Photo: Kevauto / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2020 Kia Soul: common problems and reliability
An average Soul year.
381 owner complaints, most about engine. 1 recall.
Should I buy a 2020 Soul?The 2020 Kia Soul has 381 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall 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 2020 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2020 Kia Soul vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Soul years only. How we score it
Is 2020 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 381 complaints, the 2020 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 2020 Soul
engine
Campaign 21V259000Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
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 2020 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Soul against its rivals
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