Kia

Soul

Small Station Wagons · model years 2010 to 2025

See all 48 Soul trims All Kia cars

The verdict

Best year: 2025. complaints: 12, below this model's typical 64; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2012. complaints: 514, about 2x this model's typical 256; recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Kia Soul
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2010	4Gas	27	133	$2,300	3	135	3	72	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%, AIR BAGS 11%, STRUCTURE 11%
complaints: 135, below this model's typical 256 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 19 complaints reporting a fire: 15 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.9 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	4Gas	26.5	133	$2,350	3	194	3 (1 open)	65	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 194, below this model's typical 256 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 29 complaints reporting a fire: 5 NHTSA advised parking the 2011 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 11 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	4Gas	26.5	151	$2,350	3	514	5 (1 open)	126	ENGINE 31%, STEERING 25%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 6%
complaints: 514, about 2x this model's typical 256 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 25 complaints reporting a fire: 23 NHTSA advised parking the 2012 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.9 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	4Gas	26.5	no data	$2,350	3	665	4 (1 open)	125	ENGINE 33%, STEERING 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 665, about 2.6x this model's typical 256 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 25 complaints reporting a fire: 45 NHTSA advised parking the 2013 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	3Gas	26	130	$2,400	5	904	3	169	ENGINE 45%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 904, about 4.7x this model's typical 192 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 30 complaints reporting a fire: 69 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.2 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	3Gas	26	130	$2,400	7	906	5	202	ENGINE 51%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6%
complaints: 906, about 4.7x this model's typical 192 recalls: 7, about 2.3x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 32 complaints reporting a fire: 84 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	3Gas	26	130	$2,400	5	823	3	172	ENGINE 48%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%
complaints: 823, about 4.3x this model's typical 192 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 25 complaints reporting a fire: 35 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	4Gas	27	146	$2,300	3	290	2	140	ENGINE 51%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 290, above this model's typical 256 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 19 complaints reporting a fire: 15 Score: 50 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	4Gas	27	201	$2,300	3	221	2	112	ENGINE 47%, POWER TRAIN 11%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 221, below this model's typical 256 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 complaints reporting a fire: 14 Score: 41 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	4Gas	27.5	166	$2,250	3	139	3	114	ENGINE 42%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%, AIR BAGS 7%
complaints: 139, below this model's typical 256 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 14 complaints reporting a fire: 8 Score: 62 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	3Gas	29	147	$2,150	1	384	2	138	ENGINE 47%, POWER TRAIN 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 384, about 2x this model's typical 192 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 6 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	3Gas	29	147	$2,150	2	236	1	113	ENGINE 44%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15%, POWER TRAIN 8%
complaints: 236, above this model's typical 192 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 56 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	2Gas	29.5	147	$2,125	1	91	1	72	ENGINE 39%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 91, below this model's typical 128 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 38 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	1Gas	30	147	$2,100	4	53	1	47	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, ENGINE 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 53, below this model's typical 64 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 complaints reporting a fire: 1 NHTSA advised parking the 2023 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 11 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	1Gas	30	147	$2,100	0	30	0	25	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23%, ENGINE 13%
complaints: 30, below this model's typical 64 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 83 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	1Gas	30	147	$2,250	0	12	0	12	EXTERIOR LIGHTING 19%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10%
complaints: 12, below this model's typical 64 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 91 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2010: 27 to 2025: 30

Owner complaints2010: 135 to 2025: 12

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Kia Soul to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.