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Kia Soul.

The best Kia Soul years are 2019, 2013, 2017. Years to avoid: 2020. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 76, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2010 to 2025.

76Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 1.3× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2019 · Worst year 2020

Photo shows a 2019 Kia Soul. Vauxford, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2010104about average 2011502× fewer complaints 2012492× fewer complaints 2013462.2× fewer complaints 2014661.5× fewer complaints 2015661.5× fewer complaints 2016811.2× fewer complaints 2017482.1× fewer complaints 2018691.4× fewer complaints 2019342.9× fewer complaints 20202932.9× the complaints 202195about average 2022891.1× fewer complaints 202373early read · 1.4× fewer complaints 202463early read · 1.6× fewer complaints 2025–few complaints

Best years to buy

2019.

2019342.9× fewer complaints than average 2013462.2× fewer complaints than average 2017482.1× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2020.

20202932.9× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Kia Soul a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 76; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2019 and the worst is 2020.

What are the best Kia Soul years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2019, 2013, 2017.

What Kia Soul years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2020.

How many recalls does the Kia Soul have?

34 safety recalls across the 16 model years we track. Most: 2014 (5), 2015 (4), 2023 (4). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Kia Soul problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name engine, electrical and transmission & drivetrain most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table

Year	Index	Compared with average	Complaints	Top complaint	Recalls	Crash test	MPG
2010	104	about average	77	body structure (25%)	3	—	26–28
2011	50	2× fewer complaints than average	59	visibility (17%)	3	★★★★☆	26–28
2012	49	2× fewer complaints than average	61	airbags (16%)	3	★★★★☆	25–28
2013	46	2.2× fewer complaints than average	67	brakes (19%)	3	★★★★☆	25–28
2014	66	1.5× fewer complaints than average	105	steering (32%)	5	★★★★★	26
2015	66	1.5× fewer complaints than average	95	engine (24%)	4	★★★★★	26–105
2016	81	1.2× fewer complaints than average	118	engine (52%)	2	★★★★★	26–105
2017	48	2.1× fewer complaints than average	63	engine (43%)	1	★★★★★	27–105
2018	69	1.4× fewer complaints than average	76	engine (45%)	1	★★★★★	27–108
2019	34	2.9× fewer complaints than average	34	engine (35%)	1	★★★★★	27–108
2020	293	2.9× the average car's complaints	210	engine (51%)	1	★★★★☆	27–114
2021	95	about average	69	engine (42%)	2	★★★★☆	27–31
2022	89	1.1× fewer complaints than average	67	engine (51%)	1	★★★★☆	29–31
2023	73	1.4× fewer complaints than average	54	electrical (26%)	4	★★★★☆	30–31
2024	63	1.6× fewer complaints than average	30	electrical (30%)	0	★★★★☆	30–31
2025	–	too few complaints to score	12	lights (33%)	0	★★★★☆	30–31

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Kia Soul transmission problems by year →

Updated Nov 6, 2026

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data