Total Complaints
7 filings
KIA SOUL EV · model year
2015 KIA SOUL EV
7 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2015KIASOUL EV carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2015 SOUL EV is power train with 2 filings, followed by unknown or other (1) and vehicle speed control (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2015 SOUL EV. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
7
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated
· Front: Not Rated/5
· Side: Not Rated/5
· Rollover: Not Rated/5
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
Recalls (4)
17V60800029/09/2017
STEERING
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.
23V21800029/03/2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit while driving.
23V72400026/10/2023
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Kia America, Inc. (KIA) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles. The parking mechanism may be damaged, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied while the vehicle is powered on.
20V38900002/07/2020
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Kia Soul Electric Vehicle (EV) vehicles. The parking mechanism may become damaged if the driver moves the gear shift lever into Park 'P' before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. If the parking mechanism is damaged, unintended vehicle movem
Recent Complaints
20240301ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul EV. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V218000 (Electrical System) and the vehicle was repaired under the recall. The contact stated that after the repair was completed, the vehicle went into "Reduced Power" and "Power Limp Mode" while driving at various speeds and initially after starting the vehicle. The vehicle was returned to the dealer where the recall repair was completed the recall repair; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,400.
Mileage: 111,400
20190101CrashSERVICE BRAKES
I WAS PULLING INTO A DISABLE PARKING SPACE. I PUSH MY BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKE. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK MY CAR CONTINUE TO GO WITHOUT STOPPING. I PUSH MY BRAKES MANY TIMES, PUSHING IT AS FAR AS I CAN. THE ONLY WAY IT STOP IS WHEN THE CAR HIT THE FAT ROUND CEMENT POLE. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING BRAKES. I'M JUST HAPPY THAT I WAS NOT ON ROAD. PLEASE REVIEW, THIS A DANGEROUS ISSUE,WHICH MAY CAUSE LIVES.
Mileage: 83,980
20180425ENGINE
OWNER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 HEADING EAST AT APX 65 MILES PER HOUR.WITH NO WARNING , OIL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ,CAR SEIZED UP AND STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD BANGING.OWNER IS A 22 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER AND WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN KILLED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALER.THE SAME DEALERSHIP OWNER PURCHASED CAR. MILEAGE IS 78.000 MILES AND OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE AT RECOMMENDED INTERVALS.OWNER IS WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
Mileage: 78,000
20180425POWER TRAIN
OWNER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 HEADING EAST AT APX 65 MILES PER HOUR.WITH NO WARNING , OIL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ,CAR SEIZED UP AND STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD BANGING.OWNER IS A 22 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER AND WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN KILLED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALER.THE SAME DEALERSHIP OWNER PURCHASED CAR. MILEAGE IS 78.000 MILES AND OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE AT RECOMMENDED INTERVALS.OWNER IS WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
Mileage: 78,000
20180306POWER TRAIN
OUR 2015 KIA SOUL EV HAS OVER HEATED THE MAIN CONTROLLER AND SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN CHANDLER (PHOENIX ) ARIZONA AFTER TRAVELING JUST 10 MILES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR CANNOT HANDLE THE HEAT IN ARIZONA, GEORGIA OR OTHER HOT SOUTHERN STATES. THE BATTERIES AND BMS ALSO FAIL AFTER 2-3 YEARS.
Mileage: 23,500
20170602CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. I WAS DRIVING IN THE "B" MODE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, BUT LATER HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY REPORTED THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR FIGURE OUT WHAT CAUSED IT.
Mileage: 36,566
20170410UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NEXEN TIRES DO NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION AND THEY HAVE LESS THAN 23,500 MILES ON THEM, THESE TIRES ARE COMING APART GOUGES DOWN TO TELL STEEL BELTS.
Mileage: 23,535
Compare 2015KIASOUL EV to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2015 KIA SOUL EV have?▼
The 2015 KIA SOUL EV has 7 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2015 KIA SOUL EV?▼
The 2015 KIA SOUL EV received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2015 KIA SOUL EV?▼
Yes, the 2015 KIA SOUL EV has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 KIA SOUL EV?▼
The most-complained component for the 2015 KIA SOUL EV is POWER TRAIN with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2015 KIA SOUL EV safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2015 KIA SOUL EV has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.