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Body and structurePart report

2018 Kia Soul Body and structure Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
2%of 220 total for the year
Median mileage
37,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the body and structure of the 2018 Kia Soul, 2% of the 220 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 37,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was involved in a car accident on july 11 2020. The other driver ran a red light and I t-boned him. My car substantial amount of damage to the front end and was deemed totaled by the insurance company. In this accident none of my airbags deployed.”

NHTSA complaint #11350865, filed 2020-08, 37,000 miles

“Driving on freeway,two pieces of paint, flaking flew onto my windshield obstructing my view. Pulled over to see what happened and it was paint on my hood was flaking off. The paint was stuck to my windshield. My safety was definitely at risk as paint blocked my view.”

NHTSA complaint #11707037, filed 2025-12

“At 2am on saturday august 22nd my husband's 2018 Kia SOUL, which was stationary in our driveway and not in operation at the time, was set ablaze for unknown reasons. We were asleep and were woken up by the sound of, what was possibly, the tires exploding, the car was completely on fire by the time we were able to wake up and evacuate the property. We have a doorbell camera that would have picked up a person in our driveway so we do not believe the cause was arson. …”

NHTSA complaint #11350993, filed 2020-08

“The clear coat peeled off of the driver and passenger side mirrors in the beginning of 2024. The white paint started chipping off in a one inch straight line where the red roof meets the white side panel on both sides. You can tell it is where a strip of tape was that maybe separated the two paint colors in the process of painting. This began at the end of 2024. Then in early 2025, the white paint on the hood started flaking off in random spots all over the hood of the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #11705124, filed 2025-12

Related service bulletins

Body and structure: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202211%
202131%
2020103%
201943%
201852%
201741%
2016182%
2015162%
2014111%
2013152%
2012184%
2011126%
20102116%

Other parts of the 2018 Kia Soul

Engine
142 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
31 complaintsOther or unknown
30 complaintsElectrical system
20 complaintsAir bags
11 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Kia Soul

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology