The 2021 Kia Soul has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 284,505 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 297 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING25V0990002025-02-17137,256 affected
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.
ENGINE21V2590002021-04-13147,249 affected
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
126
1crashes1fires2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
40
POWER TRAIN
26
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
24
2crashes2fires1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
15
1crashes2injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
10
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES
10
6crashes2injuries
STEERING
9
VISIBILITY/WIPER
6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
5
Total complaints297
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 2021 kia soul. The contact stated that while checking the engine oil level, the contact noticed that the vehicle was consuming excessive oil. Upon inspecting underneath the vehicle, the contact's husband did not find any leaks. No warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken…”
“States having problems with oil lost, but only inside the motor as if the rings are faulty”
“I took my 2021 kia soul to the dealership for a piston ring recall; they ran their standard test and said it passed, but my car is still showing a misfire fault. I replaced the ignition coil, spark plug, and fuel injector, yet the problem persists. I’ve taken it back to the kia dealership twice,…”
“Was issued a recall from kia for an oil piston ring that wasn't heat treated properly, kia told me the problem was fixed and the recall shouldn't affect me, my car was in an out of the shop for months after that, they replaced my timing belt and transmission under warranty, said I sould be fine…”
“Cv joint and axle causing car to stall when turunning”
“Cv joint and axle causing car to stall when turunning”
“Cv joint and axle causing car to stall when turunning”
“The contact owns a 2021 kia soul. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the oil pressure sensor light was illuminated. The vehicle was making an abnormal knocking sound. The contact had to add additional oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the vehicle…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationAQ25001 Opened 2025-08-06 · closed 2025-12-18
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.’s (Kia) remedy program for Safety Recall 25V099, involving incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which may damage the engine causing a loss of motive power or fire. This AQ…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2021 Kia Soul as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.