Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 Soul EV | 3 | 3 |
| 2018 Soul EV | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 Soul EV | 18 | 3 |
| 2016 Soul EV | 7 | 4 |
| 2015 Soul EV | 6 | 4 |
| 2014 Soul EV | 2 | 1 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system17
- Power train10
- Unknown or other6
- Service brakes6
- Engine5
- Visibility/wiper2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Structure1
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 5 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2019 Kia Soul EV SUV FWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Kia Soul EV SUV FWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2017 | 2017 Kia Soul EV SUV FWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2016 | 2016 Kia Soul Ev SUV FWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2015 | 2015 Kia Soul Ev SUV FWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
New registrations in Europe
1,784 new Kia Soul EV cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2014 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Slovenia (3).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | 0 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 37 | 0 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 523 | 0 (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 452 | 0 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 440 | — |
| 2015 | 297 | — |
| 2014 | 27 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Soul EV in 5 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
When the vehicle is charging and the parking brake is not manually engaged, unintended vehicle movement may occur even though the gear shift lever is in park position, increasing the risk of accident and injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation …
The electric power control unit (EPCU) may leak coolant internally which can cause a loss of driving power, creating a risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trai…
Frontal collision sensors (left and right) could disengage in the event of a collision. This can affect the deployment of the airbags, increasing the risk of injuries in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval …
The open circuit of the bus bar generating a vehicle malfunction producing a DTC. The bus bar is the large socket which is fixed by screws on the injection computer (ECU) the loose plug can lead to injection faults, hence the risk of pollution emission at the …
The "Malfunction Indicator Lamp" could be switched on incorrectly. That can impair the braking performance of the vehicle, increasing the risk an accident.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
5 campaigns cover the Soul EV.
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.
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.
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.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Kia Soul Electric Vehicle (EV) vehicles. The parking mechanism may become damaged if the driver moves the gear shift lever into Park 'P' before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. If the parking mechanism is damaged, unintended vehicle movement may occur when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
NHTSA recalls