Kia Soul

Kia Soul representative vehicle image
Representative editorial illustration of the Kia Soul.

Kia Sedan 2010–2026 · coverage building

Verify with official recall databases, service records, a mechanic inspection, and local market data before relying on this summary.

At a glance

Vehicle coverage snapshot

This snapshot uses the current page hierarchy, year-range meta, and vehicle taxonomy only.

Page roleModel Hub
Make
Kia
Model
Kia Soul
Year range
2010–2026 · coverage building
Generation
2010–2013 · 1st Generation; 2014–2019 · 2nd Generation; 2020–2025 · 3rd Generation
Vehicle taxonomy
Soul

Model-year and generation details come from structured catalogue data; confirm the exact vehicle from its VIN.

Vehicle coverage

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Coverage path

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Model coverage

Coverage dashboard

Coverage at a glance

1year ranges 0fault pages 0OBD/symptom links

Known checks by year range

2014-2019 Archive

No dedicated public problem cluster yet - use common problems and best/worst-years.

Buyer path

  1. Start with the model hub
  2. Review used-car buyer warnings
  3. Use OBD and symptom pages for current issues
  4. Verify recalls by VIN and inspect service records.

Coverage status

1 related public page is available for this model.

What is on the record for the Kia Soul

Owner complaints for this model most often concern:

  • Engine6,822 (45.2%)Official recall records for this system: 14, covering model years 2012–2023.
  • Electrical system1,046 (6.9%)Official recall records for this system: 4, covering model years 2010–2023.
  • Steering1,034 (6.9%)Official recall records for this system: 5, covering model years 2014–2016.

Where a mileage was given (5,946 reports), it averaged 79,161 miles.

These are counts of records held, not a failure rate: no vehicles-in-service figure exists in this data, so no reliability score can be derived from it.

Explore Kia Soul problems by model year

Short answer

If you are checking a used Kia Soul, start here. This hub collects subcompact hatchback/SUV buyer checks, future common-problem pages, OBD clues, and year-window risk notes as they are reviewed.

Key takeaways

  • This Kia Soul page is a vehicle hub, not a final reliability verdict. Verify open recalls by VIN, scan for stored codes before buying, and use sourced fault/year pages when they are available.

If you are checking a used Kia Soul, this hub is the starting point. It is built to gather the practical questions a buyer or owner actually has: what usually goes wrong, which year windows deserve caution, what warning signs matter, and what to check before money changes hands.

The Kia Soul is tracked here as a subcompact hatchback/SUV coverage hub. This page is a researched coverage page, not a final reliability verdict. Specific defect claims should come from sourced child pages, not guesswork.

Before buying or ignoring symptoms, verify open recalls by VIN, scan for stored OBD codes, check service history, and use any linked CarFaultIQ fault or symptom pages to decide the next practical step.

Official evidence for this model

Coverage below spans the explicitly mapped model years. Records do not apply to every model year or configuration.

US safety recalls

15 distinct official identifiers · US

Campaigns matched to recorded model years. Only an official VIN check can confirm whether an individual vehicle is affected.

  • 25V099000 — model years 2021, 2022, 2023

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.

  • 23V830000 — model years 2023

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul and 2024 Seltos vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the side curtain air bags may deploy unexpectedly.

  • 23V652000 — model years 2011, 2012, 2013

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can…

Official NHTSA source

Manufacturer communications / TSBs

495 distinct official identifiers · US

Manufacturer service communications are not safety recalls and do not prove that every vehicle has the described condition.

  • 11035410 — model years 2023, 2024

    TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: FRONT VIEW CAMERA REPLACEMENT (CA2605) - This bulletin provides information to replace the front view camera on certain 2023-2024MY Soul (SK3) vehicles produced from March 15, 2022, through March 23, 2024. The affected vehicles may exhibit various warning lights illuminated on the…

  • 11033803 — model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

    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 by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install…

  • 11034003 — model years 2020, 2021, 2022

    TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install…

Official NHTSA source

US defect investigations

7 distinct official identifiers · US

An investigation records a regulator review of a suspected defect. It is not automatically a finding or a recall.

  • AQ25001 — model years 2021, 2022, 2023

    On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.’s (Kia) remedy program for Safety Recall 25V099, involving incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which may damage the engine causing a loss of…

  • AQ23002 — model years 2011, 2012, 2013

    The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units…

  • DP22003 — model years 2012, 2019, 2020

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America,…

Official NHTSA source

Canadian recalls

24 distinct official identifiers · CA

Canadian-market records remain separate from US campaigns. Confirm applicability with Transport Canada and the manufacturer.

  • 2025083 — model years 2021, 2022

    Multiple source assertions are retained for this identifier. Consult the official record for configuration-specific details.

  • 2024760 — model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

    Issue: Over time, the brake lines under the vehicle could corrode. If this happens, a brake line could fail and leak. A brake fluid leak can result in reduced braking. Safety Risk: Reduced braking can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a…

  • 2024549 — model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

    Multiple source assertions are retained for this identifier. Consult the official record for configuration-specific details.

Official Transport Canada source

US owner complaint reports

5,495 distinct reports · US

Distinct ODI complaint identifiers, deduplicated across component and product rows. Reports are allegations, not confirmed defects, failure rates or reliability scores.

  • ENGINE: 3,093 reports
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 632 reports
  • STEERING: 510 reports

A report can name several components. Do not add component totals together.

Official NHTSA source

Evidence is served from a locally stored official-source snapshot. No external API is called to render this page. These records do not replace inspection or diagnosis. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.

Used-car checks

No structured used-car checks are verified on this model hub yet.

Recall/safety notes

No hand-written safety notes have been added to this hub. Official recall, bulletin and investigation records held for this vehicle are listed under documented evidence on this page — the absence of a note here does not mean no records exist. Always confirm by VIN.

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