Model year

2019 Kia Soul

NHTSA lists 1 recall and 137 complaints for the 2019 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 (88), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (19), AIR BAGS (15). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. 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.

ABOUT THIS DATA

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

137 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 11, fire flag on 8, injury field 12, deaths field 0. 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.

  1. ENGINE88
  2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER19
  3. AIR BAGS15
  4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
  5. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM12
  6. POWER TRAIN6
  7. SEAT BELTS6
  8. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
  9. EXTERIOR LIGHTING5
  10. SERVICE BRAKES5

Other NHTSA names

These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.

Other matched NHTSA names
Name Recalls Complaints
SOUL EV 3 3

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (1). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
ActionSubjectOpenedClosed
DP22003Loss of Motive Power · ENGINESep 12, 2022Dec 12, 2023

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-star variants matched to this model year (2). Rollover possibility is the API's published figure, shown as recorded.
VariantOverallFrontSidePoleRolloverPhoto
EV SUV FWD Not rated Not RatedNot RatedNot RatedNot Rated · possibility 0—
SUV FWD 5 5554 · possibility 0.147NHTSA photo

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
ConfigurationFuelCityHwyCombkWh/100 miRangeAnnual fuel cost
Soul · 1.6L · Automatic (AM7) · Front-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline263128——$2,400
Soul · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline253027——$2,500
Soul · 1.6L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline263128——$2,400
Soul · 1.6L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline243027——$2,500
Soul Electric · Automatic (A1) · Front-Wheel DriveElectricity · EV1249310831.2111$700

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

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 2019 Kia Soul at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

All Kia Soul model years