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#BS-2021-KIASOU-7C4D

2021 Kia SoulProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 323 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
323
Crashes
24
Fires
4
Recalls
2
TSBs
117
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 323 complaints, 24 crashes, 4 fires, and 2 recalls. Complaint rate is 4.5x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

locked engine

2 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

automatic brakes sensor failure

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
3

steering wheel locked up

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX
4

transmission failure

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

186 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 47K miles.

!Inspect the DrivetrainMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

33
0–30K
11
30–60K
22
60–90K
10
90–120K
6
120–150K
3
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (33 reports) • Median: 47K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (186 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine186 (58%)
Other27 (8%)
Drivetrain26 (8%)
Electrical15 (5%)
Fuel System11 (3%)
Brakes10 (3%)
Steering9 (3%)
Lights6 (2%)

2021 Kia Soul: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 58% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Soul, with 186 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 46,500 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 47K-mile mark.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Soul, with 26 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Soul, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 3% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Soul, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

7
20
21
21
18
22
33
23
21
24
117
25
106
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Kia Soul. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (2 recalls)

21V259000Jun 2021

ENGINE

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.

25V099000Apr 2025

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2021 Kia Soul NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

AQ25001ClosedOpened Aug 2025 · closed Dec 2025

Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

The worst model year for the Kia Soul is the 2016 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2021 Kia Soul vs. Class Average (Small Station Wagons)

This vehicle

323

Class avg

72

4.5x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical small station wagons vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 323 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Kia Soul Model Years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
View all Kia Soul years →

2021 Kia Soul: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Kia Soul?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Kia Soul is related to the engine, with 186 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Kia Soul reliable?
The 2021 Kia Soul has 323 complaints, 24 crash reports, and 4 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 4.5x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2021 Kia Soul?
NHTSA rates the 2021 Kia Soul 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Kia Soul problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 Kia Soul has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Kia Soul problems start?
Based on 85 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 46,500 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2021 Kia Soul data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 323 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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