Model year
2018 Kia Soul
NHTSA lists 1 recall and 219 complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 3 recalls and 3 complaints under SOUL EV. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are ENGINE (141), POWER TRAIN (31), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (30). NHTSA rated the SUV FWD 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 27–28 mpg combined and 108 MPGe combined and 31.2 kWh/100 mi depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $700–$2,500, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2010 135 complaints
- 2011 194 complaints
- 2012 514 complaints
- 2013 667 complaints
- 2014 902 complaints
- 2015 902 complaints
- 2016 816 complaints
- 2017 272 complaints
- 2018 219 complaints
- 2019 137 complaints
- 2020 387 complaints
- 2021 238 complaints
- 2022 94 complaints
- 2023 54 complaints
- 2024 30 complaints
- 2025 12 complaints
Recalls
22V031000 · Jan 25, 2022
AIR BAGS
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…
Complaints
219 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 14, fire flag on 14, injury field 12, deaths field 1. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| SOUL EV | 3 | 3 |
Investigations
No investigations are matched to this name.
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV SUV FWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
| SUV FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.147 | NHTSA photo |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soul · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 30 | 27 | — | — | $2,500 |
| Soul · 1.6L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 30 | 27 | — | — | $2,500 |
| Soul · 1.6L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 | 30 | 27 | — | — | $2,500 |
| Soul · 1.6L · Automatic (AM7) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 | 31 | 28 | — | — | $2,400 |
| Soul Electric · Automatic (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity · EV | 124 | 93 | 108 | 31.2 | 111 | $700 |
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Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2018 Kia Soul at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.