Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 898 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Soul, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 385 | 43% |
| Exterior lighting | 81 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 35 | 4% |
| Steering | 34 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 31 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 24 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 22 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 21 | 2% |
| Engine | 20 | 2% |
| Power train | 19 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light unexpectedly illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Th
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
l have a 2014 grey Kia soul with engine problems engine recall. The car has stopped multiple times. The KSDS is already installed since my Kia in limp mode can’t got past 40mph. Its engine recall P1326 knock sensor r
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Writing to get some relief and a recall for my expenses due to a failed catalytic converter. The same issue was reported and recalled on the 1.6l engine in 2019. 19V120.Mine is 2014 kia soul 2.0l engine. I am showing mu
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
Multiple times with 6 months my check engine light comes on but no code is detected. However, when tested it tells me to look out for code P0420. The issues I have encountered: - High RPM of 2,000 when vehicle is starte
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I own a 2014 Kia Soul 2.0L GDI that consumes approximately one quart of engine oil every 1,500 miles. The engine oil became dangerously low between oil changes without any warning indicator. The vehicle has also experien
NHTSA complaint: Engine
On Saturday June 18th, I was in a 4 car pile up accident. My kia soul was totaled, and the airbag did not deploy. Following the event, I am seeking medical attention for follow up. Research on the cause for failure to de
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I am filing an official safety complaint regarding an ongoing failure by Kia America and its dealership network to safely execute six simultaneous safety recalls and service campaigns on my 2014 Kia Soul (VIN: [XXX]).My
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the contact became aware of a burning rubber odor and observed grey and brown smoke coming from underneath the front end of the
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2014 Kia Soul. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons
Risk: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exha
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Risk: If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contac
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Soul and Soul electric vehicles manufactured July 21, 2013, to January 8, 2015. A section of the accelerator pedal may bend and fracture.
Risk: If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will add a supporting rubber underneath the pedal stopper, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-33
| Reliability raw | 53 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 66 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 74 | good |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 898 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 385 of them (43%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 53/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 66/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2014 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.