What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Soul?

The engine group has the most complaints at 148. Power train comes next with 32, then the unknown or other group with 30.

Does the 2018 Kia Soul have recalls?

Yes. This model year has 3 recalls on file. The Recalls section on this page lists each one.

Are there fire complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul?

NHTSA lists 14 complaints that mention a fire. 10 of them fall in the engine group.

What is the gas mileage of the 2018 Kia Soul?

See the Fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.

Is the 2018 Kia Soul a reliable car?

The complaint file has 222 reports. Check the by-year section on this page to see how this year sits next to the others.

2018 Kia Soul Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 222 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Kia Soul^[1]. The engine group shows up the most, with 148 complaints^[2].

222owner complaints^[1]

3recalls^[3]

27–28MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups in the NHTSA file for this model year, biggest first.

Engine. 148 complaints^[2]. Owners describe an engine that quit with a loud noise, a check engine light that kept returning, and a few fires. Some also describe disputes with the dealer over warranty repairs. The group lists 10 fires^[2].
Power Train. 32 complaints^[6]. In the stories we read, owners describe a car that hesitates when pulling away from a stop, a pedal that does not give the push they expect, and sudden stalling.
Unknown Or Other. 30 complaints^[7]. These reports did not point to one clear part.
Electrical System. 21 complaints^[8]. Owners describe a car that will not start as if the battery were dead, warning messages that appear without notice, and a burning smell. Some mention smoke from under the hood.
Air Bags. 11 complaints^[9]. Owners describe crashes where the air bags stayed shut. The group lists 8 crashes and 8 injuries^[9].
Fuel/Propulsion System. 11 complaints^[10].
Speed Control. 8 complaints^[11].
Brakes. 7 complaints^[12].

These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA by owners, and one complaint can name several parts.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2018 Soul is necessarily included.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (Prndl) (23V724), October 2023. About 6,262 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery (23V218), March 2023. About 2,689 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Air Bags (22V031), January 2022. About 410,619 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Soul, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[16]	25 / 30 / 27	$2,500
Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[17]	25 / 30 / 27	$2,500
Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[18]	24 / 30 / 27	$2,500
Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM7), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	26 / 31 / 28	$2,400
Soul Electric, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity^[19]	124 / 93 / 108	n/a

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV FWD^[5]	5	5	5	4	14.7%

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: SUV FWD^[20].

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2018 Kia Soul with electric motor^[21]	35 hp
2018 Kia Soul with 1.6L 4-cylinder^[22]	130 to 201 hp
2018 Kia Soul with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[23]	160 to 161 hp

How 2018 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Soul model year. The 2018 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2010	135	3
2011	194	3
2012	514	3
2013	667	3
2014	904	5
2015	908	7
2016	823	5
2017	290	3
2018	222	3
2019	140	3
2020	387	1
2021	238	2
2022	94	1
2023	54	4
2024	30	0
2025	12	0

NHTSA's counts for the Soul show 222 complaints and 3 recalls for 2018^[3]. Among the 16 model years listed, 7 have fewer complaints than 2018 and 8 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2025 (12) and the most are for 2015 (908)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2018 Soul?

The 2018 Kia Soul has a long complaint file, with 222 reports in total^[1]. The engine group is the biggest part of it^[2]. The air bag group is much smaller, but it lists 8 crashes and 8 injuries^[9], out of 15 crashes and 12 injuries on the whole file^[1]. The page also lists 3 recalls for this year^[3]. Counts like these are not adjusted for sales, so use them to spot patterns and not to rank this car against other models.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Soul?: The engine group has the most complaints at 148^[2]. Power train comes next with 32^[6], then the unknown or other group with 30^[7].
Does the 2018 Kia Soul have recalls?: Yes. This model year has 3 recalls on file^[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists each one.
Are there fire complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul?: NHTSA lists 14 complaints that mention a fire^[1]. 10 of them fall in the engine group^[2].
What is the gas mileage of the 2018 Kia Soul?: See the Fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.
Is the 2018 Kia Soul a reliable car?: The complaint file has 222 reports^[1]. Check the by-year section on this page to see how this year sits next to the others.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Kia Soul

2012 514 complaints, 3 recalls
2013 667 complaints, 3 recalls
2014 904 complaints, 5 recalls
2015 908 complaints, 7 recalls
2016 823 complaints, 5 recalls
2017 290 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 this page
2020 387 complaints, 1 recall

Compare all model years of the Kia Soul

Other Kia models from 2018

2018 Kia Forte 136 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 Kia Optima 243 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 Kia Sedona 49 complaints, 3 recalls

All Kia models

Similar cars from 2018: station wagons

2018 Honda HR-V 159 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class 50 complaints, 12 recalls
2018 Nissan Murano 113 complaints, 2 recalls

All station wagons we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 222 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Kia Soul (15 mention a crash, 14 a fire, 12 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
148 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 10 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 76,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Kia Soul model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM7), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 31 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.7%. NHTSA vehicle records
32 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 33,000). NHTSA vehicle records
30 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 13,000). NHTSA vehicle records
21 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 59,000). NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the air bags component group (8 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 36,000). NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the speed control component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the brakes component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 23V724, filed October 26, 2023: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (Prndl). NHTSA recall database
Recall 23V218, filed March 29, 2023: Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery. NHTSA recall database
Recall 22V031, filed January 25, 2022: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Soul, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 30 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 30 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 30 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Soul Electric, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 108 MPGe combined, 111 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Kia Soul with electric motor: rated 35 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Kia Soul with 1.6L 4-cylinder: rated 130 to 201 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Kia Soul with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 160 to 161 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2018 Kia Soul: problems, recalls and fuel economy