2019 Kia Soul Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
13/100
#14 most-complained of 16 Soul years
The 2019 Kia Soul ranks 14th of 16 model years with a complaint index of 13, earning a "Best" verdict among Soul years. It has 136 complaints, 1 recall, and the top problem area is the engine (92 complaints, 68% share).
- Complaints
- 136
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 11 / 8
- Injuries / deaths
- 12 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 26 city / 31 hwy
Top 2019 Kia Soul problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine92 (68%)
- Other19 (14%)
- Electrical System17 (13%)
- Airbags15 (11%)
- Fuel System15 (11%)
- Brakes8 (6%)
- Seat Belts6 (4%)
- Steering5 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (4%)
- Structure & Body4 (3%)
What owners report
- Engine emits abnormal or burning odors accompanied by illuminated check engine lights, sometimes followed by underhood fire.
- Vehicles have caught fire while driving, with white or black smoke emitting from under the hood before flames appeared.
- Airbags failed to deploy or inflate properly during collisions, including one crash where a driver suffered steering wheel bruising.
- Electrical system faults caused reduced acceleration and unexpected shutdown while driving, in one case leading to a crash.
- Brakes reportedly failed to operate while heavy black smoke emitted from the engine bay just before a fire started.
2019 Kia Soul recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V031000Jan 25, 2022Airbags410,619 vehicles
Air bags
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.
Risk: 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.
2019 Kia Soul fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 31 MPG
- Combined
- 28 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2019 compared with other Soul years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Kia Soul reliable?
- Among Soul model years, the 2019 has a "Best" verdict based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, with a complaint index of 13 and 136 total complaints — one of the lower counts across the 16 model years tracked.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2019 Kia Soul?
- The engine is the top problem area, accounting for 92 complaints (68% share) with a median failure mileage of 66,000 miles, including reports of stalling and fires.
- Does the 2019 Kia Soul have a recall?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 22V031000) covers the airbag control unit, where the ACU cover may contact a memory chip on the circuit board, affecting airbag deployment.
- How does the 2019 Kia Soul compare to other years?
- The 2019 Soul ranks 14th worst out of 16 years tracked, with a complaint index of 13, well below higher-complaint years like 2014 and 2015 which scored 93 and 100.
- Are there fire risks with the 2019 Kia Soul?
- NHTSA lists 8 fire incidents for the 2019 Soul, several tied to engine complaints involving burning odors, smoke, and underhood fires.