Kia Soul Reliability: Common Problems & Most Dependable Years

The Kia Soul is known for its distinctive boxy appearance and is marketed as a spacious, budget-friendly compact SUV. In addition to looks, the infotainment and in-dash features in the newer model years (plus the impressive driver assistance capabilities) add to its attraction.

But how does the Kia Soul fare in terms of reliability?

This guide provides a general overview of Kia Soul’s reliability metrics, including its overall rating, common issues, and the best model years. You will also find answers to some of the frequently asked questions about this trendy travel companion.

Are Kia Souls Reliable?

The Kia Soul is a generally reliable compact SUV. RepairPal ranks it 4.5 out of 5, while JD Power gives it a “Great” score of 86 out of 100. Car owners have also noted its simple design, which makes repairs and finding replacement parts easy.

Its simplicity, however, can also be its downside. Owners have reported that its build quality feels cheap, with small plastic parts starting to rattle after years of use. Some features, like the audio system and Bluetooth, were reportedly subpar compared to similar vehicles of its class.

What Are the Most Common Issues with the Kia Soul?

The Kia Soul has had its share of problems, including ones that resulted in major recalls. Some of the notable issues reported were:

Defective Piston Rings

Select model years of the Kia Soul have been reported to have piston rings that were not properly heat-treated. This can lead to excessive oil consumption, and Kia warns of oil leaking into hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire. Kia has issued a recall for this problem and has offered to replace the engine on affected vehicles free of charge.

Affected Model Years:

• 2020
• 2021

Overheating Catalytic Converter

Catalytic converters found in certain Kia Soul models with gasoline engines have been known to malfunction when exposed to hot exhaust gas.

When the catalytic converter is damaged, substrate particles can enter the engine combustion chamber due to exhaust backpressure and cause abnormal engine combustion. This issue, if it persists, can cause damage to one or more of the engine’s pistons, leading to piston rod breakage.

Such damage could potentially puncture the engine block, allowing engine oil to escape and make contact with a hot exhaust surface. These conditions can increase the risk of an engine stall or fire.

Kia has also issued a recall for this defect and instructed owners and dealers to update the vehicle’s onboard computer to prevent the catalytic converter from overheating. Dealers must also replace converters or engines damaged by this issue.

Affected Model Years

• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016

Defective Airbags

The airbag control unit found in some Soul and Soul EV models has been known to short-circuit, causing the airbags to deactivate and not deploy in a crash. Kia has instructed dealers to inspect the control unit and either replace it or update the software if necessary.

Affected Model Years:

• 2017
• 2018
• 2019

Difficulty Shifting

Some earlier models of the Kia Soul were also reportedly difficult to shift into first gear. This is typically attributed to the design of the shift skirt, and revised versions are now available.

Affected Model Years:

• 2010
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2017

No Sound from the Speakers

The Soul’s navigation unit has been known to suddenly stop playing audio from all stock speakers. This was traced to a software glitch and was usually solved by resetting the navigation unit.

Affected Model Years:

• 2010
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016
  

What Are the Best Model Years for the Kia Soul?

The Kia Soul has been favorably considered a daily driver in its 20-year production run, but a handful stand out in terms of reliability. The following model years, in particular, are notable for being the best of their respective generations with minimal complaints or recalls.

• 2010
• 2013
• 2018
• 2021
• 2022