Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2015 Kia Soul
NHTSA data on file today
The 2015 Kia Soul has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 902 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V750000 Engine Damage May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V120000 Overheated Catalytic Converter May Damage Engine NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V608000 Steering Gear May Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V123000 Accelerator Pedal may Fracture NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 631 complaints
- Unknown or Other 108 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 77 complaints
- Electrical System 75 complaints
- Power Train 61 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 58 complaints
Of the 902 complaints on file, 34 report a crash and 84 a fire; across all 902 complaints, owners report 32 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2015 Kia Soul struggles with significant engine and steering recall issues, as well as numerous owner complaints, particularly regarding engine reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 80,000–100,000 miles | $2,000–$4,000 | very common |
| steering gear | 60,000–80,000 miles | $800–$1,400 | common |
| catalytic converter | 70,000–90,000 miles | $900–$1,800 | common |
| accelerator pedal | 50,000–70,000 miles | $200–$400 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid exchange
- Spark plug replacement
- Cooling system service
- Tire rotations and balancing
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine knocking sounds
- Steering drifting or wobbling
- Check engine light stays on
- Catalytic converter smell
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2015 Kia Soul at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.