Here Are The Kia Soul Years To Avoid
More than a decade has passed since the Kia Soul has taken the market by storm with its love-it-or-hate-it boxy styling, excellent safety ratings, and a wealth of standard features. Fast forward to today, the Soul is one of Kia’s best-selling models and remains a strong contender in the subcompact crossover SUV segment.
Despite being a solid compact SUV, several model years have had many issues, complaints, and recalls. When buying used, there are some Kia Soul years to avoid.
Below, we’ve highlighted some of the worst Kia Soul years to avoid due to reliability issues, alongside the safe ones for used purchases.
Which Kia Soul Years to Avoid?
If you can help it, you should avoid purchasing a used Kia Soul from the following model years:
- 2012 Kia Soul
- 2013 Kia Soul
- 2014 Kia Soul
- 2015 Kia Soul
- 2016 Kia Soul
2012 Kia Soul
With 470 NHTSA complaints, according to the folks from Car Complaints, the 2012 Kia Soul should be avoided at all costs. Its main problems revolved around body integrity issues and faulty safety features.
The most common issue with this Soul year is the clunking noises while turning. While turning the steering wheel, owners have reported hearing a clunking or popping noise. Moreover, some owners have also noticed loud rattling noises when driving on roads or encountering minor bumps. This body integrity issue is so common that owners are baffled that there’s no recall.
Another problem you may encounter with the 2012 Soul is the unlatched hood while driving. This is an uncommon issue, but it’s a considerable safety hazard, especially on highways or freeways.
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2013 Kia Soul
As per CarComplaints.com, the 2013 Kia Soul logged 495 NHTSA complaints. This year is worse than the 2012 version due to the engine failure issue, which requires a costly fix.
Rearing its ugly head at around 85,000+ miles, several owners have reported engine failure for the 2013 Soul. Some users said they heard a banging noise coming from the engine, while some just had the engine die on them. As expected, the standard solution for this problem is replacing the engine, which costs a whopping $5,000.
On a less severe note, a few owners claimed that their Soul’s engine had developed a ticking sound. The ticking sound ranges from mildly annoying to unsettlingly loud, compelling owners to stop by at their local Kia dealership. With a typical repair cost of $4,100, this Soul model year gets a hard pass from us.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE KIA SOUL
Read on to learn more about the most reliable Kia Soul year, the reliability of the Kia Soul across the board, and the worst years.
2014 Kia Soul
As far as the number of complaints goes, the 2014 Kia Soul is the biggest loser. Receiving more than 900 complaints, the 2014 Soul is undoubtedly one of the worst Kia Soul years to avoid. In the same vein, the 2014 Kia Soul also gets a dismal 1 out of 5 rating from Consumer Reports.
According to several owners from Consumer Reports, one of the most severe issues of the 2014 Soul is engine failure. This concern seems to be related to the Soul’s oil pump, which causes the engine to consume more oil than usual. According to one owner’s account, the vehicle started using a quart of oil every 300 miles.
The ticking/knocking noise coming from the engine makes a dreadful return in the 2014 Soul. This happens at around 105k miles, and the initial diagnosis by technicians is that it’s due to low oil. However, most complaints come from diligent owners who are up-to-date with their oil changes.
2015 Kia Soul
With 700+ NHTSA complaints and four recalls under its belt, the 2015 Kia Soul is another model you should avoid. Like the other problematic Souls on this list, the 2015 model is plagued with engine issues.
At the top of the pile of problems is engine failure. The average mileage that this issue occurs is around 80k miles. Several owners have commented that at first, it’s either the engine started burning more oil or it made knocking or ticking noises. Eventually, the Soul’s engine just died. If this happens, you’re on the hook for about $4,620 worth of engine rebuild or replacement.
Another area of concern is excessive oil consumption. Apparently, when the engine isn’t failing, it guzzles oil like nobody’s business.
2016 Kia Soul
Although it doesn’t have the highest number of complaints, CarComplaints.com cites the 2016 Soul as the worst model year - again, the main culprit is the dreaded engine failure.
The 2016 Soul’s #1 problem rated ten on the severity scale is a blown engine. Several reports indicated that the 2016 Soul’s engine is prone to blowing up, especially at around 90k miles. Not only is this a safety issue, but an engine replacement will also cost you approximately $7,000.
On top of that, Kia Soul owners also reported that their vehicle just refuses to start. Signs say that it’s a potential battery issue, but most complaints have no idea why.
Common Kia Soul Problems
The Kia Soul has excellent reliability all around, but it has its fair share of nagging problems that affect several year models. Here are some of them:
- Engine failure – This issue was quite prevalent with the Kia Soul, especially with the majority of models we highlighted in this guide. Many of the complaints detailed how they were driving and suddenly lost power and stopped altogether. It’s just an unacceptable issue that costs thousands of dollars to repair.
- Cruise control surge – According to reports, some Soul models have a cruise control system that tends to surge. Affected owners claimed that the SUV would suddenly surge in speed and then slow down to a crawl while on cruise control mode. Kia has yet to address this potentially dangerous issue as of this writing.
- Ticking noises – Not the most common among Soul models, but it’s such an annoyance for 2013 Soul owners. There’s nothing fun about hearing loud knocking or ticking noises coming from the engine. It’s yet another engine issue with the Kia Soul.
- Clicking while turning – Owners of the 2012 Soul had to deal with clunking noises while turning. This is clearly a body integrity issue that Kia failed to address.
- Defective catalytic converter – Apparently, many Kia Soul owners have complained about the defective catalytic converter, especially with the 2014–2015 model years. Owners have experienced symptoms like erratic idling, engine stalls, O2 sensor issues, and poor emission results. Alarmingly, a faulty catalytic converter can also be a fire hazard, which highlights the importance of unclogging the converter.
- Flimsy suspension – Kia Soul owners reported experiencing various suspension-related faults. At first, the Soul’s poor suspension resulted in rough rides that Kia had to modify its suspensions. Unfortunately, some of the suspension components are still more prone to failure than others such as the front wheel bearings and springs. Symptoms of this issue include dips while braking, steering issues like drifting, bumpy driving quality, and the vehicle leans to one side while parked.
- Oil leaks – The Kia Soul joins the growing list of vehicles prone to oil leakage. According to RepairPal, the most common cause of Kia Soul oil leaks are leaking engine gaskets and oil system component failure. False readings of engine oil levels may also happen which may indicate a bad oil level sensor. In many cases, the most common repair is the engine oil pan replacement.
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Which Kia Soul Years are Safe to Buy Used?
Now that we’ve listed the worst Kia Soul Years to avoid, let’s move on to the ones you can safely buy.
2011 Kia Soul
The 2nd Kia Soul ever made is one of the most reliable Soul years. The 2011 Soul is a versatile, affordable, and all-around practical compact SUV. In terms of reliability, Car Complaints gave it a ‘Pretty Good’ Seal of Approval, citing that the 2011 Soul is “comfortable to drive, roomy and reliable.”
2018 Kia Soul
The 2018 Soul offers a cavernous cargo hold, a spacious cabin, a peppy turbocharged engine, and excellent reliability ratings. In fact, J.D. Power rated the 2018 Soul an excellent Quality & Reliability score of 84 out of 100.
2019 Kia Soul
The following year, the Kia Soul made a triumphant return with its 2019 year model. The 2019 Kia Soul was lauded for its comfortable ride quality, excellent utility, and decent fuel economy. Consumer reports gave the 2019 Kia Soul a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, so you can put your reliability worries to rest.
FAQs: Kia Soul Years to Avoid
Q: Which Kia Soul years should be avoided?
A: Based on the guide, potential buyers should avoid the Kia Soul from the following model years due to reported reliability issues: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. These models have experienced various problems, from engine failures to body integrity issues.
Q: What were the main issues with the 2012 Kia Soul?
A: The 2012 Kia Soul had significant body integrity issues, with common complaints about clunking noises while turning and loud rattling noises when driving uneven roads. Additionally, there were reports of the hood unlatching while driving, which is a huge safety risk.
Q: Why is the 2016 Kia Soul considered the worst model year?
A: The 2016 Kia Soul is particularly notorious for its engine failure problems. Its engine is prone to blowing up around 90,000 miles. This issue represents a safety hazard and comes with a high repair cost, approximately $7,000 for an engine replacement.
Q: What are the safer Kia Soul years to purchase used?
A: For those considering a used Kia Soul, the 2011, 2018, and 2019 models are more reliable choices. These years have received better reliability ratings and have fewer reported issues than the problematic model years.
How much does a new Kia Soul typically cost?
The Soul LX is the base model, starting at around $21,200 (including destination charges). The top-tier Soul EX will cost you about $25,500. However, the GT-Line version with the optional technology upgrade has a $27,200 sticker price. These prices don’t reflect any additional dealer fees or markups.
How much does a used Kia Soul typically cost?
The Kia Soul has been on the market since 2010. So the price for a used one can run anywhere from $3,000 for an older example with high mileage to $25,000 (or more) for a Soul that’s practically brand new. Keep in mind that used car prices are still above average, thanks to the unusual market conditions. For instance, the CoPilot Price Pulse shows that the 2015 Kia Soul costs 39% more than the original price forecast.
Is the Kia Soul a good car to purchase?
Yes, for many, the Kia Soul is an ideal blend of practicality and affordability wrapped in a distinctive package. Its four-cylinder engine helps keep refueling costs low, and newer models have the latest safety technology. Like all cars, not every model year is perfect, so be sure to check out which Kia Souls models to avoid.
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