Second generation (PS)
2018 Kia Soul
The most reported problem on the 2018 Kia Soul is engine failure, with 73 complaints, usually around 80,000 miles.
- 218owner complaints
- 1recalls
- 14involved a crash
- 63,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Soul doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2018 model year.
Is the 2018 Kia Soul reliable?
The 2018 Kia Soul has 218 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 221 for 2018 hatchbacks on this site. Of the 12 Soul model years since 2014, it has the 7th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017 and 2019
- At 24 complaints for each year on the road, the 2018 runs close to the 2017 (27) and above the 2019 (17).
- Top problem
- Engine failure leads with 73 of the 218 complaints (33%), ahead of stalling at 40. A quarter of the 40 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure saw it by about 66,000 miles, and half by about 80,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 28 of the 218 complaints (13%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 14 reports mention a crash, 14 mention a fire and 12 people were hurt. The reports record 1 death. The most crash reports, 8 of 14, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as engine failure, stalling and oil consumption. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 32, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 25 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 73 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
218 complaints is 1.3 times fewer than the median 2018 model on this site and about the median for a 2018 hatchback. Among the 8 Soul model years here it ranks 7th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2018 Kia Soul
Kia filed 95 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2018 Kia Soul. 16 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 2 bulletins · 73 complaints
PITSTOP: LOW OIL PRESSURE AT IDLE AFTER GAMMA 1.6L GDI SHORT BLOCK ENGINE REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information equipped with a Gamma 1.6L GDI regarding a 'low oil pressure' concern during engine idle on vehicles engine due to a missing dowel pin, after a short block engine replacement.
PITSTOP: DTC P0011/ P0014/ P0016/ P0017 DUE TO INCORRECT CAMSHAFT RELUCTOR WHEEL CONFIGURATION This Pitstop provides information on some 2010-2013MY Soul (AM), 2014-2019MY Soul (PS), and 2020~MY Soul (SK3) vehicles equipped with the engines listed below, which may set DTC P0011, P0014, P0016, or P0017 after an engine replacement.
Engine knocking or ticking 3 bulletins · 45 complaints
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2107Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published (PI2107) titled “Nu 2.0L GDI - Knock Sensor Detection System ECU Logic Improvement”.
SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2107Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published (PI2107) titled "Nu 2.0L GDI - Knock Sensor Detection System ECU Logic Improvement".
1 more on this problem
NU 2.0L GDI KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI2107) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS), in order to protect the engine from ...
Burns oil or oil level rises 5 bulletins · 40 complaints
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
3 more on this problem
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA ENGINES - This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2012-2019MY Soul (AM/PS) vehicles (refer to table below for applicable engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
Rod bearing failure 3 bulletins · 15 complaints
OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2107) This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2017-2019 MY Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing ...
OWNER NOTIFICATION This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2017-2019 MY Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter Nu GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod ...
1 more on this problem
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage ...
Battery dies or the car will not start 2 bulletins · 8 complaints
PITSTOP: P/HEV NO START ? SHIFT BEFORE READY This Pitstop provides information regarding possible customer complaint of intermittent ?No-Start?.
PITSTOP EXTRACTING BMS DATA FOR RANGE CONCERNS PRIOR TO PERFORMING UPDATES - For any customers experiencing a range concern with their vehicle, all Battery Management System (BMS) current data should be extracted and reviewed to verify the current battery State of ...
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 7 complaints
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to underbody components, including inspection/replacement of the brake line(s), on certain 2014-2019MY Soul (PS) vehicles produced from July 21, 2013 through December 24, 2018, and ...
Complaints filed by year
32 complaints came in 2025. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2018 Kia Soul
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
The recall on the 2018 Kia Soul, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2018 Kia Soul?
Engine failure, with 73 of the 218 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 80,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2018 Kia Soul problems start?
Of the 118 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 28,000 miles and half by about 63,000.
Is the 2018 Kia Soul better or worse than the 2017 and 2019?
Counted per year on the road, the 2018 has about as many complaints as the 2017 and more complaints than the 2019: 24 a year against 27 and 17.
How many 2018 Kia Soul complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
28 of them (13%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2018 Kia Soul?
No recall on file for the 2018 Kia Soul is on the same system as engine failure. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.