What breaks most · 2010 to 2019 model years
Kia Soul problems by year
Owners have filed 1,061 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Kia Soul across model years 2010 to 2019. Three years stand out: 2014 for exterior lighting complaints, 2012 for steering complaints and 2013 for steering complaints. The quietest years are 2017, 2016 and 2010.
- Years to check closely: 2014, 2012, 2013
- Fewest complaints: 2017, 2016, 2010
- Complaints on file
- 10612010 to 2019, all trims
- Worst year
- 2014233 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 13781 fires · 124 injuries · 4 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 44kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 26Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 109 | 20 | 3 | Body and structure (21) | |
| 117 | 23 | 3 | Air bags (20) | |
| 184 | 18 | 3 | Steering (83) | |
| 178 | 15 | 3 | Steering (51) | |
| 233 | 23 | 5 | Exterior lighting (73) | |
| 129 | 17 | 4 | Engine (48) | |
| 63 | 9 | 2 | Engine (20) | |
| 26 | 6 | 1 | Unknown or other (8) | |
| 16 | 6 | 1 | Air bags (3) | |
| 6 | 0 | 1 | Unknown or other (2) |
What fails on the 2014 Kia Soul
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 31% |
73 | 0 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 2014 Kia Soul |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 30% |
71 | 2 | Shop engine parts for the 2014 Kia Soul |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 20% |
47 | 2 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2014 Kia Soul |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 18% |
41 | 11 | Shop steering parts for the 2014 Kia Soul |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 6% |
14 | 1 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 5% |
12 | 2 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2014 Kia Soul |
| Unknown or other | 5% |
12 | 1 | — |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 4% |
9 | 3 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2014 Kia Soul |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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Headlights flicker on and off or turn off completely after using turn signal. Lights always flicker or turn off after turn is completed and the turn signal goes back to normal. Happens at every speed whether there is a bump in the road or not.
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When you turn the steering wheel it's making a clicking sound and every time you go over a bump it makes the steering wheel shake
-
Steering makes a clunking noise. Apparently the flex couplet which was recalled on the 2014 through 2016 soul has worn out prematurely. It's known problem. Manufacturer should cover the cost.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Kia Soul years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2014, 2012, 2013 carry the most filings on the Kia Soul. The 2014 alone has 233 complaints, led by exterior lighting.
What is the most common Kia Soul problem?
On the 2014 model year, the most-reported component is exterior lighting with 73 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Kia Soul problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Kia Soul complaints that include mileage is about 44,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.