Is the Kia Soul Reliable?

Q: Is the Kia Soul reliable?

The Kia Soul scores 54/100 on the VinCheckEngine reliability index, which rates as "Fair" for the 2010–2026 model years. Run a free VIN report at vincheckengine.com for vehicle-specific analysis.

Q: What year Soul is most reliable?

Among recently analyzed years, the 2025 Kia Soul scored highest with a reliability score of 89/100. Fewer recalls and complaints were reported for that model year.

Q: How many miles does a Soul last?

With regular maintenance, most Kia Soul owners report 150,000–200,000+ miles of reliable service. High-mileage examples frequently appear at auction. Always verify with a VIN history report before purchasing a used Soul.

2010–2026 reliability analysis based on NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints.

54/100

Fair

Reliability Score

Total Recalls

889

Owner Complaints

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Own a Kia Soul? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Kia Soul Reliability by Year

Model Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Reliability Score	Rating
2026	—	—	—	—	Not enough data
2025	0	10	2	—	89	Excellent
2024	0	18	—	—	82	Excellent
2023	3	44	34	3	21	Poor
2022	1	64	3	3	40	Poor
2021	2	132	2	—	59	Fair
2020	1	216	1	16	0	Poor
2019	0	98	9	—	66	Good
2018	0	116	11	—	65	Good
2017	0	191	7	—	67	Good

Reliability scores are proprietary to VinCheckEngine and incorporate multiple weighted safety signals.

How the Soul Compares to Similar Vehicles

Kia Soul54/100

Suv Category Average68/100

The Soul scores 14 points below the average suv. Consider checking years with lower complaint volumes.

Known Kia Soul Reliability Issues

The following components appear most frequently in owner complaints filed with NHTSA:

ENGINE

376

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

POWER TRAIN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

STEERING

Based on 889 owner complaints across recent model years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kia Soul reliable?+

The Kia Soul scores 54/100 on our reliability index — rated "Fair." Across 10 recently analyzed model years, it accumulated 7 recall campaigns and 889 owner complaints in the NHTSA database.

What year Soul is most reliable?+

Among the years analyzed, the 2025 Soul achieved the highest reliability score of 89/100 with 0 recalls and 10 complaints.

How many miles does a Soul last?+

With consistent maintenance, most Kia Soul owners report 150,000 to 200,000+ miles of service life. Checking the VIN of any specific used Soul will reveal its actual mileage history and any title events.

More Kia Soul Research

Common Problems

Detailed breakdown of every reported defect for the Kia Soul.

Years to Avoid

Which Soul years have the most problems — and which are the best buys.

Check a Specific Kia Soul VIN

Model-level reliability scores show general trends. A VIN-specific report reveals the exact history of any individual vehicle — accidents, odometer records, auction events, and open recalls.

Run a Free VIN Report →