2018 Kia Soul: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2018 Kia Soul
On the 2018 Kia Soul, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 75,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other powertrain problem, reported by a median of 25,000 miles. Overall it scores 75 out of 100, high risk for a 2018.
High risk for a 2018 — 141st riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. 294 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 41 named failure modes on the 2018 Kia Soul, and the three most-reported carry 44% of everything filed.
Other engine problem leads with 69 reports, about 2.0 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 62k to 110,000 miles.
Excessive oil consumption follows with 39 reports, usually reported between 69k to 110,000 miles.
Other powertrain problem follows with 21 reports, usually reported between 11k to 50,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (142), transmission (24) and adas (16).
When these failures get reported
104 of the reports on the 2018 Kia Soul came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 54,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 45% by 50,000 miles, 86% by 100,000 miles and 94% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 17% of the dated reports.
33% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other powertrain problem around 25k, other engine problem around 75k and excessive oil consumption around 89k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 41. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 12 mention a crash, 16 a fire and 7 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.80, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, excessive oil consumption at $900–$6,500, other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500 and complete engine failure or seizure at $4,500–$12,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
57% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures, so more than half of what owners complained about here is expensive.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 69 | 31 | 62k | 75k | 111k | 2.0 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 39 | 12 | 69k | 89k | 112k | 1.1 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 21 | 10 | 11k | 25k | 50k | 0.6 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 13 | 1 | — | 35 | — | 0.4 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 10 | 2 | — | 58k | — | 0.3 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 8 | 2 | — | 91k | — | 0.2 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 8 | 4 | — | 23k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 6 | 1 | — | 55k | — | 0.2 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 5 | 1 | — | 47k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 5 | 1 | — | 37k | — | 0.1 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 4 | 1 | — | 200k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 4 | 4 | — | 31k | — | 0.1 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 4 | 2 | — | 39k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 4 | 3 | — | 5k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 3 | 3 | — | 340 | — | 0.1 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 3 | 1 | — | 81k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 3 | 1 | — | 97k | — | 0.1 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 3 | 2 | — | 12k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 3 | 1 | — | 52k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 1k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 2 | 2 | — | 65k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 2 | 2 | — | 26k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 68k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 63k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $150–$900 | Low |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 6k | — | 0.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 29 | 10 | 12k | 13k | 25k | 0.8 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2018 Kia Soul draws about 8.6 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 89th percentile of complaint rates among 2018 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 34,218 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2018 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
Recalls on the 2018 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2018 Kia Soul, affecting an estimated 34,218 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover air bags. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
AIR BAGS
410,619 vehicles 2022-01-25- Defect
- Kia 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.
- Consequence
- Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2018 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2018 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2018 — 141st riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 16 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2025 comes out best at 59 and 2020 worst at 82, with 2018 itself at 75.
If the model year is negotiable, 2025, 2024, 2016 and 2012 score lower than 2018 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2017–2019 generation specifically, 2017 is the strongest year at 74 and 2019 the weakest at 75.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2017-2019 generation, 2017 Kia Soul scores best at 74 and 2019 Kia Soul worst at 75.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other powertrain problem from about 11k, other engine problem from about 62k and excessive oil consumption from about 69k.
On a 2018 Kia Soul with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other powertrain problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
294 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 294 reports, 104 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 35% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Soul?
The most-reported failures are other engine problem (69 reports, median 75,000 miles), excessive oil consumption (39 reports, median 90,000 miles) and other powertrain problem (21 reports, median 25,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2018 Kia Soul problems start?
Other powertrain problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 25,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 10,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 54,000 miles.
Is the 2018 Kia Soul reliable?
It scores 75 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 141st riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2018 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Kia Soul is best?
Within the 2017–2019 generation, 2017 scores best at 74 out of 100 and 2019 worst at 75. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed