2019 Kia SOUL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
135 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 86 of 135 complaints (63.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 20 | 14.8% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 12.6% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 9.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.2% |
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 | 86 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Seat Belts | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
Engine: 86; Unknown Or Other: 19; Air Bags: 15; Electrical System: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Seat Belts: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 90 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 46 |
| 2026 | 17 |
2019: 11; 2020: 6; 2021: 6; 2022: 11; 2023: 17; 2024: 21; 2025: 46; 2026: 17
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 20 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 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 11181597 · 2019-02-21 (February 21, 2019)
THE KIA BACKUP CAMERA DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN ITS DARK. YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING YOU CANT DISTINGUISH A GARBAGE CAN FROM A PERSON. I WENT TO THE DEALER WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THIS THE WAY THEY ARE. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CHECKED OTHER KIA SOULS AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN IN TOTAL DARKNESS THE PROBLEM GETS EVEN WORST.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11184858 · 2019-03-07 (March 7, 2019)
WALL TRIANA HWY MADISON WAS BEING PAVED ON WEDNESDAY 2/27/19. THEY HAD SPRAYED SOME TYPE OF LIQUID TAR ON THE ROAD FOR PREPPING. MY CAR IS COVERED WITH THE BLACK SUBSTANCE AND I AM UNABLE TO GET IT OFF. IT HAS COVERED MY REAR WINDOW AND BACK OF CAR. IT IS ALSO ON MY SIDE DOOR PANELS AND UNDER MY VEHICLE,TIRES AND RIMS. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11184858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11190832 · 2019-03-22 (March 22, 2019)
WHEN IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE IN NORMAL POSITION, CAR OCCASIONALLY JUMPS AND INCHES VERY SLIGHTLY FORWARD. TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING DRIVER MUST BE PRESSING VERY VERY FIRMLY ON BRAKE TO THE POINT WHERE DRIVER FEELS TENSION IN HER LEG. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN TIMES SINCE CAR PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11190832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11191816 · 2019-03-27 (March 27, 2019)
FRONT GLASS PANEL OF SUNROOF SHATTERED AND FAR RIGHT/LEFT CORNERS ARE CAVING IN
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11191816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11192614 · 2019-03-30 (March 30, 2019)
WHILE BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS GOING TO THE FLOOR BOARD: SCARY. NOT EVERY TIME--INTERMITTENTLY. WHAT IF THE BRAKES FAIL ALTOGETHER? WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND WITHIN THE FIRST 400 MILES EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. IT WAS IN THE SHOP FROM 3/16 TO 3/21 THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. THEY FINISHED IT JUST IN TIME FOR MY HUSBAND'S PLANNED VACATION. THE VACATION INCLUDED DRIVING THE KIA OVER 2000 MILES. ON THE WAY BACK, STILL OVER 700 MILES FROM HOME AND JUST PRIOR TO TRAVELLING THROUGH THE SMOKEY'S, THE BRAKES HAVE THE SAME…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11192614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11196071 · 2019-04-13 (April 13, 2019)
CAR WAS PARKED UNDER CARPORT ALL NIGHT. GOT IN THIS AFTERNOON TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING, STARTED CAR, CLOSED DRIVER'S DOOR AND THE REAR HATCHBACK WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. IT DID NOT IMPLODE, IT EXPLODED. NO BODY DAMAGE, NO TREE LIMB, NO ROCK, NOTHING HIT OR TOUCHEF THE CAR WHILE UNDER CARPORT. CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I TOOK PICTURES AND VIDEO WITH MY PHONE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11196071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11223093 · 2019-06-28 (June 28, 2019)
I HAVE A TOTALED CAR DUE TO A WRECK. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS HIT MULTIPLE TIMES EXTREMELY HARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11223093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11245086 · 2019-08-19 (August 19, 2019)
DRAIN PLUG MISSING WHICH CAUSED A LEEK IN VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED ENGINE TO BREAK WHILE DRIVIVNG CAR STOPPED WORKING, WAS TOWED THEN FOUND THE DRAIN PLUG WAS MISSING PLEASE HELP I HAVE BEEN READING AND FOUND OTHER CASES LIKE MINE ON THE KIA SOUL. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY ON THRE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A GAS STATION WHERE I SLEPT IN THE CAR OVER NIGHT THEN CALL A TOW COMPANY TO TAKE ME TO THE CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP. THERE THEY TOLD ME THEIR FINDINGS.I HAD AN OIL CHANGE ON 05/20/19, AT A KIA DEALERSHIP IN MD. WHERE I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR W…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,441 miles reported. Look up ODI 11245086 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 ↗