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2022 Kia Soul

Gas Wagon

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
B
Safety Signal
85 / 100
BSafety Signal · 85 / 100
1Recalls · 1 critical
88Complaints · owner reports
4★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
31 mpgFuel economy · best combined

The 2022 Kia Soul is sold in the U.S. as a gas wagon with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Soul Eco dynamics, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 88 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Soul Eco dynamicsGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl293531$2,000
SoulGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl283330$2,100
SoulGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo273229$2,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

Out of factory warranty soon?

The 2022 Kia Soul is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (1)

Engine And Engine Cooling

critical
137,256 vehicles

Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.

Risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.

NHTSA campaign 25V099000 · reported Feb 17, 2025 · Kia America, Inc.

NHTSA investigations

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical — Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness (closed)

On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.’s (Kia) remedy program for Safety Recall 25V099, involving incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which may damage the engine causing a loss of motive power or fire. This AQ was opened in response to consumer complaints alleging of an ineffective remedy, inconsistent inspection results to determine whether an engine replacement was needed, and the unavailability of recall remedies. On August 11, 2025, an Information Request (IR) was issued to Kia requesting: 1) why the inspection test was revised from requiring a ‘cold’ engine to a ‘warm’ en

Opened Aug 6, 2025 · closed Dec 18, 2025 · action AQ25001

Owner complaints

88 complaints filed

4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 8 injuries, 3 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2021: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 10 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 50 · 2026: 21

Most-cited components

  • Engine — 51
  • Engine And Engine Cooling — 19
  • Unknown Or Other — 12
  • Power Train — 12
  • Electrical System — 10
“9000 miles muffler failed, 12000 miles spark plugs cracked and was told it was sparking hot and could catch on fire, 13000 miles fuel injectors clogged with carbon, on going fuel smell in oil and shakes in idle with a/c on”Aug 10, 2023 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report
“1. Car was getting great gas milage 33 in town and 41 on highway. Suddenly, could barely get 28 - 31 regardless of circumstance; then,.... 2, Car kept shutting off automatically when driving, to include when making a left hand turn that nearly got us broadsided when it stalled. Nearby mechanic adjusted fuel mixture and…”Jul 24, 2023 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“2022 Kia Soul-Consumer is writing in about the battery discharge message display on the dashboard which causes a dead battery, requiring the battery to be jumped anywhere consumers wants to go. Consumers wife took vehicle to dealership where purchased for assistance. Consumer was told by dealership "all Kia's have the …”May 27, 2023 · Structure · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Soul model years

A

2025 Soul

0 recalls · 12 complaints

A

2024 Soul

0 recalls · 29 complaints

F

2023 Soul

4 recalls · 50 complaints

C

2021 Soul

2 recalls · 231 complaints

B

2020 Soul

1 recalls · 375 complaints

C

2019 Soul

3 recalls · 138 complaints

C

2018 Soul

3 recalls · 216 complaints

C

2017 Soul

3 recalls · 288 complaints

F

2016 Soul

5 recalls · 812 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 43929, 43928, 43930). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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