Which Camry years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 as Avoid years for the Camry. The 2007 model has the highest complaint index at 100, driven mainly by engine complaints.

Which Soul years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020 as Avoid years for the Soul. The 2015 model has the highest complaint index at 100, with engine problems as the top complaint area.

Does the Camry or Soul have more recalls?

The Camry has 40 total recall campaigns across 20 model years, while the Soul has 15 across 16 model years.

Which gets better fuel economy, the Camry or Soul?

The Kia Soul averages 28 MPG combined versus the Toyota Camry's 26.6 MPG combined, based on EPA figures.

Which model has more complaints overall?

The Camry logs 11,013 total complaints versus the Soul's 5,535, but NHTSA does not publish sales data, so these totals are not normalized per vehicle sold.

Toyota Camry vs Kia Soul: Which Years to Avoid

Toyota Camry years to avoid are 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011; Kia Soul years to avoid are 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020. Camry logs 11,013 total complaints across 20 model years (551 per year) versus Soul's 5,535 across 16 years (346 per year), and Camry averages 26.6 MPG combined against Soul's 28.

Head to head

Toyota Camry

Model years: 2005–2024 (20)
NHTSA complaints: 11,013
Per model year: 551
Recall campaigns: 40
Years to avoid: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Best years: 2015, 2017, 2022, 2024
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 26.6
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.9 ★

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	Camry				Soul
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Avoid	721	5	22.5	—	—	—	—
2006	Good	317	5	22.5	—	—	—	—
2007	Avoid	2,886	9	24	—	—	—	—
2008	Avoid	933	7	25	—	—	—	—
2009	Avoid	1,293	10	25	—	—	—	—
2010	Caution	602	9	26	Good	135	3	27
2011	Avoid	600	5	25	Caution	194	3	26.5
2012	Caution	589	2	26	Caution	514	3	26.5
2013	Good	274	2	26.5	Caution	662	3	26.5
2014	Caution	455	3	26.5	Avoid	900	5	26
2015	Best	271	1	26.5	Avoid	898	4	26
2016	Good	183	2	26.5	Avoid	812	2	26
2017	Best	148	3	25.5	Caution	272	1	27
2018	Caution	741	8	32	Good	218	1	27
2019	Good	395	6	32	Best	136	1	28
2020	Caution	274	3	28.5	Avoid	381	1	30
2021	Good	157	1	28	Caution	233	2	29.5
2022	Best	60	1	28	Best	88	1	30
2023	Caution	64	2	28.5	Caution	51	4	30.5
2024	Best	50	1	28	Best	29	0	30.5
2025	—	—	—	—	Best	12	0	30.5

Complaint Index by year

Toyota Camry

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 Camry years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 as Avoid years for the Camry. The 2007 model has the highest complaint index at 100, driven mainly by engine complaints.
Which Soul years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020 as Avoid years for the Soul. The 2015 model has the highest complaint index at 100, with engine problems as the top complaint area.
Does the Camry or Soul have more recalls?: The Camry has 40 total recall campaigns across 20 model years, while the Soul has 15 across 16 model years.
Which gets better fuel economy, the Camry or Soul?: The Kia Soul averages 28 MPG combined versus the Toyota Camry's 26.6 MPG combined, based on EPA figures.
Which model has more complaints overall?: The Camry logs 11,013 total complaints versus the Soul's 5,535, but NHTSA does not publish sales data, so these totals are not normalized per vehicle sold.