2015 Kia Soul vs 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2015 Kia Soul | 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 896 | 59 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 163 | 778 |
| Investigations | 3 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 82 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26 | 28–35 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 88,000 mi | 49,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Soul | Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 627 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 75 | 18 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 76 | 1 |
| Power Train | 60 | 6 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 58 | 1 |
| Steering | 44 | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 36 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 20 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 181 | 0 |
| Stalling | 134 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 80 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 64 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 61 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 45 | 0 |
| Overheating | 36 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 31 | 0 |
2015 Kia Soul
2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen
Compare all Kia Soul vs Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.