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The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 190 of 244 complaints (78%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 390 in 2020 to 244 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 244
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,000–$2,300
- Combined MPG
- 27–31
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Small Station Wagons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,200–2,300 | 2,000–2,300 | 2,000–2,300 | 2,000–2,150 | 2,000–2,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 27–28 | 27–31 | 27–31 | 29–31 | 30–31 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 24–26 / 30–31 | 25–29 / 31–35 | 25–29 / 31–35 | 27–29 / 32–35 | 28–29 / 33–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 319–335 | 287–332 | 287–332 | 287–309 | 287–301 | |
| Complaints filed | 143 | 390 | 244 | 97 | 54 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 13 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 6 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 14 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 15 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Soul have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Kia Soul?
Engine: 190 of 244 NHTSA complaints (78%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Kia Soul get?
EPA rates it 27–31 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Kia Soul?
EPA estimates $2,000–$2,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 28 mpg | 33 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 302 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 29 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | $2,000 (low) | 287 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 25 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | $2,300 (high) | 332 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 27 mpg | 32 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 309 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 190 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 10 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 27 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- 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, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.
ENGINE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.