Which Honda Accord years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019 as Avoid years for the Accord, based on complaint index scores as high as 100 (2018) and 95 (2008).

Which Kia Soul years should I avoid?

2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020 are flagged as Avoid for the Soul, with 2015 hitting a complaint index of 100 and reporting 83 fires that model year.

Does the Accord or Soul have more complaints overall?

The Accord has 12,970 total complaints versus 5,535 for the Soul, but the Accord is tracked over 21 model years versus 16 for the Soul, and NHTSA does not publish sales data to normalize these totals.

Which gets better fuel economy, the Accord or Soul?

The Kia Soul averages 28 MPG combined across its model years versus 27.1 MPG combined for the Honda Accord.

Do either the Accord or Soul have years with no Good or Best verdict?

No, both models have years earning Good or Best verdicts; the Accord's best years are 2021-2024 and the Soul's best years are 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2025.

Honda Accord vs Kia Soul: Which Years to Avoid

Honda Accord years to avoid are 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019; Kia Soul years to avoid are 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020. The Accord logs 12,970 total complaints across 21 model years (618/year) versus the Soul's 5,535 across 16 years (346/year), and the Soul averages slightly better combined MPG (28 vs 27.1).

Head to head

Honda Accord

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 12,970
Per model year: 618
Recall campaigns: 49
Years to avoid: 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019
Best years: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Top problem area: Electrical System
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 27.1
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 5.0 ★

Kia Soul

Model years: 2010–2025 (16)
NHTSA complaints: 5,535
Per model year: 346
Recall campaigns: 15
Years to avoid: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020
Best years: 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 28.0
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.4 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Accord				Soul
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Caution	656	15	23	—	—	—	—
2006	Caution	430	12	23	—	—	—	—
2007	Caution	524	9	23	—	—	—	—
2008	Avoid	1,520	8	24	—	—	—	—
2009	Avoid	725	10	24	—	—	—	—
2010	Caution	580	12	25	Good	135	3	27
2011	Caution	296	9	26	Caution	194	3	26.5
2012	Caution	373	8	26	Caution	514	3	26.5
2013	Avoid	1,421	5	26	Caution	662	3	26.5
2014	Avoid	981	4	27	Avoid	900	5	26
2015	Caution	601	5	26	Avoid	898	4	26
2016	Caution	604	4	26	Avoid	812	2	26
2017	Good	535	3	25.5	Caution	272	1	27
2018	Avoid	1,881	6	28.5	Good	218	1	27
2019	Avoid	689	6	28.5	Best	136	1	28
2020	Good	362	5	28.5	Avoid	381	1	30
2021	Best	232	4	32	Caution	233	2	29.5
2022	Best	249	4	32	Best	88	1	30
2023	Best	85	5	32	Caution	51	4	30.5
2024	Best	141	3	32	Best	29	0	30.5
2025	Good	85	0	32	Best	12	0	30.5

Complaint Index by year

Honda Accord

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Kia Soul

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Frequently asked questions

Which Honda Accord years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019 as Avoid years for the Accord, based on complaint index scores as high as 100 (2018) and 95 (2008).
Which Kia Soul years should I avoid?: 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020 are flagged as Avoid for the Soul, with 2015 hitting a complaint index of 100 and reporting 83 fires that model year.
Does the Accord or Soul have more complaints overall?: The Accord has 12,970 total complaints versus 5,535 for the Soul, but the Accord is tracked over 21 model years versus 16 for the Soul, and NHTSA does not publish sales data to normalize these totals.
Which gets better fuel economy, the Accord or Soul?: The Kia Soul averages 28 MPG combined across its model years versus 27.1 MPG combined for the Honda Accord.
Do either the Accord or Soul have years with no Good or Best verdict?: No, both models have years earning Good or Best verdicts; the Accord's best years are 2021-2024 and the Soul's best years are 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2025.