Component Record

Kia Soul 2021 Engine Problems

188 distinct owners reported a engine problem on the 2021 Kia Soul - 78% of all complaints for this model year.

Recall Coverage188 complaints

188 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system.

Campaigns Covering This System

21V259000Reported April 13, 2021 - 147,249 vehicles potentially affected

Recall covering the engine system, reported to NHTSA on April 13, 2021. The campaign covers an estimated 147,249 vehicles across all affected models.

25V099000Reported February 17, 2025 - 137,256 vehicles potentially affected

Recall covering the engine system, reported to NHTSA on February 17, 2025. The campaign covers an estimated 137,256 vehicles across all affected models.

Other Systems on This Model Year

Unknown Or Other27 Power Train26 Electrical System15 Fuel and Propulsion System11 Brakes10 Driver Assistance and Stability Systems10

How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.