2019 Kia Soul Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2019 Kia Soul.

20182020
Complaints
184
per 10K Sold
18.8
US Sales
98,033
Crashes
20
Fires
9
Injuries
20
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 2019 Kia Soul Problems

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

#180 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:63,322 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:5
#214 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:87,500 mi
Crash-related:9
Fires:1
#311 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:31,314 mi
Considering a 2019 Kia Soul?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2019 Kia Soul.

Engine Problems
80
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
5
Avg Miles
63,322
Airbags
14
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
1
Avg Miles
87,500
Fuel System
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,314
Electrical Faults
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
28,763
Seat Belt Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
61,000
Headlight/Taillight Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,000
Transmission / Drivetrain
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
22,000
Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
6,805
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
77,500
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2019 Kia Soul. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2019 Kia Soul

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~410,619 vehicles.

22V031000Airbags
~410,619 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.

Other Kia Soul Years

2019 Kia Soul — FAQ

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

Is the 2019 Kia Soul reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2019 Kia Soul has 184 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 80 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2019 Kia Soul?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (80 complaints, avg 63,322 mi); Airbags (14 complaints, avg 87,500 mi); Fuel System (11 complaints, avg 31,314 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 2019 Kia Soul?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 57,440 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2019 Kia Soul?
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Kia Soul include 20 crash-related reports, 9 fire reports, 20 injuries, and 0 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 2019 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 410,619 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 2019 Kia Soul?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

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.

Check Your Specific 2019 Kia Soul

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99