BrakeNewsOwner complaints, read early

Your vehicle report

2022 Kia Soul

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
95
Received Oct 2021 to Oct 2026
Official recalls listed
1
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
4
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Engine stalls and loses power while driving14 complaints · 15% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Engine burns excessive oil between changes9 complaints · 9.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Engine suddenly shuts off while driving6 complaints · 6.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #25V099000Kia 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.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 4 crashes, 1 fire, 8 people injured, 3 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 6 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

3 more problems

Brakes

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Electrical & lights

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Airbags, belts & seats

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Steering, suspension & tires

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Body, doors & glass

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2022 Kia Soul
10
Show as a table
MonthComplaints
October 20211
November 20210
December 20211
January 20220
February 20221
March 20220
April 20220
May 20221
June 20220
July 20220
August 20220
September 20221
October 20220
November 20220
December 20220
January 20230
February 20231
March 20231
April 20231
May 20232
June 20230
July 20231
August 20231
September 20231
October 20231
November 20231
December 20230
January 20240
February 20240
March 20240
April 20240
May 20240
June 20240
July 20240
August 20240
September 20240
October 20240
November 20242
December 20240
January 20252
February 20251
March 20255
April 20258
May 20259
June 20256
July 20251
August 202510
September 20252
October 20253
November 20251
December 20252
January 20262
February 20260
March 20266
April 20267
May 20263
June 20262
July 20261
August 20260
September 20260
October 20267
Total95

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Engine stalls and loses power while driving1415%12.2×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Mar 2025
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 4.8%
Engine burns excessive oil between changes99.5%7.6×NHTSA recall #25V099000
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving66.3%2.8×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Oct 2026
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 3.7%
Check engine light comes on repeatedly55.3%3.5×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Aug 2025
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.9%
Timing chain fails and destroys engine44.2%28.2×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2026
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.5%
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips33.2%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #25V099000February 17, 2025137,256 vehicles affected

    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.

    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.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2022 Kia Soul.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN