Kia Soul Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Kia Soul model year (2010–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Kia Soul Years to Avoid
1 recall · 648 complaints
29 reported injuries
2 reported deaths
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 719
1 recall · 608 complaints
31 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 673
2 recalls · 605 complaints
24 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 659
Best Kia Soul Years to Buy
0 recalls · 13 complaints
Main area: SERVICE BRAKES
Problem score: 17
0 recalls · 26 complaints
Main area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem score: 26
1 recall · 76 complaints
Main area: ENGINE
Problem score: 100
Found the right year? Verify that specific Soul with a free VIN report.
Kia Soul — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 0 | 13 | 2 | — | 17 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 0 | 26 | — | — | 26 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 4 | 50 | 37 | 3 | 151 | Good |
| 2022 | 1 | 76 | 3 | 3 | 100 | Good |
| 2021 | 2 | 161 | 2 | — | 171 | Good |
| 2020 | 1 | 243 | 1 | 16 | 328 | Caution |
| 2019 | 0 | 105 | 9 | — | 123 | Good |
| 2018 | 0 | 133 | 11 | — | 155 | Good |
| 2017 | 0 | 202 | 7 | — | 216 | Good |
| 2016 | 1 | 608 | 31 | — | 673 | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1 | 648 | 29 | 2 | 719 | Avoid |
| 2014 | 2 | 605 | 24 | — | 659 | Avoid |
| 2013 | 2 | 401 | 20 | — | 447 | Caution |
| 2012 | 2 | 338 | 27 | 2 | 408 | Caution |
| 2011 | 2 | 139 | 12 | 2 | 179 | Good |
| 2010 | 2 | 87 | 17 | — | 127 | Good |
All 17 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Kia Soul Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2026Recent Soul models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2026 stands out with just 0 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2017Mid-decade Soul units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2017 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder Soul models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year Soul should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2015 Kia Soul if possible. It has 1 recall, 648 owner complaints, and 2 reported deaths. The overall problem score is 719 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year Soul to buy?+
The 2025 Kia Soul is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 17. It has only 0 recalls and 13 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which Soul has the fewest problems?+
The 2025, 2024, 2022 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Kia Soul Research
Check a Specific Kia Soul VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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