The Lemon Index2024 Kia Soul.
The 2024 Kia Soul is so far better than average by owner complaints: 30 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 63, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 0 recalls, and it gets 30 to 31 mpg combined. The best Kia Soul year is 2019.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 30 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Soul year. 2024 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.
Recalls 0
No safety recalls on record.
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 29 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.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2050–2150 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
The engine goes from rest to automatic shut down when you accelerate if the Auto rest for the engine at pause is enabled. Completely shutting downs the car when itâs supposed to be accelerating
2024 Kia Soul owner · NHTSA complaint 11768299
More owner reports
The entire instrument cluster above the steering wheel is blacked out, and the car is constantly saying âwrong driving direction detected.â I cannot see my speed, fuel gauge, odometer or whether there are safety alerts.
NHTSA complaint 11598232
Quick answers
Is the 2024 Kia Soul reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.6× fewer complaints than average per car sold, against other 2024 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 63; 100 is average). The best Kia Soul year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2024 Kia Soul problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (30%), engine (17%) and automatic emergency braking (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2024 Kia Soul have?
None: NHTSA has no safety recalls on record for it.
What gas mileage does the 2024 Kia Soul get?
30 to 31 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2024 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.
Does the 2024 Kia Soul have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2024 Kia Soul cost in fuel a year?
About $2050 to $2150 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2024 Kia Soul have?
2.0L 4-cyl.
What Kia Soul year is better than the 2024?
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