CITY STREET. WAS TEST DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE AT THE LOWER BACK END OF THE ENGINE.
2018 Kia Soul
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 225.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Soul years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
80 reports with mileage · 138 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 140 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
218 reportsWHEN MY WIFE WAS STOPPED IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PREPARING TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I RAN INTO A PARKED CAR AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET IT TO STOP WAS TO TURN THE CAR OFF. ME, OUR DAUGHTER AND SON ALL HAVE HAD A SURGING ISSUE BUT WAS ALWAYS A MINOR ISSUE. THIS IS A VE…
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WHEN MY WIFE WAS STOPPED IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PREPARING TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I RAN INTO A PARKED CAR AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET IT TO STOP WAS TO TURN THE CAR OFF. ME, OUR DAUGHTER AND SON ALL HAVE HAD A SURGING ISSUE BUT WAS ALWAYS A MINOR ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
I RENTED THIS '18 KIA SOUL FROM HERTZ. ON 10/17 AT 9 PM I WAS INVOLVED IN A SOLO VERY HARD FRONT END COLLISION WITH A LARGE BOULDER ON A CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN HWY. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SIDE ONES DID FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BECAUSE I WASN'T WEARING A SEAT BELT I ENDED UP HAVING SERIOUS HEAD TRAUMA AS WELL AS OTHER…
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I RENTED THIS '18 KIA SOUL FROM HERTZ. ON 10/17 AT 9 PM I WAS INVOLVED IN A SOLO VERY HARD FRONT END COLLISION WITH A LARGE BOULDER ON A CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN HWY. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SIDE ONES DID FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BECAUSE I WASN'T WEARING A SEAT BELT I ENDED UP HAVING SERIOUS HEAD TRAUMA AS WELL AS OTHER BRUISES. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN THE POSSESSION OF HERTZ RENT-A-CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BULBS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE SAME MONTH. GREENWAY KIA OF HICKORY HOLLOW (5406 TARGET DR, ANTIOCH, TN 37013 (615) 731-0099) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BULBS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE SAME MONTH. GREENWAY KIA OF HICKORY HOLLOW (5406 TARGET DR, ANTIOCH, TN 37013 (615) 731-0099) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE COVERED DUE TO THE MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
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 (866-376-4307, LOCATED AT 775 W WETMORE RD, TUCSON, AZ 85705), BUT T…
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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 (866-376-4307, 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 949-468-4800 (LOCATED AT 111 PETERS CANYON RD, IRVINE, CA 92606) AND WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13283232. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000.
1ST OCCURRENCE - DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD DOWN A GRADED DRIVEWAY. AS VEHICLE CAME TO THE ROADWAY, DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES. BRAKES WERE PRESSED TO FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKE. AFTER THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP IN THE ROADWAY, DRIVER PUT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE, AND PRESSED ON …
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1ST OCCURRENCE - DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD DOWN A GRADED DRIVEWAY. AS VEHICLE CAME TO THE ROADWAY, DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES. BRAKES WERE PRESSED TO FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKE. AFTER THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP IN THE ROADWAY, DRIVER PUT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE, AND PRESSED ON GAS - VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD - NOT BACKWARDS AS EXPECTED. DRIVER THEN TURNED VEHICLE OFF, AND RE-STARTED VEHICLE. VEHICLE THEN PERFORMED NORMALLY AFTER. SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2019 2ND OCCURRENCE - AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES, DRIVER CAME TO A STOP SIGN, CLEARED INTERSECTION, AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BY PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR...NO RESPONSE...NO CHANGE IN IDLE OF ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, IN THE ROADWAY, AND TURNED BACK ON. THE CAR THEN DROVE NORMALLY. SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 2 SEPARATE DRIVERS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE FREQUENT DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THE ABOVE ISSUES. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THEY HAVE CALLED AND STATED THEY CAN FIND NO ISSUES - THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TEST IT. TRANSMISSION (ACCELERATION/CHANGING DIRECTION) AND BRAKING ARE TWO SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY HESITATED AFTER A STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT, OCCASIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT RELEASED THE AC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY HESITATED AFTER A STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT, OCCASIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL BRYAN KIA (352-431-2354, LOCATED AT 9039 US-441, LEESBURG, FL 34788) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. THE TECHNICIAN CLEANED THE TURBO, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURES. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE BLOCKED AND EMERGENCY BRAKE BLOCKED MESSAGES DISPLAYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED RON TONKIN KIA (19335 SE MCLOUGHLIN BLVD, GLADSTONE, OR 97027, (503) 258-5808), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE BLOCKED AND EMERGENCY BRAKE BLOCKED MESSAGES DISPLAYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED RON TONKIN KIA (19335 SE MCLOUGHLIN BLVD, GLADSTONE, OR 97027, (503) 258-5808), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
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 HAPPE…
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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 ALL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. THE END RESULT IS IT MAKES THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE PERSON DRIVING DOES NOT EXPECT IT TO FALTER AT VERY INORDINATE TIMES. ONE TENDS TO FORGET ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEN BOOM YOUR HEART SKIPS A BEAT BECAUSE YOU JUST DROVE YOURSELF INTO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TRAFFIC SITUATION. MY CAR NOW HAS 5,600 MILES AND THE DEALER IS JUST GIVING ME THE RUNAROUND REGARDING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED ON THE INTERNET "KIA FORUMS" AND I AM FAR FROM THE ONLY OWNER TO HAVE THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IT IS LIKE HAVING UNRELIABLE BRAKES. THE DRIVABILITY IS UNPREDICTABLE!
WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE CAR THE KEY WON'T COME OUT IF IT'S RAINING YOU GET WET AND SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START AND THE REMOTE DON'T WORK. YOU SMELL GAS WHILE YOU DRIVING.
Official recalls
122V031000 · Air Bags
Jan 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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