Reliable Auto DB

2019 Kia Soul reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2019 Kia Soul has 136 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 8 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Soul years here — under the median of the other years, which is 16. 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

136

Per year

8

Recalls

1

Years on the road

8

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (87 of 136), then Air bags (15) and Electrical system (14). Those filings include 11 that report a crash, 8 that report a fire, and 7 that report an injury.

Next to 2018 and 2020

The 2018 Soul has 218 complaints, 15 per year, and the 2020 has 381 complaints, 55 per year. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020.

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 2019 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 (136 total)

Engine
87
Air bags
15
Electrical system
14
Fuel and propulsion system
12
Engine and engine cooling
6
Seat belts
6
Exterior lighting
5
Powertrain
5
Service brakes
5
Steering
5
Structure
4
Visibility and wipers
4
Fuel system, gasoline
3
Hydraulic brakes
3
Wheels
3
Speed control
1
Suspension
1
Tires
1
Show 10 more Show less
Crash-flagged

11

Fire-flagged

8

Injury reports

7

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

1120196202062021112022172023212024462025182026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Burns way to much oil then it should for a 2019. I have to put a quart of oil in every 1,000 miles due to the oil consumption the motor does."
    Engine · filed 2026-09-15
  • "My 2019 Kia Soul has been professionally diagnosed with DTC B162000, “Internal Fault – Replace SRSCM,” involving the Supplemental Restraint System/Airbag Control Module. My repair shop documented this diagnosis on…"
    Electrical system, Air bags · filed 2026-08-24
  • "The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a burning odor and smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Additionally, the engine was consuming an excessive…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2026-07-28
  • "I purchased a 2019 Kia Soul in June 2022. Since purchasing the vehicle, it has been stolen three separate times. During at least one theft, the steering column was damaged to bypass the ignition, and responding officers…"
    Electrical system, Structure, Unknown or other · filed 2026-07-15
  • "I was driving through a busy intersection when the vehicle stopped accelerating causing risk to myself and other drivers. I was able to get the vehicle through the intersection and pulled over. I turned the vehicle off…"
    Engine · filed 2026-07-14

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2019 Kia Soul EV SUV FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2019 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 26 31 28 MPG $2300
Soul 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 25 30 27 MPG $2400
Soul 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (7-speed) Front-wheel drive 26 31 28 MPG $2300
Soul 1.6L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 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 2018 Kia Soul Next year 2020 Kia Soul See every Kia Soul model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Kia Soul reliable?

The 2019 Kia Soul has 136 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 8 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Soul years here — under the median of the other years, which is 16. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Air bags.

What are common problems with a 2019 Kia Soul?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (87 of 136), then Air bags (15) and Electrical system (14). Those filings include 11 that report a crash, 8 that report a fire, and 7 that report an injury.

Is the 2019 Kia Soul more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 Soul has 218 complaints, 15 per year, and the 2020 has 381 complaints, 55 per year. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020.

Has the 2019 Kia Soul been recalled?

The 2019 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 2019 Kia Soul?

Owners have filed 136 complaints about the 2019 Kia Soul with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2019 Kia Soul get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2019 Kia Soul is 43.6 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).