Kia SOUL — Years to Avoid
Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.
Avoid These Years
2015 Kia SOUL
1214 complaints (416% of segment average)
Main issue: 2015 KIA SOUL SPUTTERED WHEN GOING FROM FIRST GEAR, TO SECOND GEAR AND THEN THIRD. CW ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. A DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FIRING ON ALL FOUR CYLINDERS AND THAT WAS THE REASON THE VEHICLE SEEMED SLUGGISH. THE ENGINE COVER WAS REMOV
2014 Kia SOUL
1214 complaints (416% of segment average)
Main issue: I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE WHICH STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TOO AND THEN THERE IS VERY LITTLE POWER IN 1, 2,AND 3RD GEARS THIS IS A MANUAL TRANS. I ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE SIDE BECAUSE OF PULLING FROM A STOP SIGH AND WENT TO GO A
2016 Kia SOUL
1132 complaints (388% of segment average)
Main issue: MY CAR IS 2016, ITS 18 MONTHS OLD HAS 19K MILES AND THE ONLY THING DONE TO THE CAR WAS OIL CHANGES WHICH WERE PERFORMED AT THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR. ON JAN 19, 2018 MY CAR STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING 45 MILES AN HOUR ON THE STREET. IT HAPPENED ON NW 36TH STREET GOING EAST IN MIAMI, FLORIDA ZI
2013 Kia SOUL
862 complaints (295% of segment average)
Main issue: SUDDEN DECELERATION QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER INCLUDING STEERING, BRAKES, COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT-OFF AND DASH INSTRUMENTATION. DEALER FOUND "NO PROBLEM" AND DID NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH OR ANYTHING ELSE. *TR
2012 Kia SOUL
669 complaints (229% of segment average)
Main issue: VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE SLUGGISH, RPM WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 2500 RPM, HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, LOST DRIVEABILITY. *TT
2020 Kia SOUL
479 complaints (164% of segment average)
Main issue: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A P
2017 Kia SOUL
351 complaints (120% of segment average)
Main issue: I PURCHASED MY 2017 KIA SOULS BASE MODEL ON JUN 28 THIS YEAR FROM QUIRK KIA IN BRAINTREE, MA. AFTER JUST 2 WEEKS THIS ISSUE HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME. I WAS AT A GAS STATION GASSING UP THE CAR, ONCE I WAS DONE, I TURNED THE CAR ON, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ' I WAS PRESSING THE GA
Safe to Buy
2025 Kia SOUL
18 complaints — well below segment average
2024 Kia SOUL
38 complaints — well below segment average
2023 Kia SOUL
86 complaints — well below segment average
2022 Kia SOUL
131 complaints — well below segment average
2019 Kia SOUL
189 complaints — well below segment average