The Lemon Index2020 Kia Soul.
The 2020 Kia Soul is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 210 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 293, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, and it has 1 recall. The best Kia Soul year is 2019.
Lemon alert. 2.9× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2019
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 386 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Soul year. 2020 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 5K to 50K miles on the car (162 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 9K–79K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 3K–17K miles
Recalls 1
- engine 2021
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
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 139 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Technical service bulletin: service action: replacement of 7-speed dual clutch transmission…
- Technical service bulletin: creaking or popping noise from steering wheel column tilt lever -…
- Technical service bulletin: service action: sk3 1.6t gdi ecu logic improvement (sa413) - this…
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 Electric SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $650–2400 a year in electricity (EPA estimate).
In owners' words
Engine oil consumption after 1000 miles of oil change at dealership.
2020 Kia Soul owner · NHTSA complaint 11456519
More owner reports
Engine did not restart after Auto/off. Instead, center screen restarted and engine light and battery light came on. Had to restart entire car to get engine back on. Happened at stoplight.
NHTSA complaint 11469616
Transmission going into neutral while driving.no help at this time from the dealership
NHTSA complaint 11467091
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Kia Soul reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.9× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 293; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Soul year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2020 Kia Soul problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (51%), transmission & drivetrain (36%) and electrical (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Kia Soul have?
1 safety recall (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2020 Kia Soul safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 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 2020 Kia Soul problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,000 and 50,600 miles. The middle report was at 13,400 miles, from 162 complaints.
Does the 2020 Kia Soul have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 36% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2020 Kia Soul cost in fuel a year?
About $650 to $2400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Kia Soul year is better than the 2020?
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