Burns oil or oil level rises
- 81owner reports
- 90,000median miles
- $3,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 19, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
687 of the 897 complaints on this car are about the engine. 81 of those describe oil consumption.
Tick what matches of 81 reports
Oil consumption 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
Two different complaints land here. The more common one is an engine that uses oil: owners add a quart between changes, get a low-oil warning, or are told by the dealer that the rate is normal. The other is the opposite, where the oil level climbs and the oil smells of gasoline. Both deserve a proper test, and both are easier to argue with records in hand.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the piston rings (27 reports) and the engine (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
9 of the 81 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,200 to $5,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 65,000 and 106,850 miles, from the 62 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 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.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
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.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
2 more on the 2015 Kia Soul page.
What owners wrote
“Car burning oil every 1,000 miles or less causing catalytic converter to over heat, which could cause fire. Wiring harness on driver side shorting lights out which could cause a fire. Vehicle can be ready for inspection at anytime. Have been calling dealer about it since 2019 said recall was fixed but wasnât done properly. Electrical issues started around 01/15/2024.”
Filed Jun 9, 2024 · 1,000 miles
“My 2015 Kia Soul + is only at 68,000 miles and is burning oil. It is using synthetic oil and had to add 2 quarts and then again another quart before I brought it in to KIa dealer needing oil again way before the suggested 5000 miles. They want me to write down more specific mileage before they willing to check the problem.”
Filed Sep 27, 2023 · 68,000 miles
“Engine burning oil so much that it destroys the catalytic converter leaving me stranded middle of a highway.”
Filed Jun 7, 2023
“Kia soul is burning oil it has 82k miles and Iâve already went through the oil consumption test once with dealer and they said it wasnât loosing any more oil so I had a oil change done drove it the 3000 miles for next oil change and it was loan again Iâm now back to do the oil consumption test again I donât think I should have to do it The dealer just needs to put a new motor in car”
Filed Feb 12, 2023 · 82,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 81 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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 185 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