2022 Kia Soul Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2022 Kia Soul ranks 13th of 16 model years with a complaint index of 20, earning a Best verdict. It has 88 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall, with Engine issues making up 82% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 20/100
- #13 of 16 Soul years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 88
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 28 city / 33 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 3
Top 2022 Kia Soul problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine72 (82%)
- Other12 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain12 (14%)
- Electrical System10 (11%)
- Fuel System7 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (5%)
- Airbags3 (3%)
- Brakes3 (3%)
- Seat Belts2 (2%)
- Steering2 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some drivers report sudden loss of engine power while stopped or at low speed, sometimes tied to the stop/start feature and with no warning light on.
- Owners describe the IVT transmission failing or shuddering with fluctuating RPMs followed by a complete loss of power, in some cases at very low mileage.
- Several complaints describe airbags failing to deploy and seat belts failing to retract during rear-end or side-impact crashes, resulting in injuries.
- One owner reported a seat belt buckle that would not latch or unlatch properly.
- Some owners describe a recurring battery discharge warning message paired with a dead battery that dealers could not diagnose.
2022 Kia Soul recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- 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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2022 Kia Soul reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2022 Soul a Best verdict among Soul model years, with a complaint index of 20 and 88 total complaints, ranking 13th out of 16 years.
- Does the 2022 Kia Soul have engine problems?
- Yes. Engine complaints make up 82% of all reported issues for this year, with a median mileage at failure of 70,000, and there is one active engine recall for piston oil rings.
- What is the 2022 Kia Soul recall about?
- Kia recalled certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles (campaign 25V099000) because piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can damage the engine; dealers inspect and replace engines as needed.
- How does the 2022 Soul compare to other model years?
- The 2022 Soul's complaint index of 20 is much lower than the 2014-2016 and 2020 model years, which are rated Avoid with complaint indexes between 80 and 100.
- What is Soul fuel economy for 2022?
- The 2022 Kia Soul is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined (28 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150.