2021 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Check engine light or misfire
- 61owner reports
- 68,600median miles
- $7,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
189 of the 234 complaints on this car are about the engine. 61 of those describe misfire.
Tick what matches of 61 reports
Misfire 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 reports start with the check engine light. Many describe the engine running rough or shaking at idle, a P0300-series code, or a catalytic converter code. A worrying number say the light was flashing. Owners often list ignition coils or spark plugs already replaced, and the light coming back afterward.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the spark plugs (5 reports), the catalytic converter (5 reports) and the sensor (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
All 2 recalls on the 2021 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
5 of the 61 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $6,000 to $7,476.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 40,000 and 96,000 miles, from the 34 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2021 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.
MISFIRE CONCERN DUE TO OVERRUNNING ALTERNATOR DECOUPLER This bulletin provides information to address unresolved misfire events on some 2020–2024MY Forte (BDm) produced from January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2024, and 2020–2022MY Soul (SK3) vehicles produced from November 1, 2018 through May 31, 2022 equipped ...
This bulletin provides instructions to perform an engine vibration inspection using the Kia Diagnostic System (KDS) tablet on certain Kia engine/model vehicles.
SERVICE ACTION: MIL ON DTC P0605 AND/OR P2181 ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA463) This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Engine Control Module (ECM) on some 2020-2021MY Soul (SK3) vehicles and 2021MY Seltos (SP2) vehicles produced in the date ranges shown below, equipped with NU 2.0L ATK engines, which may exhibit ...
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.
1 more on the 2021 Kia Soul page.
What owners wrote
“The check engine light came on in the car and within a few minutes while looking for a safe place the pull over there was a foul smell coming from the engine, followed by many error lights on the dash and the car losing the ability to accelerate and drive. The car had to be towed to a local repair shop who inspected the car and found that the engine a thrown a rod through the engine block.”
Filed Sep 8, 2026
“I took my 2021 Kia Soul to the dealership for a piston ring recall; they ran their standard test and said it passed, but my car is still showing a misfire fault. I replaced the ignition coil, spark plug, and fuel injector, yet the problem persists. Iâve taken it back to the Kia dealership twice, but they refuse to inspect it because it already passed their test.”
Filed Jun 15, 2026
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 61 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 stalls or loses power while driving 99 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 67 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 44 reports