The 2020 Kia Soul has 357 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.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2020 Kia Soul vehicles (US, public record).
Across the 6 Soul model years we track, complaint volume runs from 87 (2022) to 1,600 (2016). With 357 complaints, the 2020 Soul sits about the same asthe model's median of 357.
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.
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.
Mixed to negative sentiment, heavily dependent on model year and engine. The vehicle is consistently praised for its practicality, including exceptional interior roominess, good fuel economy, easy maneuverability, and overall value as a…
Owner insights cover all generations of the Soul. See the full Soul owner picture and every model year.
Used Soul listings typically run $11,800–$19,709 across 2014 to 2025 model years.
Compare every Soul year side by side to see how 2020 ranks against the rest.