Short answer
Among Kia Soul model years through 2024, 2024 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2015 has the most (7). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Kia Soul: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 16 (2010–2025)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 18
- Fewest recalls
- 2024 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2015 (7)
- Most recalled system
- Electrical system (9)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2014, 2015, 2016 and 3 more years
Kia Soul Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2024 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2022 | 1 | 4 stars | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2021 | 2 | 4 stars | Engine, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2020 | 1 | 4 stars | Engine |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Power train |
| 2018 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Power train |
| 2017 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Power train |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Engine, Power train |
| 2015 | 7 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Engine, Power train |
| 2014 | 5 | 5 stars | Engine, Air bags, Steering |
| 2013 | 3 | 4 stars | Engine, Service brakes, hydraulic, Structure |
| 2012 | 3 | 4 stars | Engine, Service brakes, hydraulic, Structure |
| 2011 | 3 | 4 stars | Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic, Structure |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20250 recalls
- 20240 recalls
- 20234 recalls
- 20221 recall
- 20212 recalls
- 20201 recall
- 20193 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20173 recalls
- 20165 recalls
- 20157 recalls
- 20145 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20123 recalls
- 20113 recalls
- 20103 recalls
Kia Soul: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Kia Soul recalls are electrical system (9), engine (9), power train (6), air bags (5) and structure (4). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 16 model years, and 2014, 2015, 2016 and 3 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Kia Soul Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Kia Soul?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Kia Soul model years have the most recalls?
2015 has the most, with 7 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Soul", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy