2018 Kia Soul
Common Problems
Ranked from 108 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
16 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Engine Stall at Idle
35complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine stalls at idle, often due to issues with the stop-start system or engine management system.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Engine Burning Excessive Oil
34complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine consumes an excessive amount of oil, leading to frequent oil changes and potential engine failure.
- 3
Engine Light On During Driving
30complaintsMedium severityEngineThe check engine warning light illuminates during driving, indicating an underlying engine issue.
- 4
Engine Misfire and Grinding Noise
26complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine misfires and produces a grinding noise, indicating a serious engine defect or failure.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Engine Knocking Noise
18complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine produces a knocking noise, indicating possible internal engine failure or wear.
- 6
Engine Knocking and Connecting Rod Failure
17complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine produces a knocking sound and the connecting rod fails, potentially leading to engine seizure.
- 7
Engine Seizure and Complete Failure
17complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine seizes or completely fails, often due to lack of oil or internal component failure, requiring immediate roadside assistance.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Engine Software Issues Leading to Limp Home Mode
11complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine enters a limp home mode due to software issues, limiting engine performance and requiring immediate attention.
- 9
Engine Oil Light Issues
8complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine oil light does not properly indicate low oil levels, leading to potential engine damage.
- 10
Airbag Deployment Failure
5complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe airbags fail to deploy during a collision, increasing the risk of injury or death.
- 11
Vehicle Acceleration Issues
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThe vehicle accelerates uncontrollably or hesitates during acceleration without warning.
- 12
Fire Incidents
3complaintsHigh severityOtherThe vehicle catches fire spontaneously without any apparent cause or warning.
- 13
Transmission Malfunction
3complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission malfunctions, causing the vehicle to lose power or fail to shift gears properly.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Brake Failure During Emergency Stops
2complaintsHigh severityOtherThe brakes fail during emergency stops, leading to potential rear-end collisions.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 15
Safety Recalls Not Addressed
2complaintsHigh severityOtherFailure to address federally mandated safety recalls, leading to vehicles being released in potentially unsafe conditions.
- 16
Steering Difficulties
2complaintsLow severitySteeringThe steering wheel becomes difficult to turn or becomes loose, sometimes inoperable, without warning lights.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.