YearToAvoid

2022 Kia Soul Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

27/100

#12 most-complained of 16 Soul years

The 2022 Kia Soul has a complaint index of 27 and ranks 12th worst out of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Soul years. It has 88 complaints, 1 recall, 4 crashes, and 3 deaths on record with NHTSA.

Complaints
88
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
8 / 3
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
30
28 city / 33 hwy

Top 2022 Kia Soul problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine72 (82%)
  2. Other12 (14%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain12 (14%)
  4. Electrical System10 (11%)
  5. Fuel System7 (8%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (5%)
  7. Airbags3 (3%)
  8. Brakes3 (3%)
  9. Seat Belts2 (2%)
  10. Steering2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of engine power while driving or at a stop, sometimes with the engine dying and not restarting.
  • Some describe the IVT transmission failing or 'imploding' at very low mileage, including one case at 4,300 miles with fluctuating RPMs and complete power loss.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in low-to-moderate speed collisions, with seat belts also failing to retract in at least one case.
  • A battery discharge warning message reportedly appears on the dashboard, leaving the vehicle unable to start without a jump.
  • Seat belt buckles reportedly failed to latch or unlatch properly on the driver's side.
  • One report describes the vehicle losing motive power at a stop, linked by the owner to the stop/start feature, with no fault found by the dealer.
2022 Kia Soul complaints: complaints filed per month13Oct 2021Feb 2023Aug 2023Jan 2025Jun 2025Nov 2025May 2026
129 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2021 to Jul 2026; peak Apr 2025 (13).

2022 Kia Soul recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V099000Feb 17, 2025Engine137,256 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.

    Risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.

2022 Kia Soul fuel economy and fuel cost

City
28 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.

2022 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
2020Caution67381130
2021Caution60233229.5
2022Good2788130
2023Good3351430.5
2024Best029030.5

All Kia Soul years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Kia Soul reliable?
Relative to other Soul model years, the 2022 Soul is rated 'Good' with a complaint index of 27, ranking 12th worst out of 16 years tracked.
What is the biggest problem with the 2022 Kia Soul?
Engine complaints dominate, making up 82% of reported issues (72 of 88 complaints), with a median failure mileage of 70,000 miles.
Does the 2022 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (25V099000) covering 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles for incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings that can cause engine damage.
How does the 2022 Kia Soul compare to other years?
The 2022 Soul's complaint index of 27 is much lower than the worst years, such as 2015 (index 100) and 2014 (index 93), both rated 'Avoid.'

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.