YearToAvoid

2020 Kia Soul Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 33 electrical-system complaints for the 2020 Kia Soul, 9% of its 381 total complaints for the year. The median mileage at failure was 14,900 miles. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Electrical System complaints
33
9% of 381
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
14,900 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the horn intermittently stops working along with the steering-wheel controls and key fob lock signal.
  • Headlamp shutters or halogen headlights fail to illuminate properly, with high beams not activating and reduced visibility on dark roads.
  • Headlights fill with moisture and flicker or lose output during rain, especially on newer, low-mileage vehicles.
  • Multiple warning lights, including engine, parking, headlights, taillights, fuel system, and brake lights, activate together and require dealer repair.
  • The car stalls or shuts off completely while stopped, sometimes when the stop-start system or blind-spot sensors are active, requiring a jump start.

When 2020 Kia Soul electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 19, 2019, latest Sep 4, 2026.

2020 Kia Soul electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2019Jun 2020Mar 2021Feb 2023Oct 2023Apr 2025Mar 2026
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2019 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2021 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2020 Kia Soul

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Soul model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201027 (21%)
  2. 201142 (22%)
  3. 201247 (9%)
  4. 201378 (12%)
  5. 2014187 (21%)
  6. 201599 (11%)
  7. 201669 (8%)
  8. 201719 (7%)
  9. 201822 (10%)
  10. 201917 (13%)
  11. 202033 (9%)
  12. 202118 (8%)
  13. 202210 (11%)
  14. 202316 (31%)
  15. 202411 (38%)
  16. 20254 (33%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2020 Kia Soul owners reported electrical system problems?
NHTSA lists 33 electrical-system complaints for the 2020 Kia Soul, which is 9% of the 381 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Kia Soul electrical system?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this issue on the 2020 Kia Soul.
At what mileage do 2020 Kia Soul electrical problems typically start?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 14,900 miles.
What kinds of electrical failures do 2020 Kia Soul owners describe?
Owners describe horn malfunctions, headlight and headlamp shutter failures, moisture inside headlights causing flickering, multiple warning lights activating together, and the car stalling or shutting off while stopped.
Did any 2020 Kia Soul electrical complaints involve a crash?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and no fires or injuries among the 33 electrical-system complaints for the 2020 Kia Soul.

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.