NHTSA has 12 owner complaints on file for the 2025 Kia Soul[1]. The biggest group is exterior lighting, with 4 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Here are the complaint groups in the reports owners filed, biggest first.
- Exterior Lighting. 4 complaints[2]. Owners describe headlights that look dim at night and make the road hard to see, and one report mentions moisture inside the headlight.
- Unknown Or Other. 3 complaints[5]. These reports do not point to one clear part of the car.
- Brakes. 2 complaints[6]. In the stories we read, one owner says the car sped up on its own and the brakes did not respond. Another owner writes about a tire that wore out early.
- Lane Departure. 2 complaints[7]. Owners describe night driving trouble and a moment when several collision warnings lit up at once.
- Forward Collision Avoidance. 2 complaints[8]. One owner says the car hit a deer and the automatic braking did not seem to act.
- Speed Control. 1 complaint[9].
- Wheels. 1 complaint[10].
- Suspension. 1 complaint[11].
Recalls
NHTSA's records show 0 recalls for the 2025 Soul[12].
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.
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV FWD[4] | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 14.7% |
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
| Engine | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| 2025 Kia Soul with 2.0L 4-cylinder[14] | 147 hp |
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.
How 2025 compares with other years
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 12 complaints and 0 recalls for 2025[12]. Among the 16 model years listed, 0 have fewer complaints than 2025 and 15 have more[12]. The fewest complaints are for 2025 (12) and the most are for 2015 (908)[12]. 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 2025 Soul?
The 2025 Kia Soul has 12 complaints on file with NHTSA[1]. Lighting is the most named group at 4 complaints[2]. These are owner reports that have not been verified, and the counts are not adjusted for sales. The set is small, so it is best read as a list of things to check on a test drive, such as headlights at night and how the driver assist warnings behave.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2025 Kia Soul?
- Owners name exterior lighting most often, with 4 complaints[2]. Brakes and lane departure each have 2 complaints[6][7].
- Has the 2025 Kia Soul been recalled?
- The by-year data shows 0 recalls for 2025[12]. Any recalls are listed in the Recalls section of this page.
- Is the 2025 Kia Soul reliable?
- NHTSA has 12 owner complaints on file for it[1]. These are unverified reports and are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a guide only.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2025 Kia Soul?
- See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.
- Is 2025 the best year for the Kia Soul?
- The by-year comparison section lays the years side by side, and 2025 shows 12 complaints[12].
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Kia Soul
Compare all model years of the Kia Soul
Other Kia models from 2025
Similar cars from 2025: station wagons
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 12 owner complaints on file for the 2025 Kia Soul (2 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 4 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA rating for Soul Eco dynamics, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 35 highway / 31 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.7%. NHTSA vehicle records
- 3 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the brakes component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the lane departure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the forward collision avoidance component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the speed control component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the wheels component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the suspension component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Kia Soul model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Soul, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 33 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2025 Kia Soul with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 147 hp. www.epa.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SOUL 5DR HATCH: length 165 in, width 71 in, height 64 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 2,844 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SOUL EV LIMITED 5DR HATCH: length 165 in, width 71 in, height 64 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 3,715 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SOUL EV PREMIUM 5DR HATCH: length 165 in, width 71 in, height 64 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 3,466 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov