The Lemon Index2022 Kia Soul.
The 2022 Kia Soul is about average by owner complaints: 67 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 89, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 1 recall, and it gets 29 to 31 mpg combined. The best Kia Soul year is 2019.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 94 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Soul year. 2022 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 41K to 80K miles on the car (22 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 1
- engine 2025
The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can 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 77 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: IVT OIL PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACEMENT: This bulletin provides…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PRECAUTIONS FOR TRANSMISSIONS WITH ISG/EOP - This bulletin…
- Technical service bulletin: excessive oil consumption nu/gamma/theta/kappa engines - this…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedKia 25v099 piston oil ring recall effectiveness2025
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 $2050–2200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
As of today 05/08/25 car will not start, it was also chugging while i was on the freeway and would not go over 50mph
2022 Kia Soul owner · NHTSA complaint 11659790
More owner reports
-Piston oil rings,oil burn -potential fire or wreck risk -oil usage confirmed -no -engine noise Manufacturers are accepting 1 qt burn per 1,000 miles. This is beyond excessive and should be repaired or replaced.
NHTSA complaint 11679450
My car is still under factory warranty and there's a recall, yet Kia will not provide any help
NHTSA complaint 11656602
Quick answers
Is the 2022 Kia Soul reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 89; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Soul year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2022 Kia Soul problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (51%), engine (24%) and transmission & drivetrain (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2022 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.
What gas mileage does the 2022 Kia Soul get?
29 to 31 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2022 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 2022 Kia Soul problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 41,700 and 80,200 miles. The middle report was at 65,500 miles, from 22 complaints.
Does the 2022 Kia Soul have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2022 Kia Soul cost in fuel a year?
About $2050 to $2200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2022 Kia Soul have?
1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What Kia Soul year is better than the 2022?
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