Reliable Auto DB

2018 Kia Soul reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Kia Soul holds 218 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 15 per year. Soul years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 15 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Air bags.

2012 Kia Soul
Photo by DieselFordMondeo, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

218

Per year

15

Recalls

1

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (140 of 218), then Powertrain (31) and Electrical system (19). Those filings include 14 that report a crash, 14 that report a fire, 10 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Soul has 272 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2019 has 136 complaints, 8 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Kia Soul. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Air bags 2022-01-25 · NHTSA campaign 22V031000
Summary 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. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Remedy 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 may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.

Complaints by component (218 total)

Engine
140
Powertrain
31
Electrical system
19
Air bags
11
Fuel and propulsion system
11
Engine and engine cooling
9
Speed control
8
Service brakes
6
Steering
5
Structure
5
Exterior lighting
4
Visibility and wipers
3
Wheels
3
Forward collision avoidance
2
Lane departure
2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Hydraulic brakes
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Suspension
1
Visibility
1
Show 13 more Show less
Crash-flagged

14

Fire-flagged

14

Injury reports

10

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

92018212019152020312021302022262023292024322025252026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change."
    Engine · filed 2026-09-09
  • "This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change."
    Engine · filed 2026-09-09
  • "This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change."
    Engine · filed 2026-09-09
  • "This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change."
    Engine · filed 2026-09-09
  • "This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change."
    Engine · filed 2026-09-09

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Kia Soul EV SUV FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2018 Kia Soul SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Soul 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 25 30 27 MPG $2400
Soul 1.6L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 30 27 MPG $2400
Soul 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (7-speed) Front-wheel drive 26 31 28 MPG $2300
Soul 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 25 30 27 MPG $2400
Soul Electric — Automatic (1-speed) Front-wheel drive 124 93 108 MPG / 111 mi range $700

Specs and fitment

2nd generation (PS), 2012–2019
Body styles Hatchback
Oil 5W-20 or 0W-20 (1.6L and 2.0L) , 4 qt capacity
Tire size 205/60R16 to 215/45R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 19V120000. 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 to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure. 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 exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire. 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 will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Kia Soul Next year 2019 Kia Soul See every Kia Soul model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Kia Soul reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Kia Soul holds 218 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 15 per year. Soul years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 15 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Air bags.

What are common problems with a 2018 Kia Soul?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (140 of 218), then Powertrain (31) and Electrical system (19). Those filings include 14 that report a crash, 14 that report a fire, 10 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2018 Kia Soul more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Soul has 272 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2019 has 136 complaints, 8 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Kia Soul been recalled?

The 2018 Kia Soul has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Kia Soul?

Owners have filed 218 complaints about the 2018 Kia Soul with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Kia Soul get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Kia Soul is 43.4 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Soul take?

5W-20 or 0W-20 (1.6L and 2.0L)

What does NHTSA recall 19V-120 cover on the Kia Soul?

NHTSA campaign 19V120000.

What generation is the 2013 Kia Soul?

2nd generation (PS) (2012-2019).