Which years should I avoid for the Honda Civic?

NHTSA data points to 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2022 as the Civic years with the highest complaint indexes, ranging from a complaint index of 75 to 100, relative to other Civic model years.

Which years should I avoid for the Kia Soul?

The Kia Soul years flagged are 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020, with complaint indexes from 80 to 100, driven mostly by engine complaints (63% of all Soul complaints).

Does the Civic or Soul have more recalls?

The Civic has 49 total recall campaigns across 21 model years versus 15 for the Soul across 16 years.

Which gets better fuel economy, the Civic or Soul?

The Civic averages 31.3 mpg combined across its model years compared to 28 mpg combined for the Soul.

Is one of these models an overall better choice?

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so total complaint counts are not normalized per vehicle sold and cannot declare an overall winner; compare specific years instead.

Honda Civic vs Kia Soul: Which Years to Avoid

Honda Civic years to avoid are 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2022; Kia Soul years to avoid are 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020. Civic logs 10,783 total complaints across 21 model years (513/year) versus Soul's 5,535 across 16 years (346/year), but these totals are not sales-normalized.

Head to head

Honda Civic

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 10,783
Per model year: 513
Recall campaigns: 49
Years to avoid: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2022
Best years: 2013, 2014, 2020, 2021
Top problem area: Steering
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 31.3
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.8 ★

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	Civic				Soul
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Caution	315	10	30	—	—	—	—
2006	Avoid	1,402	13	28.5	—	—	—	—
2007	Avoid	1,204	9	28.5	—	—	—	—
2008	Avoid	916	7	28.5	—	—	—	—
2009	Caution	395	8	28.5	—	—	—	—
2010	Avoid	396	8	28.5	Good	135	3	27
2011	Caution	168	9	28.5	Caution	194	3	26.5
2012	Caution	455	3	31	Caution	514	3	26.5
2013	Best	319	0	31	Caution	662	3	26.5
2014	Best	291	2	31.5	Avoid	900	5	26
2015	Good	380	1	31.5	Avoid	898	4	26
2016	Avoid	1,080	5	34	Avoid	812	2	26
2017	Good	593	6	34	Caution	272	1	27
2018	Caution	741	6	34	Good	218	1	27
2019	Caution	430	4	32.5	Best	136	1	28
2020	Best	225	5	32	Avoid	381	1	30
2021	Best	144	4	32.5	Caution	233	2	29.5
2022	Avoid	881	4	33	Best	88	1	30
2023	Caution	255	4	33	Caution	51	4	30.5
2024	Good	123	3	33	Best	29	0	30.5
2025	Good	70	2	34	Best	12	0	30.5

Complaint Index by year

Honda Civic

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 years should I avoid for the Honda Civic?: NHTSA data points to 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2022 as the Civic years with the highest complaint indexes, ranging from a complaint index of 75 to 100, relative to other Civic model years.
Which years should I avoid for the Kia Soul?: The Kia Soul years flagged are 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020, with complaint indexes from 80 to 100, driven mostly by engine complaints (63% of all Soul complaints).
Does the Civic or Soul have more recalls?: The Civic has 49 total recall campaigns across 21 model years versus 15 for the Soul across 16 years.
Which gets better fuel economy, the Civic or Soul?: The Civic averages 31.3 mpg combined across its model years compared to 28 mpg combined for the Soul.
Is one of these models an overall better choice?: NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so total complaint counts are not normalized per vehicle sold and cannot declare an overall winner; compare specific years instead.