Which Kia Soul years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 as the Soul years to avoid, with 2015 having the highest complaint index at 100 and engine problems making up 63% of all complaints.

Which Nissan Altima years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 as the Altima years to avoid. 2013 has the highest complaint index at 100 with 2,312 complaints and 12 recall campaigns, the most of any Altima year.

Does the Kia Soul or Nissan Altima have more complaints?

The Nissan Altima has more total complaints, 7,162 versus 5,526 for the Kia Soul, and more recall campaigns, 33 versus 15, across the same 2010-2025 span. NHTSA data is not normalized by sales volume.

Which gets better fuel economy, the Soul or the Altima?

The Nissan Altima averages 28.6 mpg combined versus 28 mpg combined for the Kia Soul across their model years covered.

What is the top problem area for each model?

The Kia Soul's top problem area is the Engine at 63% of complaints. The Nissan Altima's top problem area is the Electrical System at 24% of complaints.

Kia Soul vs Nissan Altima: Which Years to Avoid

Both the Kia Soul and Nissan Altima should be avoided in 2013-2016, their worst years for owner complaints and recalls. The Altima logs more total complaints (7,162 vs 5,526) and recalls (33 vs 15) across 16 model years each, while the Soul averages slightly lower combined MPG (28 vs 28.6).

Head to head

Kia Soul

Model years: 2010–2025 (16)
NHTSA complaints: 5,526
Per model year: 345
Recall campaigns: 15
Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Best years: 2010, 2019, 2024, 2025
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 28.0
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.4 ★

Nissan Altima

Model years: 2010–2025 (16)
NHTSA complaints: 7,162
Per model year: 448
Recall campaigns: 33
Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Best years: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
Top problem area: Electrical System
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 28.6
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.9 ★

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	Soul				Altima
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2010	Best	126	3	27	Caution	380	2	24.5
2011	Good	194	3	26.5	Good	241	1	26
2012	Caution	514	3	26.5	Caution	426	4	24.5
2013	Avoid	662	3	26.5	Avoid	2,312	12	26
2014	Avoid	900	5	26	Avoid	1,114	8	28
2015	Avoid	898	4	26	Avoid	953	10	28.5
2016	Avoid	812	2	26	Avoid	553	4	30
2017	Caution	272	1	27	Caution	391	3	30
2018	Good	218	1	27	Good	225	2	30
2019	Best	136	1	28	Caution	232	7	30
2020	Caution	381	1	30	Good	158	6	30
2021	Caution	233	2	29.5	Best	70	2	30
2022	Good	88	1	30	Best	30	0	30.5
2023	Good	51	4	30.5	Best	29	0	29.5
2024	Best	29	0	30.5	Good	41	1	29.5
2025	Best	12	0	30.5	Best	7	2	30

Complaint Index by year

Kia Soul

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

Nissan Altima

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

Frequently asked questions

Which Kia Soul years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 as the Soul years to avoid, with 2015 having the highest complaint index at 100 and engine problems making up 63% of all complaints.
Which Nissan Altima years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 as the Altima years to avoid. 2013 has the highest complaint index at 100 with 2,312 complaints and 12 recall campaigns, the most of any Altima year.
Does the Kia Soul or Nissan Altima have more complaints?: The Nissan Altima has more total complaints, 7,162 versus 5,526 for the Kia Soul, and more recall campaigns, 33 versus 15, across the same 2010-2025 span. NHTSA data is not normalized by sales volume.
Which gets better fuel economy, the Soul or the Altima?: The Nissan Altima averages 28.6 mpg combined versus 28 mpg combined for the Kia Soul across their model years covered.
What is the top problem area for each model?: The Kia Soul's top problem area is the Engine at 63% of complaints. The Nissan Altima's top problem area is the Electrical System at 24% of complaints.