Problems · by component
2015 Kia Soul fuel/propulsion system problems
77 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Soul cite fuel/propulsion system, 8% of all 909 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
77
8% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
What owners say about the fuel/propulsion system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“RECALL SC176 INCOMPLETE- WHILE DRIVING IN AN UNINCORPERATED AREA IN [XXX] ([XXX] IN [XXX] COUNTY) THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ENGINE POWER AND DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP ON A DANGEROUS CURVE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BACK UP. THE CRUVE WAS SITUATED IN SUCH A MANOR THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO TRY TO PUSH IT INTO THE SIDE AS IT WAS A STEEP DITCH LEAVING THE VHICLE COMPLETELY DISABLED IN THE COMPLETE DARK. EVEN WITH THE FLASHERS ON OTHER MOTORISTS INCLUDING A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER NEARLY CRASHED INTO THE DISABLED VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES. WHILE ESCAPING THE DANGEROUS SITUATION ON FOOT I NOTICED THE MUFFLER WAS EMMITING SMOKE AND A STRONG ODOR. I WAS ABLE TO RETAIN THE SERVICES OF A LOCAL TOWING COMPANY TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE WHERE THEY HAD TO USE MULTIPLE UNITS WITH CONES AND AMBER LIGHTS AND FLAGMEN WITH STROBES TO SET UP A SAFTEY ZONE TO PROTECT ONCOMMING MOTORISTS WHILE THEY CLEARED THE IMMEDIATE SAFTEY HAZARD. THAT WEEK I HAD A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP CHECK ON THE NO START CONDITION. THEY REMOVED, CHARGED, AND BENCH TESTED THE BATTERY FINDING IT TO PERFORM AT AN ACCEPTABLE AMPERAGE. UPON INSPECTING THE NO…”
“Code P1326 Popped up - my mechanic replaced the P1326 Knock Sensor for the Kia. Code P1326 Popped up 2nd time - replaced sensor again. Code P1326 popped up and now there is some knocking. Check engine light flashing - then went off for a while after part was replaced, and then back on again, and off again and back on. There are many Kias listed for RECALL with this code, same year and model. Yet mine is not under RECALL. It says to reach out and ask for an ECU update and that Kia should cover an extended warranty for this KNOWN issue.”
“P0420 code indicated during emissions test. Vehicle shut off after stopping and acceleration after stopping. Hesitates when trying to restart Vehicle. Contact kia manufacturer about engine and P0420 code, however no help was given.”
“While my 80 yr old dad and 18 yr old daughter were driving on the highway to get to my uncle’s funeral. My dad had his cruise on, when he and my daughter started noticing a strange sound almost a knocking sound. But the next hill when the car went to go up the incline it kept reducing in speed. My dad took the cruise off and at that point had no power to keep traveling. So August 2nd the car threw a rod. My dad had a warranty plus an extended warranty with the company GWC. They missed my uncle funeral, sat on the side of the highway for an hour before the tow truck got there. A local dodge dealership has gotten the vehicle and have done a complete inspection. The safety of my dad and daughter were at risk do to the car malfunctioning on the highway. As well as them sitting on the side of highway. And now the stress of all of this on my dad’s health has started causing him to not be able to eat, if he does eat he will throw it up. His mental health is declining due to KIA and GWC denied to fix the car now. My dad has had to pay for towing, a U-Haul res talk to get home, the Dodge dealership has gotten to do full inspection. Unknown if any warning lights or…”
“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.”
“car keeps dying as going down the road.almost completely dies then kicks back in.have had it in several times always says something differant.has around 78000 miles.bought it new in 2015 have had it several times for same issue.have almost gotten in wrecks due to it dying out of the blue!!!”
Showing 6 of 77 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.