2018 Kia SOUL

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Kia SOUL has 281 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (49% of all complaints), specifically: from a stop, the vehicle has a significant hesitation pulling away from a stop sign/redlight etc. as you pushing the gas pedal down, it hesitates then accelerates hard. has 340 miles on it at this time. dealer and kia state this is normal for the new transmission/turbo design. even the service manag. ⚠️ 16 fire reports filed.

16 fire reports 16 crash reports 9 injuries

281

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

138 complaints

49%

• FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN/REDLIGHT ETC. AS YOU PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN, IT HESITATES THEN ACCELERATES HARD. HAS 340 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. DEALER AND KIA STATE THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION/TURBO DESIGN. EVEN THE SERVICE MANAG
• THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT, WITH NO ONE AROUND IT, WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE INSPECTOR STATED CAUSE OF THE FIRE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
• CITY STREET. WAS TEST DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE AT THE LOWER BACK END OF THE ENGINE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 10 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN/REDLIGHT ETC. AS YOU PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN, IT HESITATES THEN ACCELERATES HARD. HAS 340 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. DEALER AND KIA STATE THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION/TURBO DESIGN. EVEN THE SERVICE MANAG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

30 complaints

11%

• FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN/REDLIGHT ETC. AS YOU PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN, IT HESITATES THEN ACCELERATES HARD. HAS 340 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. DEALER AND KIA STATE THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION/TURBO DESIGN. EVEN THE SERVICE MANAG
• MY 2018 SOUL HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND FROM EARLY ON AFTER I BOUGHT IT "NEW" LAST YEAR "08/30/2018" THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WHAT IT DOES COMES OUT OF NOWHERE IT WILL NOT SPEED UP WHEN YOU GIVE IT THE GAS. IT HESITATES FOR JUST A BRIEF SECOND THEN IT MOVES
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY HESITATED AFTER A STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT, OCCASIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

28 complaints

10%

• I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR STALLED AND DIDN'T KNOW IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. ALSO SEVERAL TIMES I START THE VEHICLE AND IT STALL OUT IMMEDIATELY. DEALER COULDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG. STOPPED AND IN DRIVE OR PARKED.
• ON JUNE 22 2018 I WAS TOWING MY KIA BEHIND MY RV ON I-10 NEAR MONTICELLO FL. IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED .THE FHP ARRIVED SHORTLY THEREAFTER AS DID THE LOCATION FIRE DEPARTMENT. UNFORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT HOWEVER RV SUSTAINED $20K DAMAGE. THERE A FHP REPORT ON FILE
• I WAS SITTING AT A JACKS DRIVE THROUGH WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS ON. MY CAR WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. IT PLOWED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BUT THE REESE HITCH ON HIS TRUCK WENT THROUG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR STALLED AND DIDN'T KNOW IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. ALSO SEVERAL TIMES I START THE VEHICLE AND IT STALL OUT IMMEDIATELY. DEALER COULDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG. STOPPED AND IN DRIVE OR PARKED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

19 complaints

• WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE CAR THE KEY WON'T COME OUT IF IT'S RAINING YOU GET WET AND SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START AND THE REMOTE DON'T WORK. YOU SMELL GAS WHILE YOU DRIVING.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE BLOCKED AND EMERGENCY BRAKE BLOCKED MESSAGES DISPLAYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED RON TONKIN KIA (19335 SE MCLOUGHLIN BLVD, GLADSTONE, OR 97027, (503) 258-5808), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED
• I HAVE A 2018 KIA SOUL+ AND RECENTLY THERE IS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN THE A/C IS ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG OR SMELL ANYTHING BURNING ON THE CAR. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS MOSTLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE CAR THE KEY WON'T COME OUT IF IT'S RAINING YOU GET WET AND SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START AND THE REMOTE DON'T WORK. YOU SMELL GAS WHILE YOU DRIVING.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

11 complaints

• BRAKES FAILED. WAS PUMPING PEDLE, NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER AND REARENDED DRIVER INFRONT OF ME AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
• I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT ON A CROSS STREET INTERSECTION AT A STOP SIGN I LOOKED BOTH WAYS NO VEHICLE ON SITE UNTIL I STARTED TO CROSS OVER WHEN A DRIVER SPEAD DOWN THE ROAD AND HIT ME THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE SOUL IS GONE THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED (NOT EVEN ONE DEPLOYED). I
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 45 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED IN HALF. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NERVE DAMAGE TO THE BACK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 8 crashes

“BRAKES FAILED. WAS PUMPING PEDLE, NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER AND REARENDED DRIVER INFRONT OF ME AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 281 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN/REDLIGHT ETC. AS YOU PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN, IT HESITATES THEN ACCELERATES HARD. HAS 340 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. DEALER AND KIA STATE THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION/TURBO DESIGN. EVEN THE SERVICE MANAG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN/REDLIGHT ETC. AS YOU PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN, IT HESITATES THEN ACCELERATES HARD. HAS 340 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. DEALER AND KIA STATE THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION/TURBO DESIGN. EVEN THE SERVICE MANAG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR STALLED AND DIDN'T KNOW IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. ALSO SEVERAL TIMES I START THE VEHICLE AND IT STALL OUT IMMEDIATELY. DEALER COULDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG. STOPPED AND IN DRIVE OR PARKED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE CAR THE KEY WON'T COME OUT IF IT'S RAINING YOU GET WET AND SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START AND THE REMOTE DON'T WORK. YOU SMELL GAS WHILE YOU DRIVING.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)