2018 Kia Soul electrical system problems
19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 2018 Kia Soul — 9% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The vehicle is suffering from an extreme internal engine oil consumption defect, burning approximately 3 quarts of engine oil every 500 to 600 miles with no external leaks. The internal oil burning heavily fouled the vehicle's ignition system (spark plugs and coil packs), causing severe engine…”
filed Jul 25, 2026
“I am writing to report safety concerns regarding my 2018 Kia Soul Plus. I have been experiencing several engine issues, including knocking noises, hesitation during acceleration, excessive oil consumption, and an active check engine light. Recently, while driving with my daughter, the vehicle began…”
filed May 4, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
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 perform a software update…
PI2107_OWNR_501 · Other · issued Apr 8, 2026
Electrical System problems in other Soul years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Soul | 9 | 32% |
| 2023 Soul | 12 | 25% |
| 2022 Soul | 10 | 11% |
| 2021 Soul | 15 | 7% |
| 2020 Soul | 27 | 7% |
| 2019 Soul | 13 | 10% |
| 2017 Soul | 19 | 7% |
| 2016 Soul | 56 | 7% |
| 2015 Soul | 75 | 8% |
| 2014 Soul | 98 | 11% |
| 2013 Soul | 71 | 11% |
| 2012 Soul | 38 | 7% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2018 Kia Soul
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.