Kia · Soul · 2021
2021 Kia Soul
2
Recalls
199
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2021 Kia Soul has 2 recalls and 199 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: engine (85 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2021 Kia Soul page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is engine with 85 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2021 Kia Soul currently shows 2 NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 199 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 4/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are engine (85), engine and engine cooling (32), unknown or other (10).
- Vehicle
- 2021 Kia Soul
- Recalls
- 2
- Complaints
- 199
- Safety Rating
- 4/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
14.7% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: OptionalLane Departure Warning: Optional
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 25V099000February 17, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
Remedy Status
Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.
NHTSA ID: 21V259000April 13, 2021
ENGINE
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
Remedy Status
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.
Owner Complaints
199 totalENGINE
Apr 15, 2026
the engine is consuming a quart of oil per thousand miles.
ENGINE
Apr 13, 2026
My 2021 Kia Soul experienced repeated overheating despite replacement of major cooling system components including the thermostat and water pump. The vehicle continued to overheat and was later diagnosed by a Kia dealership with engine damage requiring full engine replacement. Th...
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VISIBILITY/WIPER
Apr 12, 2026
Manufacturer defect: Massive paint delamination/adhesion failure on the roof. Large sheets of paint are flaking off while the vehicle is in motion, creating a debris hazard for following drivers and distracting the operator. The failure has exposed the bare metal structure, which...
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POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Apr 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 80 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving uphil...
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ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 7, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned? The engine (piston rings) and catalytic converter failed. The catalytic converter is available for inspection upon request. How was safety put at risk? The engine ran low on oil without any external leak, causing warning lights...
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POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Apr 7, 2026
Mi carro hay veces que prende la luz de la engine, lo lleve a checar y salió en la computadora que era un problema de Power Train system, que era secondary DTCs P1C28 Y P1C28000, lo busque en Google y salía que era un problema muy recurrente en Kias souls y sorentos. Que podría c...
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ENGINE
Apr 7, 2026
Hi my vehicle was stolen and the police found the vehicle. The car was damaged part of the damages was a broken ignition. I am unable to fix the damages until I get paid from the kia classaction lawsuit. The car still starts and stays running. I have the key for the car but I hav...
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ENGINE
Mar 30, 2026
On [XXX], the check engine light illuminated. No other warning indicators activated — no low oil pressure warning, no low oil level warning, no driver alert of any kind regarding engine condition. On [XXX], at approximately 53,845 miles, the vehicle began running rough. I checke...
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ENGINE
Mar 30, 2026
I am writing to formally report a failure by Classic Kia of Streetsboro to provide the federally mandated safety remedy under Recall SC336 for my 2021 Kia Soul (VIN: [XXX] ). I have reason to believe the dealership has bypassed the mandatory safety protocols by intentionally omit...
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POWER TRAIN
Mar 29, 2026
The car rpm fluctuated from 1000 to 5000 rpm while in cruise control going 65 mph. At a stop, thr transmission took 30 seconds to engage to low speed. The car was stuttering and bucking at 10mph to 45mph
Showing 10 recent complaints from 199 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2021 Kia models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Kia Soul Years
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Soul have?
The 2021 Kia Soul has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2021 Kia Soul?
NHTSA has received 199 owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Kia Soul.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Kia Soul?
The 2021 Kia Soul received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Soul?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2021 Kia Soul are engine (85 reports), engine and engine cooling (32 reports), unknown or other (10 reports).
Does the 2021 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2021 Kia Soul. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.