2018 Kia Soul Problems
Compared with other Kia Soul years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
25/100 0.6× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.6× that of a typical Kia Soul year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 45 of its 220 complaints were filed by the end of 2020.
- Most reported problem: Engine noise, knocking, then failure (110 complaints, median 73,454 mi).
- 1 recall campaign on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 220filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 54,100miles, 79 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 / 5stars overall
- EPA fuel economy
- 27 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 30 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Kia Soul (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often write about engine trouble: noise that develops into knocking, sudden loss of power, and oil levels that drop without a visible leak. Many complaints describe a dealer confirming that the engine needs replacement, and several mention oil consumption tests or a software campaign. A smaller but consistent group describes transmission hesitation and jerking, and a few report air bags that did not deploy in a crash.
- Engine
Engine noise, knocking, then failure
- 110 complaints (50%)
- median 73,454 mi at 3.3 yrs old (35 state mileage)
- 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $8,208 (median of 8 quotes)
- filed 2018–2026
Complaints describe a ticking or rattling sound that develops into loud knocking, sometimes followed by the engine shutting off while driving or failing to restart. Several owners report that a dealer diagnosed connecting rod or piston damage and said the engine had to be replaced; some had recently had an oil change. A number note there was no warning light before the stall, while others saw the check engine or oil light as the failure progressed. Mostly appears between roughly 60,000 and 100,000 miles, with a few reports much earlier.
What to check: Ask for oil change records and whether the knock sensor detection software campaign was applied. Listen for ticking at cold start and confirm the oil level is at the full mark.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I was driving my 2018 Kia SOUL with 89,000 miles on it and engine made a rattle noise immediately followed by a loud clunk noise out of the blue. Driving approximately 50 MPH and had been driving for about 20 minutes, after the noise the engine immediately dies. I coast into the shoulder of the road and the engine is lightly smoking at this point. …”
NHTSA complaint #11390399, filed 2021-01, 89,000 miles“I was driving on the highway for about 5 mins and my Kia SOUL made a rattling noise than 200 ft later my car was on the side of the road and the engine is gone according to Kia dealership and gave no warning ⚠️ lights on the dash and engine just cut off”
NHTSA complaint #11386695, filed 2021-01, 68,000 miles - Engine
Excessive oil consumption
Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe adding oil frequently between changes, in one case about a quart a week, and finding the level low shortly after a routine service. Some dealers performed an oil consumption test; others reported that the catalytic converter or gaskets needed replacement as a result. A few mention the oil warning light coming on with no sign of an external leak. Typically reported from about 60,000 to 130,000 miles.
What to check: Check the dipstick before and after a test drive and ask whether an oil consumption test has been done. A service bulletin covers excessive oil consumption on these engines.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The engine is burning a TON of oil and I have to put 5 quarts in every 2-3 months. I also found oil when I pulled the 2nd and 3rd spark plugs (from left to right). I checked the engine again and it’s bone dry.”
NHTSA complaint #11571322, filed 2024-02, 113,783 miles“Car stalled in the middle of the road while driving. Took it in to dealer ship for a recall to get this repaired or flashed. Engine burning excessive oil. Car has always been kept up with maintenance. While operating the vehicle the car stalled due to low oil compression. Vehicle has aprox 155k miles. Check engine light has came on. Due to the issue that car engine is burning oil there is a new permanent code p0420 which is a bad catalyc converter since the cars emission system is failing. …”
NHTSA complaint #11585805, filed 2024-04, 155,000 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission hesitation and jerking
- 21 complaints (10%)
- median 33,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (13 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2018–2026
Complaints describe a delay when accelerating from a stop, sluggish response, or jerking and shuddering while driving and shifting. A few owners were told the transmission needed replacement, in one case twice; others were told the behavior was normal for the design. Mostly reported under 60,000 miles, sometimes within the first few thousand miles.
What to check: Drive from a stop and through several upshifts and downshifts, watching for delay or shudder, and ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced to the specified type.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My 2018 SOUL has an automatic transmission and from early on after I bought it new last year 08/30/2018 the transmission started acting up for no apparent reason. What it does comes out of nowhere it will not speed up when you give it the gas. It hesitates for just a brief second then it moves slower than normal. This happens from a dead stop and while driving in traffic too. It will go along driving perfectly for a while then without any reason it will act sluggish and or stumbles. …”
NHTSA complaint #11229007, filed 2019-07, 5,600 miles“From a stop, the vehicle has a significant hesitation pulling away from a stop sign/redlight etc. As you pushing the gas pedal down, it hesitates then accelerates hard. Has 340 miles on it at this time. Dealer and Kia state this is normal for the new transmission/turbo design. Even the service manager was shocked when he drove it saying he would not have bought it. I would think this problem could be resolved with a programming update. …”
NHTSA complaint #11113971, filed 2018-07, 340 miles - Other or unknown
Stalling or loss of power while driving
Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints describe the vehicle cutting out or losing power at speed, sometimes intermittently and sometimes with no warning light; several owners were told nothing was found on inspection. Others describe stalling at low speed or hesitation pulling away, and a few report smoke or fire from the engine compartment. Spread from very low mileage up to about 150,000 miles, with no clear pattern.
What to check: Ask whether any stalling complaints were investigated and check for stored fault codes; a scan for pending codes can reveal issues that do not light the dash.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Two incidences of deceleration..one caused me to exit freeway onto the frontage road.. One inspection at dealership after 2nd incident stated nothing found ...had I been surrounded by vehicles front and rear, I and others could have been involved in a serious accident...I was able to get off the frontage road onto a shoulder. …”
NHTSA complaint #11210516, filed 2019-05, 1,000 miles“I was driving my 2018 Kia SOUL on madison hwy in valdosta,ga.l saw smoke coming out my hood so I was able to pull into a convenient store ! The people in the store came running out with fire extinguishers and we were able to put out the fire.”
NHTSA complaint #11362515, filed 2020-10, 52,000 miles
Buying note. This model year draws repeated engine-related complaints, so service records and evidence of the engine software campaigns matter more than mileage alone. A pre-purchase inspection that includes an oil consumption check and a look at recall completion is worthwhile before buying.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 220 consumer complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul. 79 of the complaints include a mileage, and 47% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 54,100 miles. Of all complaints, 14 involved a crash, 14 a fire, 12 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 95 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 13 Kia Soul model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 25 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine142 65%
- Other or unknown30 14%
- Electrical system20 9.1%
- Air bags11 5.0%
- Fuel system11 5.0%
- Engine cooling9 4.1%
- Vehicle speed control8 3.6%
- Brakes7 3.2%
- Steering5 2.3%
Also reported: Body and structure (5), Exterior lighting (4), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (4), Wheels (3), Forward collision avoidance (2), Lane departure (2), Electronic stability control (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Suspension (1).
Example complaints
Engine: “I got told by a Kia mecanic well at least seen it on my dash cam that I am sol that my ticking problem is an engine defect on Kia's part that is causing engine issues as well as somehow making my enginerev extremely high while starting up and sometimes throughout the day to the point if I don't have my brakes on I will go through a wall . …”
NHTSA complaint #11354380, filed 2020-09, 40,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “The check engine light comes on with engine control systems as the cause of the issue I have had it to the dealer 5 times now. Still on for the 6th time now!!!! I was told that the recall would fix this and it has not”
NHTSA complaint #11388931, filed 2021-01, 54,000 milesOther or unknown: “I was sitting at a jacks drive through when my car accelerated on its on. My car was stopped with my foot on the brake. I could not stop the vehicle. It plowed into the rear of the vehicle in front of me. There was no damage to the vehicle in front of me but the reese hitch on his truck went through my bumper. There was no injury.”
NHTSA complaint #11204331, filed 2019-04, 14,955 milesElectrical system: “Unknown...the car goes into limp mode suddenly...my battery was boiling an shot liquid out of it, prior to this my other battery leaked an the alternator was bad ....when this happens suddenly you have no steering, an if course the boiling battery may explode....I've had this car checked over several times since begining of January with everything checking out fine but this still happening”
NHTSA complaint #11718091, filed 2026-02Mileage when problems were reported
47% of the 79 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,970 and 81,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Kia Soul. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soul · SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 14.7% risk |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.
Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating; 2019: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2018 Kia Soul version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); for electric versions it is the cost of electricity and the rating is in MPGe.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soul FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 7-speed automatic | 26 | 31 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Soul FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 25 | 30 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Soul FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | 24 | 30 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Soul FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 25 | 30 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Soul Electric FWD | Electric | single-speed | 124 | 93 | 108 MPGe | $700 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 22V031000Jan 25, 2022Air bagsCovers: Kia Soul 2017–2019, Sedona 2017–2019, Soul EV 2017–2019 +2 more
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit…
Recall details for the 2018 Kia Soul → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 95 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11036313Aug 25, 2026Brakes. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC334 Flight 201) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if…
- 11033803Jun 9, 2026Body and structure. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION: CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 11031846Apr 8, 2026Electrical system, Engine. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2107 Flight 501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting an important Product Improvement Campaign to…
- 11026989Dec 19, 2025Body and structure. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: POSTCARD OWNER RENOTIFICATION (CS2311) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. Kia has developed a…
- 11026698Dec 9, 2025Back-over prevention (rear camera). PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The…
- 11022353Aug 20, 2025Body and structure, Brakes. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 11021858Aug 12, 2025Electrical system, Engine. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2107) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a important Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software…
- 11019786Jun 26, 2025Brakes. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) - This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to underbody…
- 11019717Jun 23, 2025Brakes. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC334) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace…
- 11019658Jun 21, 2025Brakes. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC334) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if…
Other model years of the Kia Soul
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | — | 0 | 4 | 31 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 30 | 6,000 | 0 | 4 | 31 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 54 | 18,500 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 40 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 95 | 62,000 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 239 | 65,000 | 2 | 4 | 30 | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2020 | 388 | 13,450 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 87 · More | Stable |
| 2019 | 138 | 50,000 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 6 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2018 | 220 | 54,100 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 25 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2017 | 272 | 74,000 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 21 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2016 | 817 | 82,000 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2015 | 902 | 87,596 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 78 · More | Falling |
| 2014 | 903 | 88,000 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 82 · More | Falling |
| 2013 | 667 | 91,000 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 54 · Typical | Rising |
| 2012 | 515 | 87,000 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 55 · Typical | Stable |
| 2011 | 194 | 52,500 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 47 · Typical | Rising |
| 2010 | 135 | 20,000 | 3 | — | 28 | 68 · More | Falling |
All Kia Soul model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Soul?
Owners of this model year most often write about engine trouble: noise that develops into knocking, sudden loss of power, and oil levels that drop without a visible leak. The issues reported most often: Engine noise, knocking, then failure; Excessive oil consumption; Transmission hesitation and jerking.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Kia Soul have?
NHTSA recorded 220 consumer complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2018 Kia Soul is reported most often?
Engine is named most often, in 142 complaints (65% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 31.
Has the 2018 Kia Soul been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2018 Kia Soul do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Kia Soul 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Kia Soul get?
The EPA rates the 2018 Kia Soul (Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 25 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Kia Soul reported?
Among the 79 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 54,100 miles and the middle half falls between 13,970 and 81,000 miles; 47% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.