2020 Kia Soul Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2020 Kia Soul.

20192021
Complaints
460
per 10K Sold
64.0
US Sales
71,862
Crashes
12
Fires
9
Injuries
7
Fatalities
16
Recalls
1

Worst 2020 Kia Soul Problems

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

#1207 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:39,116 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:6
#282 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:13,337 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#325 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:36,147 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2020 Kia Soul.

Engine Problems
207
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
6
Avg Miles
39,116
Transmission / Drivetrain
82
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
13,337
Electrical Faults
25
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
36,147
Steering Defects
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
30,079
Fuel System
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
52,172
Unintended Acceleration
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
22,654
Brakes
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
21,653
Body Structure
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
451
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,670
Headlight/Taillight Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
10,530
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wipers & Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Child Seat:Tether: Strap/Webbing
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Adas:Blindspot:Sensors
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Immobilizer/Proximity:Key/Sender
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tether, Lower Anchor (On Car Seat Or Vehicle)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Throttle
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2020 Kia Soul. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2020 Kia Soul

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~147,249 vehicles.

21V259000Engine
~147,249 affected

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.

Other Kia Soul Years

2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

2020 Kia Soul — FAQ

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

Is the 2020 Kia Soul reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2020 Kia Soul has 460 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 207 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2020 Kia Soul?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (207 complaints, avg 39,116 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (82 complaints, avg 13,337 mi); Electrical Faults (25 complaints, avg 36,147 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 2020 Kia Soul?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 32,142 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2020 Kia Soul?
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Kia Soul include 12 crash-related reports, 9 fire reports, 7 injuries, and 16 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 2020 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 147,249 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 2020 Kia Soul?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

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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