2018 Kia SOUL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
213 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
54,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 135 of 213 complaints (63.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 29 | 13.6% |
| Braking behavior | 19 | 8.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 5.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 135 |
| Power Train | 31 |
| Unknown Or Other | 30 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
Engine: 135; Power Train: 31; Unknown Or Other: 30; Electrical System: 17; Air Bags: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 134 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 21 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 31 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 26 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 32 |
| 2026 | 20 |
2018: 9; 2019: 21; 2020: 15; 2021: 31; 2022: 30; 2023: 26; 2024: 29; 2025: 32; 2026: 20
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 29 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11129352 · 2018-09-13 (September 13, 2018)
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR STALLED AND DIDN'T KNOW IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. ALSO SEVERAL TIMES I START THE VEHICLE AND IT STALL OUT IMMEDIATELY. DEALER COULDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG. STOPPED AND IN DRIVE OR PARKED.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11265696 · 2019-10-02 (October 2, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM CLICK KIA [phone removed], LOCATED AT 775 W WETMORE RD, TUCSON, AZ 85705), BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE CONSUMER SUPPORT ACCELERATION TEAM. THE CONTACT CALLED KIA MOTORS AMERICA AT [phone remo…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11265696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113338 · 2018-07-24 (July 24, 2018)
BRAKES FAILED. WAS PUMPING PEDLE, NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER AND REARENDED DRIVER INFRONT OF ME AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11172782 · 2019-01-29 (January 29, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS IN GEAR. WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PARK IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE, WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO A LOT. THE VEHICLE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11172782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11354572 · 2020-09-12 (September 12, 2020)
CAR CONSISTENTLY WON'T START AS IF THE BATTERY IS DEAD. WILL START ONCE BATTERY IS JUMPED. BATTERY, STARTER, AND ALTERNATOR TESTS COME BACK FINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 47,434 miles reported. Look up ODI 11354572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361636 · 2020-09-28 (September 28, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK, VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT THE TOW TRUCK CHARGED THE BATTERY AND WHEN STARTED THE RODS WERE KNOCKING. WE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, REGAL KIA AND THEY DIAGNOSED MY CAR FOR NEEDING A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. IF WE WERE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW. OIL CHANGE WAS JUST A MONTH BEFORE AT THE REGAL KIA DEALERSHIP SO IT WASN'T DUE TO LOW OIL. THE 2018 KIA SOUL HAD 61,000 MILES AT IT AND ENGINE WAS RUINED.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113971 · 2018-07-26 (July 26, 2018)
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. MY CONCERN FOR SAFETY IS TO PART: 1ST, ANTICIPATING THE VEHICLE MAY GO WHEN IN FACT IT HESITATED TO PULL OFF C…
Owner-reported narrative. 340 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11229007 · 2019-07-02 (July 2, 2019)
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. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN IT IS COLD OR WELL WARMED UP AND IN AL…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11229007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11101360 · 2018-06-12 (June 12, 2018)
WE WERE HIT IN REAR BY A TRUCK. MY WIFE AND I WENT FORWARD TO ALMOST THE DASH AND STEERING WHEEL, THE BELTS NEVER CAUGHT. I CALLED KIA TALKED TO OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA HE SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT. TOOK TO KIA DEALER HAS ADVISED AND THEY SAID IT WORKED FINE. THEY ADJUSTED BECAUSE NOW YOU PULL A LITTLE WAYS THEY LOCK. THE SERVER WRITER SAID THE TECH TOLD HIM THEY WOULD NOT LOCK FOR BEING HIT IN REAR. TALKED TO CALIFORNIA AGAIN THE SAME PERSON AND HE SAID THEY WOULD NOT LOCK BECAUSE WE WENT BACK FIRST AND THEN FORWARD. WE WAS STOPPED AT A YIELD …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11204925 · 2019-05-01 (May 1, 2019)
THE STEERING WHEEL IS MANUFACTURED OF MATERIAL WHICH CONTAINS A TOXIC SUBSTANCE WHICH HAS CAUSED THE OWNER TO SUFFER A MEDICAL CONDITION OF SEVERE CONTACT DERMATITS. THE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE USE OF A COVER OVER THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO FAIL THE MARYLAND STATE SAFETY INSPECTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11204925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11522503 · 2023-05-17 (May 17, 2023)
Bought this vehicle used with 32k miles. Have experienced a judder when accelerating since we purchased it. This a known issue with Kia. I sent it to a dealership and they replaced a fuel injector and said that was the problem, it's not. Got the car back and it is still malfunctioning. This issue was reported on this vehicle previously when it was brand new. I need this issue fixed.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11522503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11660545 · 2025-05-12 (May 12, 2025)
The vehicle has been well maintained. About 1.5 years ago, it experienced a fuel injector failure. All four injectors were replaced to ensure the health of the engine. Recently, while on an 8-hour trip, halfway through, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power on the highway, nearly resulting in a crash, and the check engine light illuminated. The car was towed to a Kia dealership, where they stated the engine had failed. Cylinders 3 and 4 have ring and valve damage. The car had been performing well with no issues or warning signs, such …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11660545 at NHTSA ↗