Owners have filed 5,259 complaints with NHTSA about the Kia Soul from 2012 to 2024. Across every year, the most reported problem areas are the engine and cooling, the steering and the electrical system. The years with the most complaints are 2014, 2015 and 2016.
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Start my car searchComplaints by year
Tap a year to see its most reported problems, its recalls and what to check before you buy. Newer years have had less time on the road, so they always look better here. Red marks the worst years, orange years worse than most, and green the better ones.
Every year at a glance
| Year | Vs. other years | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Soul | About average | 516 | 3 |
| 2013 Soul | Worse than most years | 669 | 3 |
| 2014 Soul | Among the worst years | 903 | 5 |
| 2015 Soul | Among the worst years | 903 | 4 |
| 2016 Soul | Worse than most years | 821 | 2 |
| 2017 Soul | One of the better years | 272 | 1 |
| 2018 Soul | One of the better years | 220 | 1 |
| 2019 Soul | One of the better years | 140 | 1 |
| 2020 Soul | About average | 390 | 1 |
| 2021 Soul | One of the better years | 243 | 2 |
| 2022 Soul | Too new to judge | 97 | 1 |
| 2023 Soul | Too new to judge | 54 | 4 |
| 2024 Soul | Too new to judge | 31 | 0 |
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Kia Soul questions
What are the worst Kia Soul years?
Compared with its other years, the Soul years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA are 2014 and 2015. The most reported problem area across all years is the engine and cooling.
What are the best Kia Soul years?
The Soul years with clearly fewer complaints than a typical year are 2018, 2019 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly, since complaints keep coming in as cars age.
What are the most common Kia Soul problems?
Across 2012 to 2024, owners report problems with the engine and cooling, the steering and the electrical system most often. Each model year has its own pattern, so check the year you are looking at.
How many recalls does the Kia Soul have?
NHTSA lists 28 recalls across the 2012 to 2024 Soul, counted per model year. A recall can cover several years.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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