2019 Kia Soul Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2019 Kia Soul ranks 14th of 16 model years with a complaint index of 13, the lowest among all years, earning a Best verdict. NHTSA logged 136 complaints, 8 fires, and one recall covering an airbag control unit issue.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 13/100
- #14 of 16 Soul years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 136
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 11
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
- 12
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 26 city / 31 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 12 / 0
Top 2019 Kia Soul problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engine bay fires reported with burning odor, white smoke, or black smoke coming from under the hood, sometimes while driving on the highway.
- Check engine light illuminates before the engine stalls or an abnormal odor appears, in some cases followed by an oil consumption diagnosis.
- Airbags failed to deploy or did not inflate properly during crashes, including a head-on collision and a multi-impact wreck.
- Owners report sudden loss of acceleration or the vehicle shutting off while driving, in one case leading to a guardrail collision.
- One driver reported brakes failing to respond just as heavy black smoke began emitting from under the hood.
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?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2019 Soul has the lowest complaint index (13) of any Soul model year and carries a Best verdict relative to other Soul years.
- What problems does the 2019 Kia Soul have?
- NHTSA data shows the Engine is the top problem area, making up 68% of complaints (92 complaints), including reports of stalling and fires. Airbags, electrical system, and fuel system issues were also reported.
- Does the 2019 Kia Soul have a recall?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 22V031000) covers the airbag control unit, which could contact a memory chip and affect airbag deployment. Dealers inspect the unit and update software or replace it as needed.
- How does the 2019 Soul compare to other Soul years?
- The 2019 Soul ranks 14th worst out of 16 model years, meaning only two years have fewer reported problems. Years like 2014, 2015, and 2016 carry Avoid verdicts with complaint indexes of 93, 100, and 87.
- Are there engine fires in the 2019 Kia Soul?
- NHTSA lists 8 fire reports for the 2019 Soul, with 7 of them tied to the Engine problem area, some occurring after a burning odor or check engine light warning.