Kia Soul fuel system problems, 2016–2025
162 of the 2,268 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Soul 2016–2025 name the fuel system (NHTSA’s “Fuel/Propulsion System” heading — fuel tanks, lines, pumps and injection — and on an EV, the propulsion battery and motors). The loudest years: 2016 (83), 2017 (19), 2020 (16). Filed under the same heading across these years: no document yet. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Kia Soul fuel system problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the fuel system | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 0 | — | — | 1 TSB | the year → |
| 2023 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 7 | 8% | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 11 | 5% | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 16 | 4% | — | — | the year → |
| 2019 | 15 | 11% | — | 19 TSBs | the year → |
| 2018 | 11 | 5% | — | 15 TSBs | the year → |
| 2017 | 19 | 7% | — | 20 TSBs | the year → |
| 2016 in depth | 83 | 10% | 75k | 11 TSBs | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the fuel system. Nothing here is a rate.
When the fuel system complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2017: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 14 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 18 · 2022: 15 · 2023: 26 · 2024: 25 · 2025: 27 · 2026: 20
Across the model years, half of the 46 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the fuel system problem between 29,000 and 84,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the fuel system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Unknown have a strong gas smell from under hood passenger side and fuel leak was detected by mechanic during oil change service
I have a 2016. Kia. Soul with constant problems I now have a catalog converter problems and want to know if its on recall because. I have had this vehicle less than 3 years and constant service checks. My service engine light is on and when. I took it to service they ran a check and.
I have wasted too much time and my own $ for my local KIA to dismiss their on going re-appointments and months of different service technicians to not have them reacting to an engine light to never retry something not done right. Now, they have my 2017 KiA Soul+ wrongly listed as no recalls remaining.
My kia soul 2017 had a catalytic burnout in 2021. Looks like the recall till 2016 should have been extended to 2017. This still pose a danger to consumers with model 2017 and newer models for overheating catalytic
My car has been acting up almost every winter. Bought brand new and within two years would not start. Triple A had to get it started. Next winter it shook and the check engine light came on. There was a misfire. I called Kia of Queensbury and they just told me to keep the gas cap off for a bit and than drive it after putting it back on.
What is on file about the fuel system, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNothing filed under this heading on these model years.
Other systems with a record on the Kia Soul
Source: the same filesCommon questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Kia Soul years have the most fuel system complaints?
2016, 83; 2017, 19; 2020, 16. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (11%).
Is there a recall for the fuel system on the Kia Soul?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do fuel system problems show up on the Kia Soul?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 56,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 29,000 and 84,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Fuel/Propulsion System" heading cover?
Fuel tanks, lines, pumps and injection — and on an EV, the propulsion battery and motors. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.