Photo: TuRbO_J from Adelaide, Australia / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2018 Kia Soul: common problems and reliability
One of the weaker Soul years.
439 owner complaints, most about engine. 3 recalls.
Should I buy a 2018 Soul?The 2018 Kia Soul has 439 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and power train. Owners most often flag catastrophic engine failure (knocking, stalling, seizure) often preceded by excessive oil consumption: very frequent across 2010-2020 models. linked to recalls and extended warranty programs.
Safety record for the 2018 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2018 Kia Soul vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Soul years only. How we score it
Is 2018 a good year for the Soul?
Across the 16 Soul model years we track, complaint volume runs from 51 (2023) to 1,808 (2015). With 439 complaints, the 2018 Soul sits above the model's median of 290.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2018 Soul
air bags
Campaign 22V031000Kia 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.
electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
Campaign 23V218000Kia 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.
power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Campaign 23V724000Kia 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.
What owners say across generations
Mixed to negative sentiment, heavily dependent on model year and engine.
- Catastrophic engine failure (knocking, stalling, seizure) often preceded by excessive oil consumption
Very frequent across 2010-2020 models. Linked to recalls and extended warranty programs.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Soul. See the full Soul owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Soul listings typically run $13,383–$20,275 across 2015 to 2025 model years.
Other Soul model years
Compare every Soul year side by side to see how 2018 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Soul against its rivals
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