Soul (3rd)
Verdict A 2020 to 2022 1.6L turbo has far fewer complaints on file than the 2.0L, though too few were sold to show a clear difference per vehicle built. On a 2.0L car, confirm both piston oil ring recalls (21V259000 and 25V099000) are completed.
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
MPI NU
2.0L 4-cyl / 147 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
T-GDI
1.6L 4-cyl Turbo / 201 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Kia Soul Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Reliability Overview
The third-generation Kia Soul carries 803 complaints across six model years, and the reliability story lives almost entirely under the hood. The base 2.0-liter engine draws 768 of those complaints, which reframes the Soul from quirky, affordable runabout to a car whose value depends heavily on which engine sits between the fenders.
The bright spot is the 1.6-liter turbocharged four. Offered only on 2020 through 2022 cars, it generated 18 complaints against the 2.0-liter's 768. Buyers who track one down get 201 horsepower and a record that looks nothing like the volume engine's. Outside the powertrain, the Soul's electrical and cooling systems account for 76 and 78 complaints, a modest figure next to the engine total, so the pattern here is concentrated rather than scattered across the whole car.
Engine failures dominate, with 520 complaints tied directly to the engine and cooling components. Two separate recalls, one in 2021 and another in 2025, target piston oil rings that were either improperly heat-treated or incorrectly manufactured, both of which can lead to engine damage. That the same defect surfaced in campaigns four years apart tells you the problem persisted across build years rather than getting cleanly resolved early. Transmission complaints add another 137, and the safety record is sobering for a car this size: 12 fire reports, 33 crash reports, and 12 deaths recorded against the generation.
Three more recalls round out the picture. A digital instrument cluster that could go dark, an Idle Stop and Go oil pump controller with damaged electronics, and side curtain airbags on 2023 cars that could deploy without a crash. None of those match the engine recalls for severity, but the airbag campaign is worth confirming as closed on any 2023 car.
The Soul makes sense for a used-market shopper who does the homework: verify the engine, confirm the recall work, and favor the turbo where budget and availability allow. Treated as a blind buy on the least expensive 2.0-liter car on the lot, it carries real risk that the complaint data spells out plainly.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Soul, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
Buyer's Guide
Engine choice matters more than model year on this Soul. The 1.6-liter turbo, sold on 2020 through 2022 GT-Line Turbo cars, has the cleaner record by a wide margin, so it is the variant to seek if you can find one and the price works. Most used Souls carry the 2.0-liter, and those demand more scrutiny: pull the VIN and confirm both piston oil ring recalls (21V259000 and the 2025 campaign 25V099000) show as completed, since the repair inspects or replaces the affected engine hardware. A 2020 or 2021 car with unaddressed recall work is the profile to avoid.
At inspection, focus on the engine. Listen for knocking or ticking at cold start and under load, check oil level against the last service interval because these engines have a history of consuming oil, and look for any warning lights tied to the engine or cooling system. Confirm the cooling system holds pressure and shows no weeping around hoses and the water pump. On automatic cars, drive through a full range of shifts and watch for hesitation or harsh engagement given the 137 transmission complaints on record.
On a 2023 car, verify the side curtain airbag recall (23V830000) and the instrument cluster recall are closed before you sign. A pre-sale inspection by an independent shop familiar with Kia engines is worth the money here, and the one line item worth paying for is a compression or leak-down test on any 2.0-liter you are serious about.
What to check on a used 2020-2025 Kia Soul
On a used 2020-2025 Kia Soul, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the engine (520), the transmission and drivetrain (137) and the cooling system (78). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 520 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Kia Soul about the engine, all engines combined.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 137 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Kia Soul about the transmission and drivetrain, all engines combined.
- With the engine cold, check the coolant level and color, then watch the temperature gauge on the drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 78 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Kia Soul about the cooling system, all engines combined.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 76 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Kia Soul about the electrical system.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 48 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Kia Soul about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
Recalls (5)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul and 2024 Seltos vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the side curtain air bags may deploy unexpectedly.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2020-2025 Kia Soul complaints?
Owners have filed 803 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020-2025 Kia Soul. The systems they name most often are the engine, the transmission and the cooling system.
Is the 2020-2025 Kia Soul a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 803 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020-2025 Kia Soul. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020-2025 Kia Soul have?
NHTSA has 803 owner complaints on file for the 2020-2025 Kia Soul as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2020-2025 Kia Soul?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls covering some 2020-2025 Kia Soul vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Kia Soul?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the engine, the transmission and the cooling system, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Soul?
The 2025 Kia Soul received an overall 4-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (14.7% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard & Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 803 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.