Kia Soul 2014–2019
2nd generation (PS)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20264,422 complaints, 2,381 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 52,000 and 110,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 19 complaints (0.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 12,114
- 25%
- 52,000
- Median
- 80,078
- 75%
- 110,000
- 90%
- 131,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 157 | 6.6% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 49 | 2.1% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 55 | 2.3% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 28 | 1.2% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 45 | 1.9% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 33 | 1.4% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 48 | 2.0% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 43 | 1.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 52 | 2.2% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 52 | 2.2% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 61 | 2.6% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 61 | 2.6% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 91 | 3.8% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 106 | 4.5% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 127 | 5.3% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 118 | 5.0% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 133 | 5.6% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 111 | 4.7% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 122 | 5.1% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 87 | 3.7% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 115 | 4.8% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 86 | 3.6% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 106 | 4.5% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 72 | 3.0% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 94 | 3.9% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 51 | 2.1% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 64 | 2.7% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 33 | 1.4% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 49 | 2.1% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 23 | 1.0% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 33 | 1.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 14 | 0.6% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 19 | 0.8% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 9 | 0.4% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 6 | 0.3% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 19 | 0.8% |
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.
Owners filed 4,422 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014–2019 Kia Soul, and 2,381 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 52,000 and 110,000 miles. The median is 80,078 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (48.2% of complaints, typically around 93,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (8.7% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles), the electrical system (6.4% of complaints, typically around 64,000 miles).
6 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine93,000median 93,000 miles, middle half 71,000 to 116,000
- Problems owners could not categorise70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 22,000 to 90,000
- Electrical system64,000median 64,500 miles, middle half 34,000 to 100,000
- Fuel and propulsion system70,000median 70,234 miles, middle half 41,000 to 97,000
- Engine and its cooling system104,000median 103,629 miles, middle half 89,000 to 125,000
- Transmission and driveline77,000median 77,395 miles, middle half 45,000 to 98,000
- Exterior lighting67,000median 67,322 miles, middle half 49,000 to 80,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2,132 | 48.2% | 93,000 | 71,000–116,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 384 | 8.7% | 70,000 | 22,000–90,000 |
| Electrical system | 282 | 6.4% | 64,000 | 34,000–100,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 248 | 5.6% | 70,000 | 41,000–97,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 248 | 5.6% | 104,000 | 89,000–125,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 232 | 5.2% | 77,000 | 45,000–98,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 195 | 4.4% | 67,000 | 49,000–80,000 |
| Steering | 149 | 3.4% | 38,000 | 12,000–70,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 110 | 2.5% | 70,000 | 10,000–112,000 |
| Airbag system | 103 | 2.3% | 36,000 | 12,000–80,000 |
Which systems, and when
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 80,078 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 48.2% of complaints (2,132 reports, 1,097 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 71,400 and 116,000 miles.
A single system taking 48.2% 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 8.7% of complaints (384 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 22,500 and 90,280 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.4% of complaints (282 reports, 158 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 64,500 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 5.6% of complaints (248 reports, 93 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,234 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,050 and 97,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 5.6% of complaints (248 reports, 221 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 103,629 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 88,520 and 125,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.2% of complaints (232 reports, 120 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 77,395 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,000 and 98,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2015 model year drew the most — 1,222 complaints — while 2019 drew the fewest at 196. The median year sits at 746.
The first year of the generation, 2014, sits above the median. That is a common pattern — early production of a redesigned vehicle tends to surface problems that later years do not repeat — and it is worth weighing when choosing between years.
Recalls and what they cover
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). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
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.
Reported severity
Of the 4,422 complaints filed against this generation, 205 reported a crash; 333 reported a fire; 195 reported an injury; 6 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.6% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 52,000 and 110,000 miles, with a median of 80,078. 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.
Documented problems
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.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1,221 | 836 |
| 2015 | 1,222 | 705 |
| 2016 | 1,138 | 520 |
| 2017 | 355 | 155 |
| 2018 | 290 | 104 |
| 2019 | 196 | 61 |
Recalls (6)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 22V096000 | 2022-04-04 | Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module:software |
| 22V031000 | 2022-03-21 | Air Bags |
| 20V750000 | 2021-01-25 | Engine |
| 19V120000 | 2019-04-17 | Engine |
| 17V608000 | 2017-11-16 | Steering |
| 15V123000 | 2015-03-24 | Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal |
What owners reported
My Kia Soul is having identical issues to NHTSA campaign number 19v120000which LED to recall sc176 by Kia which only covered the 1.6L models, not the 2.0L which is the vehicle i drive. I experienced a loss of power and loud knocking type sound while driving. I was traveling approximately 30-35 m/h on a city…
2014 · Engine
Headlights mysteriously begin flickering after using turn signal or flicker without using turn signal. Lights have completely turned off without warning at night creating an extremely unsafe driving condition. Headlights have also flickered hitting bumps in road again causing unsafe driving conditions. I never know…
2014 · 3 miles · Electrical system
Since first oil change done with delray florida Kia i complauof kicking sounds in engine loss of power oil burning smells occasionally. I was told each time they put on computer n nothing wrong. I bought new at 11/2014 now oil lights engine lights flashing on irrationally car consuming oil no leaks just eating iol now…
2014 · 3 miles · Brakes
Built from 2,381 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page