2020 Kia Soul vs 2021 Kia Soul
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Kia Soul | 2021 Kia Soul |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 366 | 222 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 138 | 116 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 12 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 27–30 | 27–30 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 14,000 mi | 62,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Soul | Kia Soul |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 227 | 127 |
| Power Train | 88 | 26 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 42 |
| Electrical System | 27 | 15 |
| Steering | 16 | 9 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 15 | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 10 | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 89 | 77 |
| Check engine light | 74 | 42 |
| Oil consumption | 37 | 30 |
| Loss of power | 20 | 16 |
| Clunking / rattling | 17 | 13 |
| Hesitation / surging | 14 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 14 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 6 | 9 |
2020 Kia Soul
2021 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.