KnownCarProblems2018 Kia Soul Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 219 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Soul, most often about the engine (67% of complaints, typically around 73,500 miles). It is 9th of 16 Soul model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2018 Kia Soul problems
Engine
147 complaints · 67%Half of these problems showed up before 73,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
I was driving my Kia 2018 Soul to my job going around 55 an hour and I heard a loud clink in the engine, the vehicle just got fixed from hitting a deer and pasted inspection. Everything done on it was cometic and was not due for an oil change for another 1,500 miles. It completely broke down was towed back to who…
On january 22, 2021, vehicle felt sluggish when accelerating. Soon after, loud noise from engine and engine died. Vehicle towed to dealership, and was diagnosed with engine failure at 75k miles. Dealer stated several engine failures in the year model currently being serviced. Used engine with 12 month warranty was…
Transmission
31 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle hesitated. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to towbin Kia located at 260 n gibson rd, henderson, nv 89014, [phone], 4 times…
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently hesitated after a stop. The contact also stated that, occasionally, the accelerator pedal traveled all the way to the floorboard and the vehicle did not accelerate. There was no warning indicator illuminated. When the contact released…
Other or unspecified
30 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 13,000 miles.
I was stopped at a red light. The car stalled and didn't know it. This has happened twice. Also several times I start the vehicle and it stall out immediately. Dealer couldn't find nothing wrong. Stopped and in drive or parked.
Around 11:40pm on 12/3/2019 I parked my car in an empty parking lot - car was stationary. It was 51 degrees out and cloudy, but no rain or any precipitation. The car was not running; the heat/AC were not on. No one was around. Suddenly, the windshield in the back (large hatch door window) shattered entirely. It…
Electrical
19 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery, starter assembly.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle sputtered and stalled without warning. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was consuming an abnormal amount…
The contactâs daughter owned a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while her daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, another driver honked the horn to inform the driver of an issue with the vehicle. The contact was informed to pull over. The contact stated that the vehicle started jerking and the driver started…
Air bags
11 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, another vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into the front end of her vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact which caused the contact to hit her chest on the steering wheel. The contact was treated by emts at the…
I was involved in a car accident on july 11 2020. The other driver ran a red light and I t-boned him. My car substantial amount of damage to the front end and was deemed totaled by the insurance company. In this accident none of my airbags deployed.
Fuel system
11 complaints · 5%I got told by a Kia mecanic well at least seen it on my dash cam that I am sol that my ticking problem is an engine defect on Kia's part that is causing engine issues as well as somehow making my enginerev extremely high while starting up and sometimes throughout the day to the point if I don't have my brakes on I…
Car stalled in the middle of the road while driving. Took it in to dealer ship for a recall to get this repaired or flashed. Engine burning excessive oil. Car has always been kept up with maintenance. While operating the vehicle the car stalled due to low oil compression. Vehicle has aprox 155k miles. Check engine…
Speed control
8 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stopped the vehicle to make sure that it was in gear. While the contact attempted to park in front of her house, with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle spontaneously accelerated and crashed into the…
Two incidences of deceleration..one caused me to exit freeway onto the frontage road.. One inspection at dealership after 2nd incident stated "nothing found"...had I been surrounded by vehicles front and rear, I and others could have been involved in a serious accident...I was able to get off the frontage road onto a…
Brakes
7 complaints · 3%1st occurrence - driver entered vehicle and drove the vehicle forward down a graded driveway. As vehicle came to the roadway, driver applied brakes. Brakes were pressed to floor with no response from the brake. After the vehicle rolled to a stop in the roadway, driver put the vehicle transmission into reverse, and…
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to maintain oil pressure, causing engine failure. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to maintain power and would stall after being started. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 Kia Soul recalls
Air bags
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the acu, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed march 21, 2022. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc226.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2018 Kia Soul
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Soul?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (147 complaints, typically around 73,500 miles); transmission (31 complaints, typically around 33,000 miles); other or unspecified (30 complaints, typically around 13,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Soul have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 25, 2022 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2018 a bad year for the Kia Soul?
- It is 9th of 16 Soul model years by number of complaints, with 219 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.