The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of a base 2021 Kia Soul in LX grade with a manual transmission is $17,490; an additional $1,120 destination fee makes the final price $18,610.
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Kia Soul 2021: Is it dependable?
The anticipated reliability rating for the 2021 Kia Soul is 89 out of 100. A predicted reliability score from J.D. Power of 91 to 100 is regarded as the best, 81 to 90 as great, 70 to 80 as medium, and 0-69 as fair and below average.
Are Kia Souls a good investment?
Yes, the Kia Soul is a good automobile, especially if you’re looking for something that’s dependable, stylish, and reasonably priced. The brakes are effective, and the engine accelerates rapidly. Furthermore, the inside is spacious and comfy. The Kia Soul is a great SUV option all around, featuring essential features and well-liked improvements.
What issues does the Kia Soul have for 2021?
Nobody anticipates the Kia Soul to be a powerful sports vehicle. Even so, the engine ought to be supplying some steady power, but it doesn’t.
A different NHTSA complaint claims: “At a speed of 15 mph, the car abruptly stopped running. I tried to restart it, and when I pulled the key out, everything locked up. This continued for five minutes in the middle of the road before the car started up again and flashed the engine and oil lights.
The faulty engine necessitated the release of a recall by Kia. Nearly 150,000 automobiles are impacted by NHTSA Campaign Number 21V259000. It turns out that the piston oil rings in Soul models may not have been heat-treated in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Engine damage could result from the piston oil rings coming unseated, which would cause the motor to stall. Additionally, it might cause an oil leak, which raises the risk of a car fire if the oil comes in contact with the hot exhaust. Kia could want to think about transferring some of the “next-level competence that is flaunted in order to improve manufacturing processes since crucial systems are failing. These cars will keep accumulating in the junkyard till then.
What issues are there with Kia Souls?
The Kia Soul dominated the market for more than ten years with its boxy appearance, which people either love or detest, good safety ratings, and a long list of standard amenities. Today, the Soul is among Kia’s best-selling vehicles and is still a serious competitor in the subcompact crossover SUV market.
Despite being a reliable small SUV, there have been several problems, complaints, and recalls across a number of model years. There are some Kia Soul years to stay away from when purchasing used.
The worst Kia Soul years to steer clear of due to reliability difficulties are listed below, along with the safest years for used purchasing.
Which Kia Soul Years to Avoid?
If at all possible, stay away from buying a secondhand Kia Soul from one of the following model years:
- Kia Soul 2012
- Kia Soul (2013)
- Kia Soul (2014)
- Kia Soul 2015
- Kia Soul 2016
Kia Soul
The 2012 Kia Soul should be avoided at all costs, according to the people from Car Reports, who cite 470 NHTSA complaints. Body integrity issues and flawed safety features were its principal shortcomings.
Clunking noises when turning are this Soul year’s most prevalent problem. Owners have mentioned hearing a clunking or popping sound when rotating the steering wheel. Additionally, some owners have heard loud rattles when driving on roads or hitting small bumps. Owners are perplexed that there hasn’t been a recall because this body integrity issue is so prevalent.
The 2012 Soul’s unlatched hood while driving is another potential issue. Although this is a rare problem, it poses a serious safety risk, particularly on roads or freeways.
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Kia Soul
Several owners of the 2013 Soul have suffered engine failure, which has been known to occur at roughly 85,000 miles or more. Some users reported hearing a banging sound emanating from the engine, while others just experienced an engine failure. The expected fix for this issue is to replace the engine, which will set you back a whooping $5,000.
A few owners reported that their Soul’s engine had started to make a ticking noise, which is less serious. The ticking noise, which may be anywhere from mildly bothersome to frighteningly loud, compels owners to visit their nearby Kia dealership. With an average repair cost of $4,100, we cannot recommend the Soul model year.
Kia Soul
The 2014 Kia Soul is the greatest loser in terms of complaints. The 2014 Soul is unquestionably one of the worst Kia Soul years to stay away from, receiving more than 900 complaints. Similar to the 2013 Kia Soul, the 2014 model similarly receives a pitiful 1 out of 5 stars from Consumer Reports.
One of the 2014 Soul’s most serious problems, according to a number of Consumer Reports owners, is engine failure. This issue appears to be connected to the oil pump in the Soul, which results in higher-than-normal oil consumption by the engine. One owner said that the car began requiring a quart of oil every 300 miles.
The 2014 Soul has a terrible comeback of the engine’s annoying ticking/knocking noise. The initial diagnosis by technicians is that this occurs at about 105k miles and is caused by low oil. However, the owners who are meticulous and keep up with their oil changes are the ones who complain the most.
Kia Soul
The 2015 Kia Soul is another vehicle you ought to stay away from, with more than 700 NHTSA complaints and four recalls to its name. The 2015 model of the Soul has numerous engine problems, just like the other problematic Souls on our list.
Engine failure is the issue that needs to be addressed first. Around 80k miles is the typical mileage at which this problem appears. Many customers have noted that the engine initially made knocking or ticking noises or began to burn more oil. The Soul’s engine finally just stopped working. You will be responsible for paying the estimated $4,620 cost of the engine rebuild or replacement if this occurs.
Excessive oil use is another area of concern. It seems that the engine guzzles oil like it’s nobody’s business when it’s not breaking down.
Check out our list of the top 10 most dependable used sedans available if you’re ready to start looking for a used automobile and reliability is important to you.
Kia Soul
The number one issue with the 2016 Soul, as measured by the severity scale, is a blown engine. According to several accounts, the 2016 Soul’s engine is prone to blowing up, particularly after 90k miles. This is not only dangerous, but an engine replacement will cost you almost $7,000 as well.
Additionally, Kia Soul owners complained that their car simply won’t start. Although there are indications that there may be a battery issue, most concerns are unrelated to this.
Common Kia Soul Problems
Although the Kia Soul is extremely reliable in every way, there are a few persistent issues that impact cars from a few years ago. Here are a few examples:
- spike in cruise control There are rumors that some Soul models have a surgey cruise control technology. Owners reported that when the SUV was in cruise control mode, it would suddenly accelerate and then slow down to a crawl. As of the time of writing, Kia has not yet addressed this potentially deadly problem.
- a ticking clock
- Although it’s not the most typical of Soul models, 2013 Soul owners find it extremely annoying. Hearing loud knocking or ticking noises emanating from the engine is not enjoyable. The Kia Soul has yet another problem with its engine.
- spinning while clicking
- The 2012 Soul’s clunking sounds when turning were a problem for owners. This is unquestionably a body integrity issue that Kia overlooked.
This question’s solution is more complex than you might think. Let’s examine the distinctions between gasoline and diesel engines as well as the precise number of spark plugs that a diesel engine truly has.
Kia Soul
One of the most dependable Kia Soul generations was the second one ever produced. A adaptable, reasonably priced, and all-around useful compact SUV is the 2011 Soul. Car Complaints awarded the 2011 Soul a “Pretty Good” Seal of Approval for dependability, stating that it is “pleasant to drive, roomy, and trustworthy.”
Kia Soul
The 2018 Soul features a huge luggage area, a roomy interior, a nimble turbocharged engine, and top-notch reliability ratings. In fact, the 2018 Soul received a fantastic Quality & Reliability score from J.D. Power of 84 out of 100.
Kia Soul
The Kia Soul made a victorious comeback the following year with its 2019 year model. The 2019 Kia Soul received praise for its smooth ride, great utility, and respectable fuel efficiency. You may put your reliability concerns to rest because the 2019 Kia Soul received a reliability rating of 4 out of 5.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The simplest way to purchase a car is using the CoPilot auto shopping app. You may create a customized list of the top car listings in your area by telling us what you’re looking for, and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area.
Just seeking for more recent models? The search engine for virtually new vehicles is CoPilot Compare. only observe recentfive years or lessautos with little mileage. The greatest place to look for off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO vehicles is CoPilot Compare.
What’s best? We have more information on each vehicle than our rivals since CoPilot was developed using the same technologies that dealerships use to acquire and sell their inventories. Since CoPilot doesn’t partner with automakers, there aren’t any sponsored posts or other dubious tacticsjust the most information about the best vehicles. To learn more about CoPilot’s operation, see our About Us page.
What is the typical cost of a brand-new Kia Soul?
The LX model of the 2022 Kia Soul costs $19,290 as its base price. The greatest deal in the lineup is the better-appointed S trim, which starts at $21,590. Starting prices for the X-Line and GT-Line models are $22,690, $23,590 for the EX trim, and $27,890 for the Turbo variant.
Do Kia Souls from 2021 have transmission issues?
The Soul’s reliability ratings in earlier model years made it a more alluring purchase. Consumer Reports claims that the most recent version no longer has reliability on its side. Due to reliability difficulties, CR has officially stopped recommending The Soul.
The new CVT in the revised Soul has a number of issues. Numerous Soul owners claimed transmission problems and had to have their transmissions replaced, according to CR’s 2020 member poll. It needed to be replaced for some drivers after just 5,000 miles.
This type of issue with a new car is not encouraging. A new car should essentially be trouble-free, as CR claims. The good news is that, as CR points out, Kia is one of the automakers that has aggressively released service bulletins and service actions to fix problem areas.
To proactively resolve the issue, Kia has started a service action. The industry-best 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty from Kia covers the repair.
Has the Kia Soul ever had transmission issues?
You can drive at the speed you want thanks to your transmission, which transfers power from the engine to the wheels.
Given that the transmission must convert the exact quantity of power for the required speed,
Do Kia Souls handle snow well?
When fitted with snow tires, the Kia Soul can manage snow pretty well. The Soul has front-wheel drive, which, when combined with the engine’s weight distributed over the wheels, results in good traction. The Soul is a good option for winter driving thanks to a number of comfort and safety features.
Is the Soul being phased out by Kia?
The Kia Soul gets a makeover for the 2023 model year that features a redesigned lineup and an angrier mug. For 2023, Kia has reduced the number of Soul models available, removing the X-Line and Turbo trims.
Is a Kia Soul a good vehicle for older drivers?
The impartial review magazine chose the elements it considered were most important for senior drivers when determining its ranking.
These qualities comprised:
- Front Seat Entry
- Visibility
- Controls
- Headlights
Consumer Reports also believed that these vehicles needed to have more sophisticated capabilities to make it easier for elderly drivers to maneuver around securely.
Standard and optional features taken into account:
- Reverse Camera
- Emergency braking on demand
- Warning for Imminent Collision
- Blind Spot Information
What car is comparable to a Kia Soul?
The 2018 EcoSport is Ford’s debut into the small crossover market. The base EcoSport is a front-wheel drive car with four doors on the sides, but it is also equipped with an automatic transmission and a 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine that produces 123 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. The standard EcoSport from Ford costs $19,995. The EcoSport is available with a larger engine and AWD, but it costs up to $27,330.
The EcoSport stands out thanks to its fifth door at the back. The EcoSport door opens up to the side rather than swinging up like a hatch, making access to the rear cargo area more simpler. The EcoSport has five passenger seats and around 50 cubic feet of cargo space.