What are the most common problems with the 2019 Kia Soul?

The engine group has the most complaints on file. Air bags and the electrical system follow. See the problems section above for how owners describe each group.

Does the 2019 Kia Soul have any recalls?

Yes. This model year has recalls on file. The Recalls section on this page lists them by code.

How many complaints does the 2019 Kia Soul have?

NHTSA has 140 complaints on file for this model year. They are unverified owner reports.

What gas mileage does the 2019 Kia Soul get?

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

Is the 2019 Kia Soul a good year to buy?

See the by-year comparison on this page to weigh it against other years of the same model. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a guide only.

2019 Kia Soul Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 140 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Kia Soul^[1]. 93 of them name the engine group^[2].

140owner 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, biggest first. These are unverified reports sent in by owners, and one complaint can name several parts.

Engine. 93 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe the car jumping forward slightly while stopped, a slow response when they press the gas, and sudden loss of power on the highway. Others write about a missing drain plug, a check engine light, and the engine using more oil than they expect.
Unknown or other. 20 complaints^[6]. These do not point to one clear part.
Air bags. 15 complaints^[7]. Owners describe crashes where the air bags did not deploy or did not inflate the way they expected.
Electrical system. 15 complaints^[8]. Owners describe burning smells and smoke from the dash, a drained battery, the car shutting off while driving, and worries about the lack of a security system.
Fuel and propulsion system. 12 complaints^[9]. Owners describe stalling at low speed, fuel injectors that failed, and engine trouble that seemed to get worse over time.
Brakes. 10 complaints^[10].
Power train. 8 complaints^[11].
Seat belts. 6 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2019 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, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM7), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	26 / 31 / 28	$2,400
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]	26 / 31 / 28	$2,400
Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[18]	24 / 30 / 27	$2,500
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
2019 Kia Soul with electric motor^[21]	35 hp
2019 Kia Soul with 1.6L 4-cylinder^[22]	130 to 201 hp
2019 Kia Soul with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[23]	160 to 161 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
SOUL EV^[24]	163 in	71 in	63 in	101 in	3,325 lb
SOUL EX^[25]	163 in	71 in	63 in	101 in	2,967 lb
SOUL LX^[26]	163 in	71 in	63 in	101 in	2,873 lb
SOUL SX^[27]	163 in	71 in	63 in	101 in	3,080 lb

How 2019 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Soul model year. The 2019 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 140 complaints and 3 recalls for 2019^[3]. Among the 16 model years listed, 5 have fewer complaints than 2019 and 10 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 2019 Soul?

The complaint record for this model year is dominated by the engine group^[2]. Some reports involve crashes, fires or injuries, so they are worth a careful look^[1]. Recalls exist for this year, and the Recalls section lists them^[3]. If you are shopping for one, ask for service records and check that all recall work has been done. These counts come from owner reports and are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Kia Soul?: The engine group has the most complaints on file^[2]. Air bags and the electrical system follow^[7]^[8]. See the problems section above for how owners describe each group.
Does the 2019 Kia Soul have any recalls?: Yes. This model year has recalls on file^[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists them by code.
How many complaints does the 2019 Kia Soul have?: NHTSA has 140 complaints on file for this model year^[1]. They are unverified owner reports.
What gas mileage does the 2019 Kia Soul get?: See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.
Is the 2019 Kia Soul a good year to buy?: See the by-year comparison on this page to weigh it against other years of the same model. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a guide only^[1].

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Kia Soul

2011 194 complaints, 3 recalls
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 222 complaints, 3 recalls
2019 this page
2020 387 complaints, 1 recall

Compare all model years of the Kia Soul

Other Kia models from 2019

2019 Kia Forte 149 complaints, 2 recalls
2019 Kia Optima 213 complaints, 1 recall

All Kia models

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 140 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Kia Soul (13 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 14 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
93 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 7 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 67,000). 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
20 complaints name the unknown or other component group (3 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 7,000). NHTSA vehicle records
15 complaints name the air bags component group (9 crashes, 1 fires, 12 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
15 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
12 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
10 complaints name the brakes component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,000). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
6 complaints name the seat belts component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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: 26 city / 31 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. 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, 2019 Kia Soul with electric motor: rated 35 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2019 Kia Soul with 1.6L 4-cylinder: rated 130 to 201 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2019 Kia Soul with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 160 to 161 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SOUL EV: length 163 in, width 71 in, height 63 in, wheelbase 101 in, curb weight 3,325 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SOUL EX: length 163 in, width 71 in, height 63 in, wheelbase 101 in, curb weight 2,967 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SOUL LX: length 163 in, width 71 in, height 63 in, wheelbase 101 in, curb weight 2,873 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SOUL SX: length 163 in, width 71 in, height 63 in, wheelbase 101 in, curb weight 3,080 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.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.

2019 Kia Soul: problems, recalls and fuel economy