Kia Soul 2014–2019 problems by year and mileage
2nd generation (PS)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20263,236 complaints, 1,761 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2014 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 88,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 900
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2014 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2014
- Engine552 reports · median 103,000 mi
- Exterior lighting130 reports · median 67,000 mi
- Electrical system98 reports · median 70,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2014: Air bags — air bag/restraint control module; Engine; Steering. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 88,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 898
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2015 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2015
- Engine628 reports · median 93,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise107 reports · median 72,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system76 reports · median 65,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2015: Engine; Steering; Vehicle speed control — accelerator pedal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2016 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 82,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 812
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2016
- Engine557 reports · median 86,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise121 reports · median 75,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system106 reports · median 101,000 mi
2 recall campaigns name the 2016: Engine; Steering. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 74,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 272
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2017
- Engine191 reports · median 82,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise32 reports
- Electrical system19 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2017: Air bags. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 54,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 218
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2018 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2018
- Engine140 reports · median 71,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline31 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise30 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2018: Air bags. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2019 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 50,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 136
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2019 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2019
- Engine87 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise19 reports
- Airbag system15 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2019: Air bags. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2014 reports latest and the 2019 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2014 has had 5 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2014–2019 Kia Soul reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 83,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 132,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,761
- Recalls
- 6
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported
- Engine66.6% of complaints · median 93,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise12.1% of complaints · median 70,000 mi
- Electrical system8.7% of complaints · median 64,000 mi
Owners filed 3,236 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014–2019 Kia Soul; the engine leads with 66.6% of them, and half of the 1,761 that record an odometer reading came by 83,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 56,000 and 110,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2014–2019 Kia Soul last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2014–2019 Kia Soul, half of the 1,761 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 83,000 miles and 90% by 132,000 miles.
81 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 14 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Soul reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Kia Soul 2014–2019 · 1,761 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 104 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 14 complaints (0.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 14,955
- 25%
- 56,000
- Median
- 83,000
- 75%
- 110,000
- 90%
- 132,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 104 | 5.9% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 34 | 1.9% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 39 | 2.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 19 | 1.1% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 24 | 1.4% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 23 | 1.3% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 36 | 2.0% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 35 | 2.0% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 35 | 2.0% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 36 | 2.0% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 42 | 2.4% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 47 | 2.7% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 67 | 3.8% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 85 | 4.8% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 91 | 5.2% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 85 | 4.8% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 100 | 5.7% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 84 | 4.8% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 95 | 5.4% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 64 | 3.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 91 | 5.2% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 72 | 4.1% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 78 | 4.4% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 52 | 3.0% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 71 | 4.0% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 38 | 2.2% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 51 | 2.9% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 28 | 1.6% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 36 | 2.0% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 18 | 1.0% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 25 | 1.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 10 | 0.6% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 12 | 0.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 7 | 0.4% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 14 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Soul problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Kia Soul 2014–2019
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Electrical system281 reports64,00034,000–100,000Electrical system: 281 reports, median 64,000 miles, middle half 34,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Exterior lighting194 reports68,00049,000–80,000Exterior lighting: 194 reports, median 68,000 miles, middle half 49,000 to 80,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise392 reports70,00022,000–90,000Problems owners could not categorise: 392 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 22,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system254 reports70,00041,000–97,000Fuel and propulsion system: 254 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 41,000 to 97,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline234 reports77,00045,000–98,000Transmission and driveline: 234 reports, median 77,000 miles, middle half 45,000 to 98,000 miles.
- Engine2,155 reports93,00072,000–116,000Engine: 2,155 reports, median 93,000 miles, middle half 72,000 to 116,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system243 reports104,00089,000–126,000Engine and its cooling system: 243 reports, median 104,000 miles, middle half 89,000 to 126,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2,155 | 66.6% | 93,000 | 72,000–116,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 392 | 12.1% | 70,000 | 22,000–90,000 |
| Electrical system | 281 | 8.7% | 64,000 | 34,000–100,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 254 | 7.8% | 70,000 | 41,000–97,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 243 | 7.5% | 104,000 | 89,000–126,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 234 | 7.2% | 77,000 | 45,000–98,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 194 | 6.0% | 68,000 | 49,000–80,000 |
| Steering | 149 | 4.6% | 38,000 | 12,000–70,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 111 | 3.4% | 68,000 | 6,500–111,000 |
| Airbag system | 105 | 3.2% | 36,000 | 13,000–80,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 83,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 66.6% of complaints (2,155 reports, 1,100 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 93,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 72,000 and 116,000 miles.
A single system taking 66.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 12.1% of complaints (392 reports, 133 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 22,000 and 90,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.7% of complaints (281 reports, 156 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 64,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 34,000 and 100,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 7.8% of complaints (254 reports, 93 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 97,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 7.5% of complaints (243 reports, 217 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 104,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 89,000 and 126,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.2% of complaints (234 reports, 120 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 77,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,000 and 98,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2014–2019 Soul
Engine / Exhaust 2014–2016
Same catalytic converter overheating and consequent piston/connecting rod failure as the previous generation, on the carryover 1.6L Gamma GDI. Recall 19V-120 covers MY2014-2016 cars alongside the MY2012-2013 AM cars.
Steering 2014–2016
Steering gear assembly fault allowing the steering wheel to separate from the column; subject to recall.
Before you buy a 2014–2019 Soul: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,761 mileage-tagged complaints, 6 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 6 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine / exhaust on 2014–2016 cars. Same catalytic converter overheating and consequent piston/connecting rod failure as the previous generation, on the carryover 1.6L Gamma GDI. Recall 19V-120 covers MY2014-2016 cars alongside the MY2012-2013 AM cars.
- Check steering on 2014–2016 cars. Steering gear assembly fault allowing the steering wheel to separate from the column; subject to recall.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 56,000 and 110,000 miles, with a median of 83,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 70,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Soul problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi27% below | At 90k mi56% below | At 120k mi82% below | At 150k mi95% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 72,000–116,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 22,000–90,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 34,000–100,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 41,000–97,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 89,000–126,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 45,000–98,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Exterior lighting | 49,000–80,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Kia Soul 2014–2019 · 1,761 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 27% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 56% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 82% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 95% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.8% of reports (14) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2014–2019 Kia Soul recalls (6)
NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (2), the engine (2), the steering (1). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Feb 2022 · 2014 · Air BagsFront air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014 Soul vehicles. The front air bags may not deploy during a crash if the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) loses communication with the front impact sensors.
What can happen. Front air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will update the ACU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is…
Jan 2022 · 2017–2019 · Air BagsAir bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit.…
What can happen. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners…
Dec 2020 · 2014–2015 · EngineAn engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
What can happen. An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free…
Feb 2019 · 2014–2016 · EnginePiston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage…
What can happen. Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the…
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter…
Sep 2017 · 2014–2016 · SteeringIf the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
What can happen. If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact…
Mar 2015 · 2014–2015 · Vehicle Speed ControlIf the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the…
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Soul and Soul electric vehicles manufactured July 21, 2013, to January 8, 2015. A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.
What can happen. If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will add a supporting rubber underneath the pedal stopper, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 3,236 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 137 (4.2%)
- Fires
- 223
- Injury reports
- 94
- Fatality reports
- 3
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Soul problems by model year
The 2014 drew the most complaints of this generation, 900, most of them about the engine, and the 2019 the fewest, 136. A typical year drew about 542.
The first year of the generation, 2014, drew more complaints than a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 900 | 621 | 88,000† | Engine (552) | 5 |
| 2015 | 898 | 537 | 88,000† | Engine (628) | 4 |
| 2016 | 812 | 362 | 82,000† | Engine (557) | 2 |
| 2017 | 272 | 117 | 74,000† | Engine (191) | 1 |
| 2018 | 218 | 79 | 54,000† | Engine (140) | 1 |
| 2019 | 136 | 45 | 50,000† | Engine (87) | 1 |
What Soul owners reported
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start immediately and lost motive power while driving. The contact was able to continue driving at reduced power. Additionally, there were abnormal sounds coming from under the hood, excessive engine oil consumption, and a plastic burning…
2016 · 140,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact researched and discovered that there were several unknown recalls associated with the VIN. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure.…
2014 · 111,000 miles · Engine
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was smoke coming from the exhaust, with an abnormally loud popping sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, and the contact exited the vehicle and became aware that there was…
2015 · 90,000 miles · Engine
The contact's grandmother owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his grandmother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that due to the failure and the outside temperatures, his grandmother was stuck inside the inoperable vehicle.…
2016 · 59,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Built from 1,761 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Soul generations
- Soul 2010–2013 910 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Soul 2020–2025 257 reports with mileage, most about the engine