TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to underbody components, including inspection/replacement of the brake line(s), on certain 2014-2019MY Soul (PS) vehicles produced from July 21, 2013 through December 24, 2018, and were originally sold or are currently registered in one of the 28 states where heavy amounts of road salt are used. The 28 states where heavy amounts of road salt
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Kia Soul brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Kia Soul have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Soul | 37 |
| 2012 Soul | 39 |
| 2013 Soul | 87 |
| 2014 Soul | 21 |
| 2015 Soul (this page) | 19 |
| 2016 Soul | 9 |
| 2017 Soul | 6 |
| 2019 Soul | 7 |
3crashes
1fire
2injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) - This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to underbody components, including inspection/replacement of the brake line(s), on certain 2014-2019MY Soul (PS) vehicles produced from July 21, 2013 through December 24, 2018, and were originally sold or are currently registered in one of the 28 states where heavy amounts of road salt are used: AK, CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, WI and WV.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC334) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain 2014-2019 MY Soul vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently registered in states where heavy amounts of road salt are used. In addition, an anti-corrosion material will be applied to the underbody components for added protection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC334) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain 2014-2019 MY Soul vehicles, manufactured from July 21, 2013 through December 24, 2018, that were originally sold in or are currently registered in states where heavy amounts of road salt are used. In addition, an anti-corrosion material will be applied to the underbody components for added protection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC334) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain 2014-2019 MY Soul vehicles, manufactured from July 21, 2013 through December 24, 2018, that were originally sold in or are currently registered in states where heavy amounts of road salt are used. In addition, an anti-corrosion material will be applied to the underbody components for added protection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Brake line corrosion ranks as the core failure across these narratives. Owners describe rear and front lines rusting through and leaking brake fluid completely, leaving them unable to stop the vehicle—some at highway speeds (65 to 75 MPH), others on exit ramps and city streets. A handful report zero warning lights before failure, and in one case the dealer's own brake inspection passed the vehicle 15 minutes before catastrophic fluid loss.
Several owners hit the brake pedal with no response whatsoever. One driver at 40–45 MPH pumped the pedal repeatedly without effect; another's vehicle rolled backward despite braking. A vehicle at 9 months and 9,000 miles experienced complete brake failure—far too young for such a defect.
Recall Service Campaign SC334 (Brake Line Corrosion) is mentioned multiple times, yet owners report nightmarish repair experiences: one vehicle sat at the dealership 35 days while they hunted for parts, then came back still broken. Another received a receipt saying brakes were "fixed and in working order," but the pedal went to the floor before leaving the lot.
Part availability plagues repairs. One owner was told the correct steel rear caliper is non-stocked, that aluminum substitutes won't fit, and a dealer wanted $500 just to try fitting an untested caliper. A soft brake pedal with excessive travel is also reported, along with one case linking stiff pedal feel to unexplained engine-start anomalies.
Same Kia Soul brakes reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Brake line corrosion and rupture
Rear and front brake lines corrode and fail, causing complete brake system loss. Multiple owners report rust-through and brake fluid leaks. One owner reported both rear lines failed; another found advanced corrosion on both vehicles. The failure occurs with no warning lights in several cases.
When: 9,000 miles to 160,000 miles; one owner with 5-year-old vehicle at 83,000 miles noted lines should not fail at that age
Symptoms owners cite: Complete brake failure while driving at highway speeds (65 MPH, 45 MPH, 40-45 MPH, 35 MPH exit ramp); Brake pedal goes to the floor with no pressure; Brake fluid leaks creating large puddles; Vehicle rolls backward after stopping because brakes cannot hold it; No warning lights illuminate prior to failure in most cases; Brakes do not pressurize when tested
Repairs/costs cited: Rear brake lines replaced at dealer (cost over $1,000 in one case); front brake lines also covered under recall in some cases. One owner was told aluminum replacement calipers will not work and steel calipers are non-stocked, making the vehicle non-repairable. Dealers quoted $500 for caliper trial fit with no guarantee of fit.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and Service Campaign SC334 (Brake Line Corrosion) issued. One owner received recall notice for brake line/undercarriage spray but dealership could not locate parts for 35 days; vehicle was returned with brakes still failing. Kia corporate provided no assistance in some cases.
Low or soft brake pedal
Brake pedal travels excessively far before brakes engage, requiring heavy pressure or full pedal depression to achieve braking. One owner with a nearly-new vehicle reports the problem persists since purchase; dealer refuses to acknowledge or repair.
When: Present from purchase in at least one case; consistent issue over vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes almost to the floor before brakes engage; Excessive pedal travel required for braking; Insufficient braking response despite applying full pedal pressure; Dealer passes brake inspection despite soft pedal condition
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealer refuses to acknowledge or repair the problem.
Brake system failure after recall repair
After brake system recall repairs, vehicles are returned to owners with incomplete or failed repairs. One vehicle was repaired for 35 days but brakes failed again within days of pickup; another owner reports brakes 'completely went out' after recall work and dealership refuses to tow vehicle back.
When: Within days to weeks of recall repair completion
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to the floor after repair completion; Complete brake failure while driving post-repair; Exclamation symbol and battery light illuminate on repeat failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle repaired under recall for 35 days; brake failure recurred at 40-45 MPH. Dealership receipt stated car was 'fixed and in working order' and passed checkpoint inspection but brakes were non-functional.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall Service Campaign SC334 (Brake Line Corrosion) applied; however, repairs failed and brakes failed again. One owner stated manufacturer provided no assistance after second failure.
Stiff brake pedal with engine-on and vehicle-off conditions
Brake pedal becomes stiff when depressed, occurring in combination with erratic engine ignition (vehicle starts without key in ignition, engine continues running after key turned off).
When: Approximately 92,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes stiff while depressed; Engine continues running after ignition turned to off; Vehicle starts and moves forward with no key in ignition
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
My brakes went out completely while driving my 2015 kia soul with my daughter in the car. It was traumatic and stressful for us both. I had just received a recall notice for break lines/ undercarriage spray. I called Fairfield Kia and I had my car towed to the dealership. They inspected my car and said they would replace the rear brake lines under the recall. A couple weeks went by and I was told…
Had brakes trouble with your 2015 Kia Soul?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2015 Kia Soul?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 19 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 81,069 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Kia/Soul.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.