2015 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 38owner reports
- 105,000median miles
- $1,400median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Jun 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
659 of the 897 complaints on this car are about the engine. 38 of those describe overheating.
Tick what matches of 38 reports
Overheating 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
Most owners in this group notice the coolant before they notice the heat: a reservoir that keeps dropping, a sweet smell, or a bright puddle under the front of the car. Across the vehicles on this site, about four in five of these complaints mention coolant, a leak or a puddle, and roughly two in five mention the temperature gauge or overheating.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the radiator (3 reports) and the coolant hose or reservoir (3 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
5 of the 38 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,100 to $2,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 75,822 and 123,000 miles, from the 27 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“High temperatures catalytic converter code went on the car was stalling on the highway as soon as I hit 60 MPH as I was getting on the car will not accelerate like if the engine was going to come out which also caused my car to overheat which was smelling like burnt oil called the dealer regarding this issue and compared to the recalls on the other KIA which is exactly what's happening to my car.”
Filed Mar 31, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 38 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 Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
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 rattles or ticks 56 reports
- Engine leaks oil 45 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 39 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 32 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 31 reports