Kia Soul: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Kia Soul problems by model year, from 5,515 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2022 (89%, 75 drivetrain complaints), 2021 (86%, 194 drivetrain complaints) and 2016 (84%, 663 drivetrain complaints). 12 of the 14 Kia Soul years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 9 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (23%) and 2011 (28%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2011 (28%) to 2012 (49%), up 21 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2015 drew the most drivetrain complaints (701 of 3,665 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Kia Soul year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Soul | no elevated signal | 23% | 25 | 135 | 14/14 | 3 |
| 2011 Soul | no elevated signal | 28% | 43 | 194 | 13/14 | 3 |
| 2012 Soul | high | 49% | 237 | 514 | 11/14 | 3 |
| 2013 Soul | high | 50% | 317 | 662 | 10/14 | 3 |
| 2014 Soul | very high | 83% | 626 | 903 | 5/14 | 5 |
| 2015 Soul | very high | 83% | 701 | 904 | 4/14 | 4 |
| 2016 Soul | very high | 84% | 663 | 822 | 3/14 | 2 |
| 2017 Soul | very high | 80% | 206 | 272 | 7/14 | 1 |
| 2018 Soul | very high | 79% | 161 | 218 | 8/14 | 1 |
| 2019 Soul | very high | 76% | 94 | 136 | 9/14 | 1 |
| 2020 Soul | very high | 82% | 304 | 381 | 6/14 | 1 |
| 2021 Soul | very high | 86% | 194 | 234 | 2/14 | 2 |
| 2022 Soul | very high | 89% | 75 | 88 | 1/14 | 1 |
| 2023 Soul | high | 43% | 19 | 52 | 12/14 | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Kia Soul years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Kia Soul engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Kia Soul involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 15 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2019 | 19V120000 | engine | 2012–2016 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V750000 | engine | 2014–2015 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V259000 | engine | 2020–2021 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V531000 | power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump | 2023 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V099000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2021–2023 |
10 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2010 | 10V388000 | electrical system: wiring | 2010 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V114000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2010–2011 |
| Dec 2014 | 14V822000 | structure: body: roof and pillars | 2010–2013 |
| Mar 2015 | 15V123000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2014–2015 |
| Sep 2017 | 17V608000 | steering | 2014–2016 |
| Jan 2022 | 22V031000 | air bags | 2017–2019 |
| Feb 2022 | 22V096000 | air bags: frontal | 2014 |
| Apr 2023 | 23V298000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2023 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V652000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2011–2013 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V830000 | air bags | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Kia Soul
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Kia Soul
What are the worst years for the Kia Soul?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Kia Soul years are the 2022 (89% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2021 (86% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2016 (84% of relevant complaints, very high). 12 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Kia Soul?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Kia Soul years are the 2010 (23%) and the 2011 (28%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Kia Soul have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 3,665 of 5,070 relevant NHTSA complaints (72%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Kia Soul reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 12 of 14 Kia Soul years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 72% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Kia Soul?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Kia Soul years we track, out of 15 in total: 21V259000 (Apr 2021, 2020–2021), 23V531000 (Jul 2023, 2023), 25V099000 (Feb 2025, 2021–2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.