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2021 Kia Soul problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
86% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Kia Soul are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 83%).
Does the 2021 Kia Soul have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 194 of 225 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Soul concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (86%), and the largest group is filed under engine (134). For comparison, the 2020 scores 82% and the 2022 scores 89%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Kia Soul years
Of the 14 Kia Soul years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (86%). The worst is the 2022 (89%), the best the 2010 (23%). By volume, the 2021 drew 234 complaints (194 drivetrain), against 381 for the 2020 and 88 for the 2022.
Kia Soul years to avoid and best years →
2010 Soul problems · 2011 Soul problems · 2012 Soul problems · 2013 Soul problems · 2014 Soul problems · 2015 Soul problems · 2016 Soul problems · 2017 Soul problems · 2018 Soul problems · 2019 Soul problems · 2020 Soul problems · 2021 · 2022 Soul problems · 2023 Soul problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Kia Soul
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Kia Soul said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 194 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Kia Soul engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Kia Soul involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: 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,…
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.
Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Kia Soul? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2021 Kia Soul have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 194 of 225 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Soul concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (86%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Kia Soul?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Kia Soul is engine: 134 of 234 complaints (57%) name it, followed by engine and engine cooling (47) and power train (26). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 Kia Soul reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 86% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Kia Soul years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Kia Soul?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Kia Soul involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 25V099000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical), 21V259000 (engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Kia Soul years are better?
Among the Kia Soul years we track, the 2010 (23%), the 2011 (28%) and the 2023 (43%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (86%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/kia-soul
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.