The 2015 Kia Soul is a respectable small car. The Soul outperforms most of its rivals in terms of passenger and baggage space, and it also has some of the highest safety ratings in its class. But not everything is wonderful. The Soul’s standard engine, which is underpowered, has a sluggish acceleration.
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How long will a 2015 Kia Soul last?
A well-kept Kia Soul typically has 200,000 kilometers or more on it. The most recent models should last longer. In terms of longevity, the Kia Soul now competes with Honda and Toyota models.
What is the price of a Kia Soul?
What Is the Price of the Kia Soul? The 2022 Kia Soul features one of the most affordable beginning pricing in the subcompact SUV category at $19,190. The top-tier Turbo, which starts at $27,790, is one of five higher trims that are available.
Do Kia Souls have many issues?
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.
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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
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Kia Soul reliability?
With a 4.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating, the Kia Soul is ranked third among subcompact SUVs out of a possible 7. It offers great ownership costs with an average annual repair cost of $437. The Soul is one of the more dependable automobiles on the road since the severity and frequency of repairs are both substantially lower than those for other vehicles.
Cost
A Kia Soul’s average total yearly cost for repairs and maintenance is $437, while the average for subcompact SUVs is $466 and the average for all vehicle types is $652.
the typical annual sum for unplanned maintenance and repairs for all model years of a car. A vehicle’s greater average cost alone does not imply that it is less dependable. For instance, your car’s parts and labor may be pricey, especially if it’s a European luxury model, but if there are few serious problems and frequent service visits on average each year, that’s a sign of a dependable vehicle.
The typical annual frequency at which a vehicle is taken in for unplanned maintenance and repairs. This metric is produced by monitoring millions of distinctive automobiles over a number of years to ascertain the typical yearly visits for each make and model. Controls were included to prevent small, routine shop visits, such those for oil changes.
The severity element of dependability calculates the likelihood that a repair will cause a significant problem. The cost of a repair is assessed to be excessively expensive given the unscheduled nature of the repair if it is three times the average annual repair cost for all models. Due to their more expensive labor and component expenses, premium and luxury brands have a higher barrier.
Frequency
Compared to the average of 0.2 times for subcompact SUVs and 0.4 times for all vehicle models, Kia Soul owners had to take their cars in for unplanned repairs 0.2 times a year on average.
Is the 2015 Kia Soul being recalled?
Certain 20122016 Kia Soul vehicles with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). The catalytic converter may become damaged by high exhaust gas temperatures, which could lead to irregular engine combustion, damage to one or more engine pistons, and even piston connecting rod failure.
An engine stall caused by damaged pistons might raise the likelihood of a collision. An engine block hole caused by a broken connecting rod could let engine oil leak. The risk of a fire is increased if the oil spill makes contact with the exhaust.
To stop the catalytic converter from overheating, Kia will contact owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic. If the catalytic converter has to be replaced, it will also be done so. The engine might also be exchanged for free, depending on the severity of any damage. Recall started on April 17, 2019. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. The recall number for Kia is SC176.
Steering
Certain 20142016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). The pinion gear may be able to separate from the steering gear assembly thanks to the pinion plug.
The risk of a collision will rise if the pinion gear separates and the vehicle loses steering.
Owners will be notified by Kia, and dealers will check the pinion plug and secure it or, if necessary, replace the steering gear assembly free of charge. Beginning on November 16, 2017, the recall. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. The recall number for Kia is SC155. Nota Bene: Campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736 are superseded by this recall. Under this effort, previously fixed vehicles under certain numbers are being recalled once more.
Vehicle speed control: Accelerator pedal
Certain Soul and Soul electric vehicles from the model years 20142015, built between July 21, 2013, and January 8, 2015, are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). The accelerator pedal may fracture and bend in one place.
The chance of a collision rises if the vehicle’s accelerator pedal is deformed or broken, making it harder for the driver to accelerate.
Owners will be informed by Kia, and dealers will voluntarily put a supporting rubber beneath the pedal stopper. Beginning on March 24, 2015, the recall. Call 1-800-333-4542 to reach Kia customer support. SC116 is the Kia recall number.