2018 Kia Soul: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 221 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (60% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 6 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Oct 2023
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 221 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2026
“The vehicle is suffering from an extreme internal engine oil consumption defect, burning approximately 3 quarts of engine oil every 500 to 600 miles with no external leaks. The internal oil burning heavily fouled the vehicle's ignition system (spark plugs and coil packs), causing severe engine misfires and a sudden vehicle stall while operating in motion on public highways. This unexpected loss of motive power creates an extreme safety hazard. The local dealership, Paramount Kia of Hickory, refused to follow proper factory Technical Service Bulletin (TSB-ENG219) testing protocols to document the defect, leaving the consumer operating an unsafe vehicle.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2026
“I am losing the engines oil every 500 miles. It is an ongoing problem and I have to check my oil on a regular basis so the engine does not seize or catch fire as my mechanic has instructed/alerted me to do.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2026
“During a BBB dispute regarding warranty coverage, Kia Corporate claimed the vehicle is ineligible for safety recall repairs.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2026
“My 2018 Kia Soul has failed on oil consumption test and needs and engine replacement. Kia knows of these issues with these cars but will not cover the engine replacement cost bc the class action suit does not cover oil consumption failure only rod bearings. This will be an issue sooner or later with the oil problem. Kia has several recalls on other vehicles for the exact same thing.”Owner report · Engine · May 2026
“The ABS/traction warning lights came on. On April 29,2026, I took it to Beck and Masten Group 1 Kia inTomball, Texas and they diagnosed as HECU failure. The repair cost $2377.16. KIA corporate denied reimbursement. Lights were resolved after HECU replacement. There was no accident/injury/fire. mileage was 60400. I wanted to note and document as a potential safety trend.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Apr 2026
When filing, owners marked a crash in 15 of these complaints and injuries in 12 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
Kia America, Inc. (KIA) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles. The parking mechanism may be damaged, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied while the vehicle is powered on.
Remedy: Dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC287. This recall expands and replaces recall number 20V-389. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-389 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit while driving.
Remedy: Dealers will update and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, free of charge. The new software will illuminate the EV warning light, limit charging capacity, and reduce vehicle power if abnormal voltage is detected. If this occurs, the battery will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC267.
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 in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2018 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Soul years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact Soul by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Kia Soul reliable?
NHTSA has 221 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2018 Kia Soul. The most complained-about area is engine (60% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2018 Kia Soul problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 59,000 miles or less.
Does the 2018 Kia Soul have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.