2018 Kia SOUL: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11082237 · 2018-03-30 (March 30, 2018)
OUR BRAND NEW 2018 CAR ON THE MARKET HAS A TIRE MOBILITY KIT. THIS KIT ONLY SEALS A PUNCTURE & COMPRESSES FOR A SHORT TERM TRIP TO A LOCAL GARAGE. AS YOU WELL KNOW, MORE THAN A PUNCTURE CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. NO SPARE WELLS ("BUT DONUTS ONLY" ALONG WITH A JACK AT EXTRA COST) ARE BUILT TO ACTUALLY HOLD A REAL SPARE TIRE. THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES ALL AROUND THIS COUNTRY OF INADEQUATE COVERAGE OF CELL PHONE SERVICES, NOT TO MENTION TIRE SITUATIONS OTHER THAN PUNCTURES. MAY I ASK YOU HOW YOUR AGENCY CONSIDER THIS METHOD OF EMERGENCY REPAIR CONSIDE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11082237 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 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 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 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 11131703 · 2018-09-26 (September 26, 2018)
REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEW UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60MPH WITH NO WARNING (NO LOW PRESSURE SIGN), NO EXTERNAL FACTORS (DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING). CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, BUT DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. VEHICLE HAS NEXEN TIRES.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11139248 · 2018-10-09 (October 9, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WITH THE HEATER ACTIVATED, STEAM APPEARED FROM THE HEATER VENTS AND FOGGED UP ALL THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE ENTERED INTO THE DRAIN LINE. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT VISIT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11139248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144286 · 2018-10-31 (October 31, 2018)
USUALLY AFTER A RAINY NIGHT OR WHEN THERE IS DEW IN THE MORNING, WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND STATIONARY AT MY HOME, THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON AND THE WINDSHIELD/BACK GLASS WIPERS WILL NOT WORK. AFTER TURNING THE WIPERS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES THEY MAY COME ON FOR A MOMENT AND THEN WILL NOT OPERATE AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ISSUE TWICE SO FAR. HAS LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON IT. IT IS NOW DARK WHEN I AM LEAVING FOR WORK AND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I CAN NOT DRIVE IT WITH OUT HEAD LIGHTS. IT IS ALSO ILLEGAL TO DRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11144286 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
22V031000 · Air Bags
Reported: 2022-01-25 (January 25, 2022)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
NHTSA campaign record ↗