The Lemon Index2019 Kia Soul.
The 2019 Kia Soul is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 34 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 34, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, and it has 1 recall. It's the best Kia Soul year we track.
One of the most reliable. 2.9× fewer complaints than average.
Worst year 2020
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 136 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Soul year. 2019 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 8K to 99K miles on the car (45 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 22K–106K 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 99 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- CYLINDER HEAD STEEL BALL INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION - This Pitstop provides information…
- PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 1.6L T-GDI AUXILIARY CANISTER INSTALLATION (SC190) - This bulletin…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
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 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 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
Bought a 2019 Kia Soul+ and after hitting a few hundred miles outside the 60,000 warranty the engine dies to the point Kia has to replace the whole engine.
2019 Kia Soul owner · NHTSA complaint 11422713
More owner reports
I have a totaled car due to a wreck. The airbags did not deploy even though the car was hit multiple times extremely hard.
NHTSA complaint 11223093
While in park or when driving and the brakes are pushed down for red lights and such the car will shake and 'skip' uncontrollably.
NHTSA complaint 11343788
Quick answers
Is the 2019 Kia Soul reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 34; 100 is average, lower is better).
What are the most common 2019 Kia Soul problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (35%), airbags (15%) and electrical (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2019 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 2019 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 2019 Kia Soul problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 8,800 and 99,500 miles. The middle report was at 50,000 miles, from 45 complaints.
Does the 2019 Kia Soul have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2019 Kia Soul cost in fuel a year?
About $700 to $2400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
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