2020 Kia Soul Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#6 most-complained of 16 Soul years
The 2020 Kia Soul has 381 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 6th worst out of 16 model years and earning a Caution verdict. Engine problems dominate at 66% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 25,053 miles, plus one engine recall.
- Complaints
- 381
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 9 / 6
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 8
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 27 city / 33 hwy
Top 2020 Kia Soul problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine251 (66%)
- Transmission & Powertrain89 (23%)
- Other54 (14%)
- Electrical System33 (9%)
- Fuel System16 (4%)
- Steering16 (4%)
- Structure & Body12 (3%)
- Brakes11 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (1%)
- Airbags3 (1%)
What owners report
- Engine stalls or dies unexpectedly while driving at highway speed, sometimes followed by an under-hood fire.
- Idle stop-start feature reportedly disengages then causes unintended forward acceleration when the driver's foot leaves the brake.
- Vehicle allegedly lurches forward on its own after being shifted from reverse into park, striking nearby objects.
- Owners report the crankshaft failing, triggering a check engine light before the engine loses power at low speed.
- Airbags reportedly fail to deploy in front-end or guardrail collisions despite significant crash damage.
- Vehicle pulls sharply to one side at highway speeds, which owners describe as a severe alignment problem.
2020 Kia Soul recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- 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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Kia Soul reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2020 Soul a Complaint Index of 67 and 381 complaints, ranking it 6th worst among 16 model years, so it carries a Caution verdict relative to other Soul years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2020 Kia Soul?
- Engine issues account for 66% of complaints (251 of 381), with a median failure mileage of 25,053 miles and 6 reported fires.
- Does the 2020 Kia Soul have any recalls?
- Yes, one recall (21V259000) covers 2020-2021 Souls with 2.0L Nu MPI engines, where improperly heat-treated piston oil rings may cause engine damage; Kia will inspect and replace the engine if needed.
- How does the 2020 Kia Soul compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 67 is worse than 2018 (40), 2019 (13), 2021 (60), and 2022 (27), but better than 2013-2016, which all carry Avoid verdicts with indexes of 80-100.