2022 Kia Soul: common problems and reliability

The 2022 Kia Soul has 87 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are engine and engine and engine cooling. 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 2022 model year

87
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
4
Crash reports
1
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2022 Kia Soul vehicles (US, public record).

Where owners report problems

engine
50
engine and engine cooling
19
power train
12
electrical system
10
fuel/propulsion system
7

Recalls affecting the 2022 Soul

engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical

Campaign 25V099000

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.

What owners say across generations

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 basic, economical trans

  • 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.
  • Excessive oil consumption/burning — recurrent, noted as a common precursor to major engine issues.
  • Transmission problems — includes laggy acceleration, harsh clunking between gears (particularly 2nd to 3rd), "searching" for gears, and general lack of refinement. Frequency: recurrent.
  • Intermittent starting issues — strong crank but failure to start, or stalling immediately after starting, not consistently linked to battery or starter. Frequency: recurrent.
  • Theft/Break-in attempts — particularly for models without factory immobilizers (pre-2022), leading to smashed windows and attempted theft. Frequency: recurrent.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Soul.

Typical used price

Used Soul listings typically run $11,800–$19,709 across 2014 to 2025 model years.

Other Soul model years

2020 Soul2019 Soul2017 Soul2016 Soul2014 Soul
Full Kia Soul owner reportCompare against another car