repaired · 2024 Q3
Air bags
Risk. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
2019 Kia SoulProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 140 owner complaints about the 2019 Kia Soul, most often about the engine. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 22V-031 the manufacturer reports only 57% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 1, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2019 Kia Soul has problems
140 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
90Engine8 crash/fire/injury
15Air bags10 crash/fire/injury
14Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
13Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
6Power train
6Engine and engine cooling
6Seat belts
5Service brakes
5Exterior lighting
269 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 90 | 8 |
| Air bags | 15 | 10 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 1 |
| Power train | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 26 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2019 Kia Soul recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Best & worst years
2019 vs. every other Soul year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Soul median. How we score
'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2019 Kia Soul safety ratings
2019 Kia Soul SUV FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (14.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2019 Kia Soul, and the recalls they led to.
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Soul owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
1. An independent mechanic diagnosed a fuel injector that was stuck open, allowing excessive gasoline to enter the engine and causing flooding. The mechanic also identified issues with the crankshaft position sensor, ignition coils, spark plugs, and coolant temperature sensor. I don't know if it…
The engine burns oil too quickly. I only have 130k miles on my car, only owner. I don’t even drive it every day at this point. I have ran out of oil and been stranded 3 times in the past few months. The engine completely burns all the oil and the oil light doesn’t even come on until there is none…
Engine seized while driving with no warning. Dealer has submitted findings to kia corporate techline for powertrain warranty claim which is requesting a $700 engine teardown at my expense
Own a 2019 Soul?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.