2020 Kia Soul
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 240 of 375 complaints (64%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Electrical include more deaths (8) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 138 in 2019 to 375 in 2020.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Small Station Wagons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,250–2,300 | 2,250–2,300 | 2,000–2,300 | 2,000–2,300 | 2,000–2,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 27–28 | 27–28 | 27–31 | 27–31 | 29–31 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 24–26 / 30–31 | 24–26 / 30–31 | 25–29 / 31–35 | 25–29 / 31–35 | 27–29 / 32–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 320–335 | 319–335 | 287–332 | 287–332 | 287–309 | |
| Complaints filed | 221 | 138 | 375 | 232 | 88 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 15 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 14 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 8 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Kia Soul have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Kia Soul?
Engine: 240 of 375 NHTSA complaints (64%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Kia Soul get?
EPA rates it 27–31 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Kia Soul?
EPA estimates $2,000–$2,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 27 mpg | 33 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 303 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 29 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | $2,000 (low) | 287 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 25 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | $2,300 (high) | 332 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 27 mpg | 32 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 309 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Station Wagons | 127 MPGe | 101 MPGe | 114 MPGe | $650 | 0 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 240 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 89 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Brakes | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 52 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
ENGINE · Campaign 21V259000 · Apr 14, 2021
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.