Kia Soul 2020–2025 problems by year and mileage
3rd generation (SK3)
NHTSA data through 18 October 2026814 complaints, 257 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2020 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 13,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 386
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2020
- Engine243 reports · median 24,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline91 reports · median 9,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise52 reports
Recall areas Engine
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2021 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 65,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 238
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2021
- Engine138 reports
- Engine and its cooling system47 reports · median 80,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline26 reports
Recall areas Engine and engine cooling — engine · Engine
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2022 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 94
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2022
- Engine54 reports
- Engine and its cooling system19 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise15 reports
Recall areas Engine and engine cooling — engine
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2023 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 54
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2023
- Electrical system14 reports
- Engine14 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise13 reports
Recall areas Engine and engine cooling — engine · Air bags · Power train — automatic transmission
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2024 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 30
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2024
- Electrical system9 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise9 reports
- Engine5 reports
The 2025 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 12
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2025
- Exterior lighting4 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise3 reports
- Forward collision avoidance2 reports
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 2021; earliest: the 2020, and the 2020 is 1 year older (part of the gap is age). 4 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2020–2025 Kia Soul reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 22,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 105,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 257
- Recalls
- 5
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints came after 2020, so its median likely runs low (why).
Most reported
- Engine55.9% of complaints · median 24,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline16.8% of complaints · median 9,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise14.5% of complaints · median 6,000 mi
Owners filed 814 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020–2025 Kia Soul; the engine leads with 55.9% of them, and half of the 257 that record an odometer reading came by 22,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
37% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 1.4 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. On a generation this new that is expected: few examples have been driven further yet, so the timing says little about design or wear so far.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2020–2025 Kia Soul last?
The newest model years (2024–2025) are too young to have reached high mileage; most reports with an odometer reading come from the earlier years of the generation.
On the 2020–2025 Kia Soul, half of the 257 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 22,000 miles and 90% by 105,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
8 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 2 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Soul reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Kia Soul 2020–2025 · 257 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
20,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 118 complaints
- First 12,000 miles — 37% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 2 complaints (0.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 2,000
- 25%
- 7,000
- Median
- 22,000
- 75%
- 75,000
- 90%
- 105,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20,000 | 118 | 45.9% |
| 20,000–40,000 | 36 | 14.0% |
| 40,000–60,000 | 19 | 7.4% |
| 60,000–80,000 | 26 | 10.1% |
| 80,000–100,000 | 29 | 11.3% |
| 100,000–120,000 | 11 | 4.3% |
| 120,000–140,000 | 8 | 3.1% |
| 140,000–160,000 | 4 | 1.6% |
| 160,000–180,000 | 2 | 0.8% |
| 180,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.8% |
| 200,000+ | 2 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Soul problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Kia Soul 2020–2025
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Steering36 reportsmedian 4,500middle half 400–14,000
- Problems owners could not categorise118 reportsmedian 6,000middle half 2,500–12,000
- Transmission and driveline137 reportsmedian 9,000middle half 4,000–18,000
- Throttle and speed control25 reportsmedian 13,000middle half 8,000–30,000
- Electrical system76 reportsmedian 17,000middle half 4,000–45,000
- Engine455 reportsmedian 24,000middle half 8,500–80,000
- Engine and its cooling system78 reportsmedian 75,000middle half 56,000–96,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 455 | 55.9% | 24,000 | 8,500–80,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 137 | 16.8% | 9,000 | 4,000–18,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 118 | 14.5% | 6,000 | 2,500–12,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 78 | 9.6% | 75,000 | 56,000–96,000 |
| Electrical system | 76 | 9.3% | 17,000 | 4,000–45,000 |
| Steering | 36 | 4.4% | 4,500 | 400–14,000 |
| Brakes | 35 | 4.3% | — | — |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 33 | 4.1% | — | — |
| Throttle and speed control | 25 | 3.1% | 13,000 | 8,000–30,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 24 | 2.9% | — | — |
Known problems with the 2020–2025 Soul
Transmission
IVT (chain-type CVT) behaviour complaints — droning, hesitation and shudder — replacing the previous conventional automatic.
Anti-theft 2020–2021
Early cars lacking an engine immobilizer are highly theft-prone; Kia made immobilizers standard partway through the generation and issued a software countermeasure for earlier units.
Before you buy a 2020–2025 Soul: the 3-minute check
Generated from 257 mileage-tagged complaints, 5 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 campaigns cover this generation.
- Ask for transmission and driveline repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 9,000 miles — a newer example may not have reached that mileage yet, so ask what was repaired under warranty and what the warranty still covers.
- Ask for problems owners could not categorise repair records. Same question here: a median of 6,000 miles.
- Check transmission. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check anti-theft on 2020–2021 cars.
- Years differ here: from 12 to 386 complaints a year — compare them by model year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Soul problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi67% below | At 90k mi82% below | At 120k mi93% below | At 150k mi97% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 8,500–80,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 4,000–18,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 2,500–12,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 56,000–96,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 4,000–45,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Steering | 400–14,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 8,000–30,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Kia Soul 2020–2025 · 257 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 67% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 93% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2020–2025 Kia Soul recalls (5)
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
1 of these carry a severe advisory — do not drive or park outside; check those first by VIN.
Feb 2025 · 2021–2023 · Engine and Engine CoolingEngine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were…
Dec 2023 · 2023 · Air BagsAn air bag that deploys unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury or crash.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. An air bag that deploys unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury or crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace both side curtain air bag modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 31, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…
Jul 2023 · 2023 · Power Train park outsideAn electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
The defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
What can happen. An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
The free fix. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner…
Apr 2023 · 2023 · Electrical SystemA blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning…
The defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument…
What can happen. A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for…
Apr 2021 · 2020–2021 · EngineA damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
What can happen. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 814 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 33 (4.1%)
- Fires
- 12
- Injury reports
- 20
- Fatality reports
- 3
Soul problems by model year
The 2020 drew the most complaints of this generation, 386, most of them about the engine, and the 2024 the fewest among the 5 years with at least 20 complaints, 30. A typical year drew about 94.
That makes the 2020 stand out at roughly 4.1 times a typical year (what a yearly count can and cannot say).
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 386 | 162 | 13,000 | Engine (243) | 1 |
| 2021 | 238 | 65 | 65,000 | Engine (138) | 2 |
| 2022 | 94 | 22 | under 30 reports | Engine (54) | 1 |
| 2023 | 54 | 6 | under 30 reports | Electrical system (14) | 4 |
| 2024 | 30 | 2 | under 30 reports | Electrical system (9) | 0 |
| 2025 | 12 | 0 | under 30 reports | Exterior lighting (4) | 0 |
What Soul owners reported
The contact owned a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while attempting to operate the vehicle, the engine seized and the vehicle failed to start. When attempting to start the vehicle, a knock turnover was present, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number…
2020 · 155,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and added oil to the engine before continuing to drive. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis, and the contact was informed…
2020 · 182,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); and the recall repair was previously performed…
2021 · 188,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs and coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that…
2020 · 70,000 miles · Engine
Built from 257 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Soul generations
- Soul 2010–2013 912 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Soul 2014–2019 1,762 reports with mileage, most about the engine