NHTSA vehicle safety data

2014 Kia Soul Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2014 Kia Soul has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 903 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2014 Kia Soul, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2014 Kia Soul owner complaints

Owners have filed 903 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Soul, describing incidents dated August 1, 2013 to October 15, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 591 complaints
  • Exterior Lighting 130 complaints
  • Electrical System 98 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 85 complaints
  • Power Train 58 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 57 complaints

Of the 903 complaints on file, 33 report a crash and 69 a fire; across all 903 complaints, owners report 28 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11773575 · Filed

    this vehicle was service with a new engine in 2021 by the kia dealer in South Attleboro mass the car began to start loosing power on 10/15/ 2026 it now needs a new engine again I call the kia dealer to see if it had warranted and they said because it has 198 thousand miles the warranted is gone I…

  • ODI #11768566 · Filed

    I purchased my Kia Soul because I believed I was purchasing a dependable vehicle that I could rely on for my everyday transportation. Unfortunately, my experience with the vehicle has been very different. Over time, I have experienced ongoing and serious problems with the engine, particularly…

  • ODI #11767687 · Filed

    Trouble with acceleration, when coming to a full stop then trying to accelerate the car feels like it doesn't want to move. Slows down to approximately 15mph when going up hills even when gas pedal pushed down all the way. Feels like it's about to stall at stop signs, etc.

Read all 903 complaints

Owner-reported

2014 Kia Soul mileage at failure

613 of the 903 complaints on file for the 2014 Kia Soul give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
EngineMedian 105,000 milesMiddle half 85,000–125,000 milesBased on 386 complaints
Exterior LightingMedian 65,000 milesMiddle half 45,000–80,000 milesBased on 106 complaints
Electrical SystemMedian 70,000 milesMiddle half 50,000–105,000 milesBased on 75 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2014 Kia Soul in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Front Air Bags May Not Deploy

NHTSA #22V096000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported February 18, 2022 · Kia Motors America

Potentially affected: 128,280 vehicles

Repair completion: 56.4% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC229 · Owners notified April 4, 2022

Defect description

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014 Soul vehicles. The front air bags may not deploy during a crash if the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) loses communication with the front impact sensors.

Safety consequence

Front air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will update the ACU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC229.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Engine Damage May Cause Fire

NHTSA #20V750000 · Engine · NHTSA notice

Reported December 2, 2020 · Kia Motors America

Potentially affected: 294,756 vehicles

Repair completion: 72.53% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC200 · Owners notified January 25, 2021 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Safety consequence

An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Overheated Catalytic Converter May Damage Engine

NHTSA #19V120000 · Engine · NHTSA notice

Reported February 22, 2019 · Kia Motors America

Potentially affected: 378,967 vehicles

Repair completion: 63.28% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC176 · Owners notified April 17, 2019 · Vehicles built July 8, 2011 – August 11, 2016 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. 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.

Safety consequence

Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Steering Gear May Separate

NHTSA #17V608000 · Steering · NHTSA notice

Reported September 29, 2017 · Kia Motors America

Potentially affected: 342,381 vehicles

Repair completion: 66.16% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC155 · Owners notified November 16, 2017 · Vehicles built July 21, 2013 – September 30, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.

Safety consequence

If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Accelerator Pedal may Fracture

NHTSA #15V123000 · Vehicle Speed Control — Accelerator Pedal · NHTSA notice

Reported March 2, 2015 · Kia Motors America

Potentially affected: 208,858 vehicles

Repair completion: 85.03% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC116 · Owners notified March 24, 2015 · Vehicles built July 21, 2013 – January 8, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Soul and Soul electric vehicles manufactured July 21, 2013, to January 8, 2015. A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.

Safety consequence

If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will add a supporting rubber underneath the pedal stopper, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC116.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Kia Soul model years

Check your 2014 Kia Soul VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Soul at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Kia VIN