2020 Kia Soul problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
82% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Kia Soul are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 98% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 80%).
Does the 2020 Kia Soul have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 304 of 369 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Soul concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (82%), and the largest group is filed under engine (238). For comparison, the 2019 scores 76% and the 2021 scores 86%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Kia Soul
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Kia Soul said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 304 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Kia Soul?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Kia Soul involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: 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.
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 June 11, 2021.…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Kia Soul? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2020 Kia Soul have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 304 of 369 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Soul concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (82%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Kia Soul?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Kia Soul involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 21V259000 (engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Kia Soul years are better?
Among the Kia Soul years we track, the 2010 (23%), the 2011 (28%) and the 2023 (43%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (82%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2020 Kia Soul?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Kia Soul has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.