Kia Soul recalls and problems by year
NHTSA lists 15 recalls and 5,579 owner complaints for the Kia Soul (model years 2010–2025). The most reported problem area is engine (3,154 complaints), followed by electrical system (521 complaints). The 2014 model year has the most recalls (5).
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 4 | 54 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 95 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 2 | 239 | 12 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 388 | 9 | 6 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 137 | 11 | 8 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 220 | 14 | 14 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 272 | 17 | 14 | |
| 2016 | 2 | 816 | 28 | 35 | |
| 2015 | 4 | 902 | 34 | 84 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 903 | 33 | 69 | |
| 2013 | 3 | 667 | 22 | 46 | |
| 2012 | 3 | 515 | 25 | 23 | |
| 2011 | 3 | 194 | 27 | 5 | |
| 2010 | 3 | 135 | 23 | 15 |
By complaints filed, the peak model years are 2014 (903), 2015 (902) and 2016 (816). Among model years at least two years old, the 2024 has the fewest complaints on file (30).
Most reported problem areas
What owners name in their complaints across all Kia Soul model years. A complaint can name more than one area.
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3,154 | 16 of 16 | |
| Electrical system | 521 | 15 of 16 | |
| Steering | 516 | 14 of 16 | |
| Power train | 433 | 16 of 16 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 403 | 12 of 16 |
Latest 8 of 15 recalls
| Recall | Date | Problem area | Model years | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25V099000 | Feb 17, 2025 | Engine and engine cooling: engine, hard parts internal/mechanical | 2021–2023 | 137,256 |
| 23V830000 | Dec 22, 2023 | Air bags | 2023 | 2,967 |
| 23V652000 | Sep 25, 2023 | Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/module | 2011–2013 | 1,730,192 |
| 23V531000 | Jul 31, 2023 | Power train: automatic transmission, fluid/lubricant, pump | 2023 | 39,765 |
| 23V298000 | Apr 26, 2023 | Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2023 | 108,936 |
| 22V096000 | Feb 18, 2022 | Air bags: air bag/restraint control module, software | 2014 | 128,280 |
| 22V031000 | Jan 25, 2022 | Air bags | 2017–2019 | 410,619 |
| 21V259000 | Apr 13, 2021 | Engine | 2020–2021 | 147,249 |
Vehicles: the manufacturer's estimate of all vehicles potentially affected by the recall, across every model it covers. Each model-year page lists what its recalls fix.
Owners reported a crash in 267 complaints and a fire in 325 complaints; 261 people injured and 18 deaths are recorded in these reports. These are the owners' accounts, not findings of cause.
Complaint counts grow with how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road; compare years with that in mind. Complaints are unverified owner reports.