The Lemon Index2018 Kia Soul.
The 2018 Kia Soul is better than average by owner complaints: 76 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 69, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, and it has 1 recall. The best Kia Soul year is 2019.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 219 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Soul year. 2018 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 13K to 84K miles on the car (79 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 60K–99K miles
Recalls 1
- airbags 2022
The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit.
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 95 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- SERVICE ACTION: 1.6L TURBO OIL FEED PIPE GASKET REPLACEMENT (SA349) - This bulletin provides
- CYLINDER HEAD STEEL BALL INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION - This Pitstop provides information…
- P/hev no start ?
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Soul EV SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $700–2400 a year in electricity (EPA estimate).
In owners' words
City street. Was test driving this vehicle when it caught fire at the lower back end of the engine.
2018 Kia Soul owner · NHTSA complaint 11281431
More owner reports
The car was parked in a public parking lot, with no one around it, when the engine caught fire and destroyed the engine compartment. Fire inspector stated cause of the fire could not be determined.
NHTSA complaint 11150429
Just bought car, 33,000 miles, was driving and transmission malfunctioned, internal mechanical damage
NHTSA complaint 11396789
Quick answers
Is the 2018 Kia Soul reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 69; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Soul year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2018 Kia Soul problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (45%), transmission & drivetrain (18%) and speed control (9%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Soul have?
1 safety recall (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2018 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 2018 Kia Soul problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 13,000 and 84,000 miles. The middle report was at 54,100 miles, from 79 complaints.
Does the 2018 Kia Soul have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 18% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2018 Kia Soul cost in fuel a year?
About $700 to $2400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Kia Soul year is better than the 2018?
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