AI Damage2019 KIA Soul: common problems
Owners of the 2019 KIA Soul filed 137 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and air bags. The maker issued 82 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 137
- involving a crash
- 11
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 82
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 64% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 4% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 88 complaints (64% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Air bags: 15 complaints (11% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 14 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 27.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 12 complaints (9% of all).
- Service brakes: 8 complaints (6% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
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 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- electric
- automatic, 1-speed
- automatic, 6-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speednamed in 1 complaints
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 137 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 | 88 | 2 | 7 |
| Air bags | 15 | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 1 | 27 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 2 | 9 |
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 38 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 10 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Structure | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
On [XXX], I was driving home from Tampa bay International Airport and noticed that I get less acceleration and my car shut off while driving and caused me to crash into a guardrail. Before accident, told Kia about my car shutting off and right when warrant ran out, parts would fail.
Air bags did not deploy as it was a pretty bad accident. The light of the air bag would be on stating that it was not on and then go off completely in different situations. Never once did I receive a letters from the manufacturer stating the recall.
My vehicle was lifted off of the ground, slid across his hood and roof, landed on its side and grinder against the passenger side of the car along the floor and the roof grinded the guard rail. My steering wheel air bag did not deploy, causing my head to go through the windshield.
The airbags did not deploy even though the car was hit multiple times extremely hard.
Engine seized while driving with no warning. Dealer has submitted findings to kia corporate techline for powertrain warranty claim which is requesting a $700 engine teardown at my expense
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a burning odor and smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Additionally, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil.
There is a warranty extension on the MDPS (Motor Driven Power Steering) rubber coupling - 10 years/100,000 miles - for the 2019 Kia Soul. For some reason, my 2019 Kia Soul is not showing up under the warranty campaign extension.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 458 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Soul has 227 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 137, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC334 Flight 201) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
KEY AND CYLINDER SET REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information to replace the driver’s door lock and trunk lid key cylinders on some 2019-2024MY Kia vehicles listed below. On affected vehicles, the stored key…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION: CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated…
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2107 Flight 501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting an important Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2017-2019 MY Kia Soul…
- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN
POSTCARD OWNER RENOTIFICATION (CS2311) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. Kia has developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector…
- PITSTOP
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a…
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2107) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a important Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2017-2019 MY Kia Soul vehicles equipped…
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) - This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to underbody components, including inspection/replacement of the brake…
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
QUESTION AND ANSWER (SC334) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Voluntary Service Campaign SC334.
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC334) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain 2014-2019 MY Soul…
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC334) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary…
NHTSA lists 82 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
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.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 KIA Soul?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 137. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: oil leak or consumption (28%), warning lights, check engine (22%), smoke, burning smell, fire (18%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 KIA Soul?
NHTSA lists 82 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 KIA Soul from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
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.