AI DamageKIA Soul: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the KIA Soul across 10 model years: 2,268 owner complaints and 292 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 63% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 4% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints
- Engine: 1,438 complaints (63% of all), 15 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 63.
- Powertrain: 258 complaints (11% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 91.
- Engine and cooling: 209 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 212.
- Electrical system: 185 complaints (8% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 351.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 158 complaints (7% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2010–2019named in 36 complaints
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2017–2022named in 9 complaints
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2010–2025named in 36 complaints
- electric 2015–2020
- automatic, 1-speed 2015–2020
- automatic, 4-speed 2010–2011
- automatic, 6-speed 2012–2019
- CVT 2020–2025named in 2 complaints
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed 2017–2022named in 1 complaints
- manual, 5-speed 2010–2011named in 3 complaints
- manual, 6-speed 2012–2021named in 3 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 2,268 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,438 | 15 | 63 |
| Powertrain | 258 | 4 | 91 |
| Engine and cooling | 209 | 1 | 212 |
| Electrical system | 185 | 7 | 351 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 158 | 4 | 2 |
| Steering | 86 | 5 | 68 |
| Service brakes | 86 | 18 | 49 |
| Vehicle speed control | 75 | 7 | 8 |
| Air bags | 75 | 51 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 50 | 0 | 12 |
| Structure | 45 | 5 | 95 |
| Visibility | 30 | 0 | 7 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 28 | 6 | 18 |
| Suspension | 22 | 2 | 15 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My brakes failed to stop my car I was driving down [XXX]. I went to brake because I was going to slow down cause I was just over the speed limit and my brakes went all the way to the floor and I I could not stop the car with the brakes , so I pulled over to the side and slowly came to a halt. I was so shook up.
My [XXX] daughter was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a crash in which the vehicle struck a tree and a fire was present. She was unable to exit the vehicle and did not receive medical attention in time. Public records indicate the vehicle had an open federal safety recall at the time, listed as incomplete.
Airbag did not deploy or emergency braking system didn't come on. Police took pictures of car. The car is at the repair shop now. Insurance company hasn't stated if it will be totaled. There were no other problems prior to incident.
During an imminent collision event, the vehicle failed to brake as expected, and FCA/AEB did not activate, despite conditions that should have triggered emergency braking. This created an extremely dangerous situation and placed me and other motorists at risk of serious injury or death.
The dealership (Elk Grove Kia) has provided an estimate of $9,461.67 for these repairs but has failed to explain why the primary safety systems and service brakes failed to function as designed during this emergency. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
There was no warning light illuminated. During the crash the front end and the hood of the vehicle was severely damaged, but the air bags did not deploy. Additionally, the seat belt malfunctioned and failed to secure the contact in the seat, causing the contact's chest and stomach to impact the steering wheel.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
- Wrecked 2016 Kia Soul Cheap Daily Ride #kia #kiasoul
- 2016 Kia Soul with clogged Catalytic Converter #kia #automobile #kiasoulclub #kiacars #mechanic
- 2019 Kia Soul/ Total Loss? Here’s Why! #Shorts #BodyShop #CollisionRepair
- ВІДНОВЛЕННЯ KIA SOUL 2020 року з АМЕРИКИ || Що ПРИГНАТИ за 14 000$ ?
- Ремонт Кіа Soul 2020. Друга частина (закінченя)
- 3 Reasons To Avoid Buying the Kia Soul 2025
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.