2023 Kia Soul: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 81 complaints
81
Total Complaints
17,000mi
Median Mileage
Unknown Or Other
Top Issue
9
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

4,636 25th Percentile
17,000 Median Mileage
33,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Unknown Or Other
12
Electrical System
10
Engine
10
Service Brakes
7
Steering
7
Air Bags
5
Power Train
4
Exterior Lighting
3
Warnings
3
Automatic Emergency Braking
3

Severity Assessment

9
Crashes
3
Fires
38
Injuries
3
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I am driving on the highway. No construction. No traffic. Cruising. No problems. I get a dashboard warning "WRONG WAY! Turn around safely" It was on for at least 10minutes. Very worrisome. But the lane assist was still working."
"I am driving on the highway. No construction. No traffic. Cruising. No problems. I get a dashboard warning "WRONG WAY! Turn around safely" It was on for at least 10minutes. Very worrisome. But the lane assist was still working."
"I am driving on the highway. No construction. No traffic. Cruising. No problems. I get a dashboard warning "WRONG WAY! Turn around safely" It was on for at least 10minutes. Very worrisome. But the lane assist was still working."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Engine 10 complaints
Median: 8,872 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 17 TX: 7 FL: 6 NJ: 5 ID: 5 PA: 4 NV: 4 NY: 4 MO: 3 IL: 3

Kia Soul — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

YearComplaintsCrashes
201019231
201127043
201266341
201385032
2014120352
2015119659
2016110334
201733821
201826819
201918020
202045812
202125724
20221124
2024320

Active Recalls (4)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Instrument Cluster/Panel
Campaign 23V298000 | 26/04/2023
A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
Pump
Campaign 23V531000 | 31/07/2023
An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia custome
Air Bags
Campaign 23V830000 | 22/12/2023
An air bag that deploys unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace both side curtain air bag modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 31, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC289.
Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
Campaign 25V099000 | 17/02/2025
Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for th

General Vehicle Maintenance

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

  • Follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule in your owner's manual
  • Don't ignore warning lights — early diagnosis prevents expensive repairs
  • Keep records of all maintenance and repairs
  • Use OEM or equivalent-quality parts for repairs
  • Address unusual noises, vibrations, or smells promptly

Vehicle Rankings

Most complained Worst transmissions Worst engines Worst brakes Most crashes Compare vehicles

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28