The best and worst Kia Soul years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Kia Souls old enough to judge (2009–2022), the 2009–2010, 2019 and 2022 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2013–2015 and 2020 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2013 Kia Soul · 55.9 per 10,000 sold (2.1× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Internal engine (bearings, pistons, rings), typically around 122,719 miles; then tie rods, linkage, shaft and column.
2014 Kia Soul · 61.7 per 10,000 sold (2.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Internal engine (bearings, pistons, rings), typically around 104,000 miles; then oil consumption and leaks.
2015 Kia Soul · 61.0 per 10,000 sold (2.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Internal engine (bearings, pistons, rings), typically around 90,000 miles; then oil consumption and leaks.
2020 Kia Soul · 52.2 per 10,000 sold (1.9× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Internal engine (bearings, pistons, rings), typically around 55,000 miles; then stalling and no-start.
Years with the fewest complaints
2009 Kia Soul · 0.0 per 10,000 sold (0.0× this model’s typical year)
2010 Kia Soul · 18.8 per 10,000 sold (0.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Doors, windows, latches, seats and trim, typically around 3,000 miles.
2019 Kia Soul · 13.8 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Oil consumption and leaks, typically around 59,000 miles.
2022 Kia Soul · 15.5 per 10,000 sold (0.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Oil consumption and leaks, typically around 69,500 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Kia Soul year: 27.0 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Kia Soul?
Among Kia Souls old enough to judge (2009–2022), the 2014 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 61.7, about 2.3× a typical Kia Soul year. The 2013, 2015 and 2020 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Kia Soul?
The 2009 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Kia Souls from 2009–2022: 0.0, against 27.0 for a typical year. The 2010, 2019 and 2022 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2014 Kia Soul?
The most-reported problem on the 2014 Kia Soul is internal engine (bearings, pistons, rings), typically around 104,000 miles.
Why aren't the newest Kia Soul years ranked?
The 2023–2025 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.