Kia Soul complaints by model year
5,550 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 53 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| 2022 | 89 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 235 | 12 | 3 | 2 |
| 2020 | 383 | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| 2019 | 136 | 11 | 8 | 1 |
| 2018 | 218 | 14 | 14 | 1 |
| 2017 | 272 | 17 | 14 | 1 |
| 2016 | 816 | 28 | 35 | 2 |
| 2015 | 898 | 34 | 83 | 4 |
| 2014 | 902 | 33 | 69 | 5 |
| 2013 | 663 | 22 | 45 | 3 |
| 2012 | 514 | 25 | 23 | 3 |
| 2011 | 194 | 27 | 5 | 3 |
| 2010 | 135 | 23 | 15 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2016–2025. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 561 | 191 | 140 | 87 | 240 | 135 | 52 | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| Unknown or other | 123 | 32 | 30 | 19 | 52 | 26 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 3 |
| Power train | 62 | 19 | 31 | 5 | 91 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 106 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 47 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 56 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 28 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 84 | 18 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 30 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 20 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Kia Soul recalls (15)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Soul model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25V099000 | Feb 17, 2025 | Engine Damage May Cause Stall or Fire | 2021, 2022, 2023 | 63.8% |
| 23V830000 | Dec 22, 2023 | Side Curtain Air Bags May Deploy Unexpectedly | 2023 | 80.1% |
| 23V652000 | Sep 25, 2023 | HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire | 2011, 2012, 2013 | 32.4% |
| 23V531000 | Jul 31, 2023 | Electric Oil Pump Assembly May Cause Fire | 2023 | 87.2% |
| 23V298000 | Apr 26, 2023 | Blank LCD Display/FMVSS 101 & 138 | 2023 | 91.9% |
| 22V096000 | Feb 18, 2022 | Front Air Bags May Not Deploy | 2014 | 56.4% |
| 22V031000 | Jan 25, 2022 | Air Bags May Not Deploy | 2017, 2018, 2019 | 66% |
| 21V259000 | Apr 13, 2021 | Improperly Heat-Treated Piston Oil Rings | 2020, 2021 | 90.6% |
| 20V750000 | Dec 2, 2020 | Engine Damage May Cause Fire | 2014, 2015 | 72.5% |
| 19V120000 | Feb 22, 2019 | Overheated Catalytic Converter May Damage Engine | 2012–2016 | 63.3% |
| 17V608000 | Sep 29, 2017 | Steering Gear May Separate | 2014, 2015, 2016 | 66.2% |
| 15V123000 | Mar 2, 2015 | Accelerator Pedal may Fracture | 2014, 2015 | 85% |
| 14V822000 | Dec 29, 2014 | Headliner Plate Detachment | 2010–2013 | 64.3% |
| 13V114000 | Apr 1, 2013 | Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently | 2010, 2011 | — |
| 10V388000 | Aug 31, 2010 | WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT | 2010 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2024 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2023 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2022 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2021 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2020 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2019 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2018 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2017 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2016 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2015 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2014 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Kia Soul FAQ
How many recalls has the Kia Soul had?
NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns that cover at least one Kia Soul model year from 2010 to 2025. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Kia Soul year has the most complaints?
Among the last 12 model years with settled counts, the 2014 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (902) and the 2010 the fewest (135). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Kia Soul problems?
Across the 2016–2025 model years, owners most often name the engine, unknown or other, power train in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Kia Soul get?
EPA rates the 2025 Kia Soul at 30 to 31 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.