The Lemon Index2015 Kia Soul.
The 2015 Kia Soul is better than average by owner complaints: 95 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 66, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, and it has 4 recalls. The best Kia Soul year is 2019.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 902 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Soul year. 2015 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 65K to 113K miles on the car (538 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 74K–119K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 38K–103K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 34K–105K miles
Recalls 4
- engine 2020
An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
- engine 2019
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.
- steering 2017
The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Show all 4 recalls
- speed control 2015
A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 164 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Smart pedal feature - the smart pedal is an integral part of the engine management system (ems)
- CYLINDER HEAD STEEL BALL INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION - This Pitstop provides information…
- PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedEngine fires2021–2024
- ClosedNon-crash vehicle fires2019–2021
- ClosedNon-crash vehicle fires2018–2019
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Soul Ev SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $700–2450 a year in electricity (EPA estimate).
In owners' words
Car battery seemed dead though when I turned the key the lights go on and flickering sound but doesn't catch. When jump started it didn't take long maybe two minutes and car started.
2015 Kia Soul owner · NHTSA complaint 10920596
More owner reports
Making knocking noises it had backfired while driving down the highway still making knocking noise and vibrating noises while driving down the road and in park knocking is getting worse and louder and no check engine light
NHTSA complaint 11153430
My car is only 3 years old, 112,000 miles and my air conditioning compressor went out. The fix is over $800. I have owned 6 cars in my lifetime and have never had this happen, I've never even ran out of freon in my cars.
NHTSA complaint 11120752
Quick answers
Is the 2015 Kia Soul reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 66; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Soul year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2015 Kia Soul problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (24%), electrical (19%) and steering (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Soul have?
4 safety recalls (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2015 Kia Soul safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2015 Kia Soul problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 65,000 and 113,800 miles. The middle report was at 87,600 miles, from 538 complaints.
Does the 2015 Kia Soul have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2015 Kia Soul cost in fuel a year?
About $700 to $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Kia Soul year is better than the 2015?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2013 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works