Kia Soul
Every model year 2016–2025: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
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Every Kia Soul model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Gas | A | 0 | 12 | ★★★★☆ | 31 mpg | |
| 2024 | Gas | A | 0 | 30 | ★★★★☆ | 31 mpg | |
| 2023 | Gas | D | 4 | 54 | ★★★★☆ | 31 mpg | Park outside |
| 2022 | Gas | A | 1 | 95 | ★★★★☆ | 31 mpg | |
| 2021 | Gas | B | 2 | 238 | ★★★★☆ | 31 mpg | |
| 2020 | Electric Gas | A | 1 | 388 | ★★★★☆ | 243 mi | |
| 2019 | Electric Gas | C | 3 | 140 | ★★★★★ | 111 mi | |
| 2018 | Electric Gas | C | 3 | 222 | ★★★★★ | 111 mi | |
| 2017 | Electric Gas | C | 3 | 290 | ★★★★★ | 93 mi | |
| 2016 | Electric Gas | F | 5 | 823 | ★★★★★ | 93 mi |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2020 is the cleanest Soul year we hold, and the 2023 the one to check hardest. The 2023 carries a standing park-outside or do-not-drive advisory, which outranks every other number on this page.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
Which Kia Soul years reported which system early
Source: NHTSA complaints, odometer at reportEarliest on the record: 2020 power train complaints at 0.22× the mileage of same-age vehicles (median 9,000 miles). Latest: 2019 engine at 1.74× (73,000 miles).
| Year | Engine | Power Train |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1.67× | — |
| 2021 | 1.5× | — |
| 2020 | 0.65× | 0.22× |
| 2019 | 1.74× | — |
| 2018 | 1.56× | 0.95× |
| 2017 | 1.43× | — |
| 2016 | 1.47× | 1.27× |
Each cell is that model year’s median odometer when owners reported the system, divided by the median for the same system across every make’s complaints on the same model year. under 0.67× reported early; 1.5× or more late; a dash means too few readings. When problems get reported, not how often — complaint counts are in the table above. Across the whole fleet: which systems go first.
What owners filed about the Kia Soul, by system
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsEvery system, every year →The systems the federal record is deep on for this nameplate: the complaints per model year, the mileage owners reported them at, and every recall, investigation and manufacturer bulletin filed under the heading — each one linked, none a failure rate.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2023: 3 → 2 EPA configurations
- 2022: 4 → 3 EPA configurations
- 2021: dropped electric; 5 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2020: best combined mpg 28 → 31; best range 111 → 243 mi
- 2018: best range 93 → 111 mi
- 2017: best combined mpg 27 → 28
Compare
Which is better for you? →| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Soul vs Toyota RAV4 Prime · Compact SUV | Soul +20 |
In the studies
Source: computed from the same record, method on each pageCommon questions about the Kia Soul
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Kia Soul year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2020 Soul comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (92/100), 1 recall and 388 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Kia Soul years should I avoid?
2016, 2023 have the weakest recall records in this range — one carries an active park-outside or do-not-drive advisory. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every Soul model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the Kia Soul have?
Across model years 2016–2025, NHTSA has posted 22 recall campaigns for the Kia Soul. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.