YearToAvoid

2020 Kia Soul Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2020 Kia Soul ranks 4th worst out of 16 model years with a complaint index of 80 and 381 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Engine problems dominate at 66% of complaints, and NHTSA lists one recall for defective piston oil rings that can cause engine damage.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
80/100
#4 of 16 Soul years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
381
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
9
reported in complaints
Fires
6
Injuries
6
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
30
27 city / 33 hwy
Injuries / deaths
6 / 8

Top 2020 Kia Soul problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine251 (66%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain89 (23%)
  3. Other54 (14%)
  4. Electrical System33 (9%)
  5. Fuel System16 (4%)
  6. Steering16 (4%)
  7. Structure & Body12 (3%)
  8. Brakes11 (3%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (1%)
  10. Airbags3 (1%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Engine stalls at highway speed with the warning light on, in one case followed by a fire after the driver pulled over.
  • Engine shuts off unexpectedly at a stop due to the start-stop feature, then the vehicle surges forward on its own.
  • Check engine light comes on and dealers diagnose a failed crankshaft, sometimes followed by a fire near the engine bay.
  • Transmission shifter is moved to park but the vehicle continues to roll forward and strikes an object.
  • Airbags fail to deploy during front-end or guardrail collisions at highway speed.
  • Vehicle pulls sharply to the right at speeds above 45 mph, described as a severe alignment problem.
2020 Kia Soul complaints: complaints filed per quarter292019 Q22020 Q22021 Q22022 Q22023 Q22024 Q22025 Q22026 Q2
381 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q1 (29).

2020 Kia Soul recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V259000Apr 13, 2021Engine147,249 vehicles

    Engine

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.

    Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.

2020 Kia Soul fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
30 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,150
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.

2020 compared with other Soul years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Good40218127
2019Best13136128
2020Avoid80381130
2021Caution60233229.5
2022Best2088130

All Kia Soul years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Kia Soul reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Kia Soul ranks 4th worst among 16 model years, with a complaint index of 80 and an Avoid verdict. Engine complaints make up 66% of all reports.
What is the main problem with the 2020 Kia Soul?
The top problem area is the engine, accounting for 251 of 381 complaints (66%), with a median mileage at failure of 25,053 miles. Reports include stalling, fires, and crankshaft failure.
Does the 2020 Kia Soul have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 21V259000) for 2020-2021 Soul and 2021 Seltos vehicles with 2.0L Nu MPI engines whose piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, risking engine damage.
How does the 2020 Kia Soul compare to other Soul years?
The 2020 Soul's complaint index of 80 is worse than the 2019 model (13) and 2018 model (40), which carry Best and Good verdicts, but better than the 2015 model, which has the highest index at 100.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Kia Soul?
EPA rates the 2020 Kia Soul at 30 mpg combined (27 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.