Menu

Kia Soul EVYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 39 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on record for the Kia Soul EV.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints39Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls52014–2019 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Kia Soul EV years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Soul EV median. Tap a year for its full report.

'14'15'16'17'18'19
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2019Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls2018Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls2017Not rated–/10018 complaints · 3 recalls2016Not rated–/1007 complaints · 4 recalls2015Not rated–/1006 complaints · 4 recalls2014Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Kia Soul EV problems

All model years combined: 39 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system171
Power train103
Service brakes62
Engine50
Visibility/wiper20
Seats11
Fuel/propulsion system10
Parking brake11
Air bags11
2 other systems21
5 recalls

Kia Soul EV recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

55%Electrical system: software23V-724 · 2015–2019 · Oct 26, 2023 · 6,262 vehicles71%Propulsion system: traction battery23V-218 · 2015–2019 · Mar 29, 2023 · 2,689 vehicles57%Air bags22V-031 · 2017–2019 · Jan 25, 2022 · 410,619 vehicles58%Electrical system: software20V-389 · 2015–2016 · Jul 2, 2020 · 3,714 vehicles61%Steering17V-608 · 2014–2016 · Sep 29, 2017 · 342,381 vehicles
4 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Soul EV

  1. Vehicle RollawayRQ23005 · 2015–2019 · closed Jan 16, 2024
    Led to recall 23V-724
  2. Pedestrian alert soundsDP22005 · 2015–2020 · closed Aug 7, 2023
    Led to recall 22V-063
  3. Non-crash Vehicle FiresPE19004 · 2014–2015 · closed Dec 22, 2021
    Led to recall 20V-088
  4. Non-crash Vehicle FiresDP18003 · 2014–2015 · closed May 10, 2019
    Led to recall 18V-907