The Lemon Index2014 Kia Soul.
The 2014 Kia Soul is better than average by owner complaints: 105 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 66, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 26 mpg combined. The best Kia Soul year is 2019.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 902 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Soul year. 2014 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 59K to 113K miles on the car (621 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 80K–120K miles
- lights complaints mostly came at 45K–79K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 44K–107K miles
Recalls 5
- airbags 2022
The front air bags may not deploy during a crash if the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) loses communication with the front impact sensors.
- engine 2020
An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
- engine 2019
High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Show all 5 recalls
- steering 2017
The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
- speed control 2015
A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 175 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Mdps flexible coupling replacement - this bulletin is issued to provide information about
- Smart pedal feature - the smart pedal is an integral part of the engine management system (ems)
- TSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedEngine fires2021–2024
- ClosedNon-crash vehicle fires2019–2021
- ClosedNon-crash vehicle fires2018–2019
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Driving on hwy 10- april 14 and 17, 2016, power steering went off. Jerking the wheel right or left brought power steering back. Took to dealer on april 26, but problem was not duplicated.
2014 Kia Soul owner · NHTSA complaint 10862025
Quick answers
Is the 2014 Kia Soul reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 66; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Soul year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2014 Kia Soul problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (32%), lights (20%) and electrical (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2014 Kia Soul have?
5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2014 Kia Soul get?
26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2014 Kia Soul safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2014 Kia Soul problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 59,500 and 113,000 miles. The middle report was at 88,000 miles, from 621 complaints.
Does the 2014 Kia Soul have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2014 Kia Soul cost in fuel a year?
About $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2014 Kia Soul have?
1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What Kia Soul year is better than the 2014?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2013 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works