KIA Soul problems and recalls by year
5,566 owner complaints since 2005, most for the 2014 (902); 15 recalls, 7 investigations.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 0 | Exterior lighting |
| 2024 | 30 | 0 | Electrical system |
| 2023 | 54 | 4 | Engine |
| 2022 | 93 | 1 | Engine |
| 2021 | 237 | 2 | Engine |
| 2020 | 385 | 1 | Engine |
| 2019 | 136 | 1 | Engine |
| 2018 | 219 | 1 | Engine |
| 2017 | 272 | 1 | Engine |
| 2016 | 816 | 2 | Engine |
| 2015 | 901 | 4 | Engine |
| 2014 | 902 | 5 | Engine |
| 2013 | 666 | 3 | Engine |
| 2012 | 514 | 3 | Engine |
| 2011 | 194 | 3 | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2010 | 135 | 3 | Electrical system |
Years with 100+ complaints
2021 Soul: 237 complaints
12 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries · 25V099000, 21V259000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 137 | 41,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 46 | 81,073 |
| Power train | 26 | 12,000 |
| Unknown or other | 26 | 8,000 |
| Electrical system | 15 | 20,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 8,000 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 12,000 |
| Steering | 9 | 4,815 |
2020 Soul: 385 complaints
9 crashes, 6 fires, 6 injuries, 8 deaths · 21V259000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 242 | 25,053 |
| Power train | 88 | 9,000 |
| Unknown or other | 52 | 6,000 |
| Electrical system | 28 | 21,632 |
| Steering | 16 | 4,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 15 | 34,000 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 12,500 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 93,307 |
2019 Soul: 136 complaints
11 crashes, 8 fires, 12 injuries · 22V031000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 87 | 50,045 |
| Unknown or other | 19 | 7,000 |
| Air bags | 15 | 120,000 |
| Electrical system | 12 | 28,763 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 29,441 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 80,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 73,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 50,000 |
2018 Soul: 219 complaints
14 crashes, 14 fires, 12 injuries, 1 death · 22V031000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 141 | 73,454 |
| Power train | 31 | 33,000 |
| Unknown or other | 30 | 13,000 |
| Electrical system | 17 | 52,000 |
| Air bags | 11 | 36,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 11 | 40,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 111,000 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 40,000 |
2017 Soul: 272 complaints
17 crashes, 14 fires, 19 injuries · 22V031000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 191 | 82,000 |
| Unknown or other | 32 | 20,000 |
| Power train | 19 | 80,000 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 60,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 18 | 73,000 |
| Air bags | 16 | 40,000 |
| Service brakes | 12 | 19,990 |
| Steering | 9 | 44,000 |
2016 Soul: 816 complaints
28 crashes, 35 fires, 25 injuries · 19V120000, 17V608000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 561 | 86,000 |
| Unknown or other | 123 | 75,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 84 | 75,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 66 | 100,000 |
| Power train | 61 | 76,000 |
| Electrical system | 54 | 60,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor | 39 | 104,600 |
| Vehicle speed control | 32 | 68,000 |
2015 Soul: 901 complaints
34 crashes, 84 fires, 32 injuries, 1 death · 20V750000, 19V120000, 17V608000, 15V123000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 630 | 93,000 |
| Unknown or other | 107 | 72,110 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 76 | 65,000 |
| Electrical system | 73 | 65,000 |
| Power train | 61 | 95,000 |
| Steering | 44 | 35,500 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 34 | 112,878 |
| Exterior lighting | 33 | 81,500 |
2014 Soul: 902 complaints
33 crashes, 69 fires, 28 injuries, 1 death · 22V096000, 20V750000, 19V120000, 17V608000, 15V123000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 553 | 103,052 |
| Exterior lighting | 124 | 68,000 |
| Electrical system | 94 | 69,000 |
| Unknown or other | 85 | 80,000 |
| Power train | 58 | 78,000 |
| Steering | 55 | 36,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 54 | 83,400 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 41 | 122,000 |
2013 Soul: 666 complaints
22 crashes, 46 fires, 25 injuries · 23V652000, 19V120000, 14V822000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 285 | 117,000 |
| Steering | 151 | 70,000 |
| Electrical system | 68 | 57,500 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 68 | 149,000 |
| Unknown or other | 61 | 99,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 38 | 140,000 |
| Service brakes | 30 | 12,800 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 27 | 99,000 |
2012 Soul: 514 complaints
25 crashes, 23 fires, 25 injuries, 2 deaths · 23V652000, 19V120000, 14V822000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 209 | 119,300 |
| Steering | 163 | 68,000 |
| Unknown or other | 39 | 92,680 |
| Electrical system | 37 | 68,000 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 34 | 122,746 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 25 | 144,481 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 21 | 120,000 |
| Power train | 21 | 63,000 |
2011 Soul: 194 complaints
27 crashes, 5 fires, 29 injuries, 1 death · 23V652000, 14V822000, 13V114000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 32 | 120,000 |
| Electrical system | 28 | 83,000 |
| Air bags | 25 | 57,000 |
| Engine | 24 | 108,500 |
| Unknown or other | 21 | 60,000 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 55,000 |
| Power train | 12 | 56,300 |
| Exterior lighting | 11 | 94,000 |
2010 Soul: 135 complaints
23 crashes, 15 fires, 19 injuries · 14V822000, 13V114000, 10V388000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 24 | 65,000 |
| Air bags | 17 | 71,000 |
| Steering | 12 | 4,100 |
| Structure | 12 | 2,200 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 77,000 |
| Unknown or other | 11 | 90,000 |
| Engine | 9 | 65,000 |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 47,000 |
15 recall campaigns since 2005
February 17, 2025 · 25V099000 · 2021–2023 · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
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.
December 22, 2023 · 23V830000 · 2023 · Air bags
Due to a manufacturing error, the side curtain air bags may deploy unexpectedly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both side curtain air bag modules as necessary, free of charge.
July 31, 2023 · 23V531000 · 2023 · Power train › Automatic transmission › Fluid/lubricant › Pump · park outside
The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge.
April 26, 2023 · 23V298000 · 2023 · Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge.
February 18, 2022 · 22V096000 · 2014 · Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module › Software; Air bags › Frontal
The front air bags may not deploy during a crash if the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) loses communication with the front impact sensors.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ACU software, free of charge.
January 25, 2022 · 22V031000 · 2017–2019 · Air bags
The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary.
April 13, 2021 · 21V259000 · 2020–2021 · Engine
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.
February 22, 2019 · 19V120000 · 2012–2016 · Engine; Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter.
September 29, 2017 · 17V608000 · 2014–2016 · Steering
The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge.
March 2, 2015 · 15V123000 · 2014–2015 · Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will add a supporting rubber underneath the pedal stopper, free of charge.
December 29, 2014 · 14V822000 · 2010–2013 · Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge.
Shared, in full on the sibling's page:
Defect investigations
1 of 7 open.
| Investigation | Years | Opened | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQ23002 | 2011–2013 | November 17, 2023 | Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires | Open |
| AQ25001 | 2021–2023 | August 6, 2025 | Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness | Closed |
| DP22003 | 2012, 2019–2020 | September 12, 2022 | Loss of Motive Power | Closed |
| EA21003 | 2012–2016 | December 22, 2021 | Engine Fires | Closed |
| PE19004 | 2010–2015 | March 29, 2019 | Non-crash Vehicle Fires | Closed |
| DP18003 | 2010–2015 | August 21, 2018 | Non-crash Vehicle Fires | Closed |
| PE10030 | 2010 | August 12, 2010 | Steering Shaft Separation | Closed |
Complaints are unverified owner reports, and a recall names a model year, not a car: for one car, decode its VIN here or look it up at NHTSA. KIA models.
Data: NHTSA, October 17, 2026.