At a glance

Reported mileage7,859 mi

LocationTx, USA

ColorSnow White Pearl

Last listed price$21,785

Open recalls2

Vehicle identity & specifications

Make

Kia

Model

Soul

Year

2021

Trim

LX, S, X-Line

Body style

Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)

Vehicle type

MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)

Engine

2.0L 4-cyl 147 hp

Cylinders

4

Fuel type

Gasoline

Drivetrain

4x2

Assembly plant

GWANG-JU, SOUTH KOREA

Manufacturer

KIA CORPORATION

Full vehicle history report

$14.99 USD · one-time

What a full report checks for VIN KNDJ23AU5M7774940

⚠️ 2 open safety recalls — shown above, free 🔒 Title & brand records 🔒 Accident & damage history 🔒 Salvage, total-loss & theft 🔒 Odometer & owner count 🔒 Liens & market valuation

A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.

📜 Title status Clean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon

🏷️ Title brand history Every brand ever applied, by state

🧾 Number of owners How many registrations on record

🛞 Odometer readings Reported mileage over time

🔎 Rollback check Mileage inconsistency / tamper flags

💥 Accident & damage Reported collisions and damage events

🚧 Total-loss records Insurance total-loss declarations

♻️ Salvage & auction Salvage-yard and auction history

🚓 Theft records Reported / recovered theft events

🏦 Liens & impounds Outstanding liens or impound records

🏷️ Sale & listing history Past marketplace and dealer listings

💰 Market valuation Estimated value for this exact spec

Unlock full report — $14.99 → or get up to 20 reports a month for $19.99/mo → One-time purchase · permanent access · VIN KNDJ23AU5M7774940

Safety recalls 2

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.

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

NHTSA Campaign #21V259000 · 13/04/2021

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.

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 th

NHTSA Campaign #25V099000 · 17/02/2025

Get free recall alerts for this vehicle

We'll email you the moment a new safety recall is issued — no spam, unsubscribe any time.

Common problems & what to inspect

Based on 216 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Kia Soul, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.

Engine 10 reports

🔍 Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

Engine And Engine Cooling 4 reports

🔍 Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

Exterior Lighting 1 report

🔍 Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

Suspension 1 report

🔍 Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.

Power Train 1 report

🔍 Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Pre-purchase checklist

Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.

Owner complaints 216

Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 2021 Kia Soul.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Nothing happened - YET. I'm reporting a manufacturing error. Refer to my upload. I wouldn't be suprised that this defect has been the root cause of some accidents though.

NHTSA ODI #11746339

ENGINE

The first incident occurred on November 2, 2025. I was driving down a state road. I missed my turn so I pulled into a parking lot to turn around. Once I was able to pull out, I put my foot on the accelerator and felt no resistance. The car rolled out of the parking lot onto the road. I kept pressing the accelerator hoping the gas would return but my car rol…

NHTSA ODI #11744472

ENGINE

My vehicle has been in the shop 7 times for misfire in all cylinders over a 2 1/2 year span Kia dealer refused to replace the engine, 8 months after I threatened to sue the dealership for saying they fixed the misfire in all cylinders issue and 8 months later I’m getting misfire in 4th cylinder. As the engine light came on again and I have a high end car di…

NHTSA ODI #11744630

ENGINE

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, but they refuse to inspect it because it already passed their t…

NHTSA ODI #11744354

ENGINE

On XXX My car was stopped at a light, the vehicle shot down, and would not restart. I had the car towed to Galeana Kia, [XXX]. Upon isnpection at Kia it was found that the engine oil was three quarts low. I was shocked. There had been no warning lights on the dashboard. I had a synthetic oil change 9,000 miles previously. Galeana Kia charged me $315.96. Th…

NHTSA ODI #11742668

ENGINE

States having problems with oil lost, but only inside the motor as if the rings are faulty

NHTSA ODI #11742679

ENGINE

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 to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the…

NHTSA ODI #11742765

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

Initial Breakdown: July 2024, my 2021 Kia Soul (under 40,000 miles) idled roughly and stalled while in motion. It restarted, but as a precaution, I towed it to Kia Greenbrier Chesapeake while it was operable. After diagnostics, the vehicle would no longer start. Warranty Denial: The dealer blamed engine sludge from two missed oil changes in 2022 and quoted …

NHTSA ODI #11741891

+ 208 more complaints on record.