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.
In This Article...
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.
The CoPilot app isn’t just for purchasing a car; it can also be used to keep track of recalls and receive recommendations on which regular maintenance activities are most crucial.
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.
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.
How cute are Kia Souls?
One of the most regular cars ever made is the Kia Soul. It was touted as a cool, quirky vehicle for young people, much like the boxy Scion xB that came before it, but Grandpa found it simple to get in and out of, and your mother probably thinks it’s “cute.” Despite the fact that there aren’t many completely boxy cars like it on the road, it’s a car that is so common that it can disappear into the background. So you can imagine how surprised we were to see that Twitter was trending with the Kia Soul of all things.
You never imagined the Kia Soul would be the main character, as Jackson Vose tweeted with a picture of the car trending.
Tiff’s tweet addresses a relatable, widespread issue and has had over 30,500,00 shares as of this writing. Since individuals often mistakenly believe they have found the ideal parking space, only to discover that it has already been occupied by a small car, these concealed buzzkills have been referred to as “dammit cars.” The very ubiquitous Soul is an easy target for this criticism because there aren’t many tiny vehicles left in the United States, and the list of subcompacts appears to get shorter every year.
Everyone may easily form an opinion about the Soul because it is so widely understood. We probably know at least one, if not several, Soul owners. The criticism on Twitter branded the Soul as a car with a particular type of non-car-person energy, despite the fact that it is a practical car with plenty of usable room and appropriate power. You all purchased the Soul to symbolize that you are an individual soul (like everyone else), or perhaps because you think it’s cute, or perhaps even because it fits with your awful hipnot to cover everyone in Soul dust.
Like many other common vehicles, the memories that many people have with Souls involve inexperienced drivers operating the wheel.
Oh, and the hamster advertisements. Unlucky Soul. What did this tiny box accomplish to earn this treatment? particularly so much of it?
People are sharing their opinions on the benefits and drawbacks of owning a Kia Soul, according to the kind description provided by Twitter when the Kia Soul haterade peaked earlier today.
To Twitter’s credit, the Soul supporters flocked to the platform in response to this disrespect, with some praising the car’s safety features for saving their lives, others defending the reputation of the “Hamstars” in the commercial, others mentioning other cars they dislike more, and others simply responding to the haterssometimes literally with Photoshopped images of Mariah Carey brandishing a gun.
Several Soul enthusiasts claim that it is still possible to transport some fools to Gapplebee’s with this roomy and useful little automobile.
However, the Kia Soul hasn’t been invited to the Vehicle Haters’ Ball on social media before, nor is this the first time the internet has focused its ire on a perfectly ordinary vehicle.
Kevin Williams, a resident teen of Car Bibles, brought attention to the fact that TikTok, the internet’s go-to force of chaotic good, absolutely adores picking on random everyday vehicles, especially the Kia Soul. On TikTok, where there is a dedicated Kia Soul Hatred account with over 29,000 followers, some of the funniest Kia Soul jokes that have been making the rounds on Twitter this afternoon first appeared.
Williams said, “I don’t think they have any animosity for or against the Soul. Despite this, it’s still absurdly funny.
Before today’s Twitter trend, TikTok had been obsessed with the Kia Soul for months, with videos about the vehicle receiving millions of views. Even TikTok itself featured a performance video of the hamsters from the Soul commercial in January.
If you ever need a good laugh, just click the #kiasoul tag. Even though I don’t mind these cars at all, I found it funny how many people do.
The Soul isn’t the only common vehicle to be the target of top-notch jokes on TikTok. A Ford Escape account with the handle 2016 Ford Escape regularly bashes the Chevy Equinox, which is its only real adversary. With a post criticizing failed CVTs for driving owners into bankruptcy, Nissan is another brand that gained notoriety. And who can forget the Dodge salesman who makes fun of his own Mopar inventory?
In any case, this pattern is evidence that we should all be more laid back. I enjoyed reading the opinions of both supporters and opponents of the Kia Soul and other vehicles. If you like your vehicle, feel free to party rock to your heart’s content.
Why do Kia Souls sell well?
The 2022 Kia Soul is among the finest subcompact SUVs in part because to its generous interior and storage room as well as its simple infotainment system. However, compared to certain rivals, it is less enjoyable to drive.
How durable are Kia Souls typically?
Kia Souls have a 200,000-mile lifespan, or an average lifespan of 13 years. The car may live longer if it is maintained, used frequently, and not overburdened.
Kia Souls are incredibly dependable and should achieve this lovely round figure without experiencing any catastrophic breakdown, unless your model year has a number of manufacturing and manufacturer problems.
Your Kia Soul may only last 10 years or even fewer before it is no longer useful if you use it for business purposes, like ride-hailing services.