2014 Kia Soul Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Kia Soul.

20132015
Complaints
1,205
per 10K Sold
82.9
US Sales
145,316
Crashes
52
Fires
108
Injuries
40
Fatalities
3
Recalls
5

Worst 2014 Kia Soul Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1539 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:108,814 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:51
#2124 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:66,247 mi
Fires:1
#393 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:67,835 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:15
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2014 Kia Soul.

Engine Problems
539
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
51
Avg Miles
108,814
Headlight/Taillight Failures
124
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
66,247
Electrical Faults
93
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
15
Avg Miles
67,835
Transmission / Drivetrain
55
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Avg Miles
66,531
Steering Defects
55
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
Avg Miles
40,708
Fuel System
51
complaints
Crashes
Fires
9
Avg Miles
78,863
Engine & Cooling
41
complaints
Crashes
Fires
5
Avg Miles
118,048
Unintended Acceleration
30
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
63,672
Brakes
28
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
2
Avg Miles
36,820
Airbags
24
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
1
Avg Miles
59,822
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
98,750
Wheel Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
45,171
Body Structure
8
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Avg Miles
46,981
Seat Belt Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
42,638
Electronic Stability Control
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
61,440
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,056
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Side/Rear Glass
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention:Display Function
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2014 Kia Soul. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2014 Kia Soul

5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,353,242 vehicles.

22V096000Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module:software · Air Bags:frontal
~128,280 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014 Soul vehicles. The front air bags may not deploy during a crash if the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) loses communication with the front impact sensors.

20V750000Engine
~294,756 affected

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.

19V120000Engine · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor
~378,967 affected

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 and possible piston connecting rod failure.

17V608000Steering
~342,381 affected

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.

15V123000Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
~208,858 affected

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.

Other Kia Soul Years

2014 Kia Soul — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2014 Kia Soul reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2014 Kia Soul has 1,205 NHTSA complaints, 52 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 539 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2014 Kia Soul?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (539 complaints, avg 108,814 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (124 complaints, avg 66,247 mi); Electrical Faults (93 complaints, avg 67,835 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2014 Kia Soul?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 87,654 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2014 Kia Soul?
NHTSA complaints for the 2014 Kia Soul include 52 crash-related reports, 108 fire reports, 40 injuries, and 3 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2014 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,353,242 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2014 Kia Soul?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (engine problems) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Kia Soul reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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