2018 Kia Soul vs 2020 Kia Soul
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Kia Soul | 2020 Kia Soul |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 218 | 378 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 95 | 139 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 14 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 27–28 | 27–30 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 57,000 mi | 14,630 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Soul | Kia Soul |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 140 | 235 |
| Power Train | 31 | 89 |
| Electrical System | 19 | 28 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 11 | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 14 |
| Steering | 5 | 16 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 10 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 37 | 39 |
| Check engine light | 29 | 78 |
| Stalling | 25 | 94 |
| Loss of power | 19 | 20 |
| Clunking / rattling | 19 | 17 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 14 |
| Vibration / shaking | 8 | 15 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 7 | 6 |
2018 Kia Soul
2020 Kia Soul
Compare all Kia Soul vs Kia Soul years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.