2018 Kia Soul Safety Report
2018 KIA SOUL Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Kia Soul
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 Kia Soul. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (199) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 27 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2019 | Compare against the 2019 Kia Soul with 123 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Kia Soul before buying across this generation. |
Kia Soul Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Soul years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Kia Soul | 123 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Kia Soul | 259 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Kia Soul | 337 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2016 Kia Soul | 779 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Kia Soul | 187 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Kia Soul | 882 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2018 Kia Soul Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 Kia Soul, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
90 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Kia onlyUnknown Or Other
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyPower Train,Engine
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine issues Kia onlyPower Train
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Kia onlyAir Bags
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Kia onlyElectrical System
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Kia Soul
Reliability Score
The 2018 Kia Soul receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2018 Kia Soul
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2018 Kia Soul
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Kia Soul:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Seizing Several reports indicate that the engine has seized up at around 165,000 miles, leading to sudden loss of power and potential safety hazards. |
Medium | Common | 165k-200k miles |
| Check Engine Light The check engine light has been reported to come on suddenly, often accompanied by a loss of power and the need to check the oil level. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Airbag Malfunction A few reports mention issues with airbags, though the frequency is low. |
Low | Occasional | N/A miles |
| Paint Flaking And Clear Coat Peeling Reports of paint flaking and clear coat peeling off mirrors have been noted, affecting the driver's visibility. |
Low | Occasional | N/A miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Kia Soul:
Engine issues are the most common problem, with 23% of reported issues.
Check engine light issues are the second most common, with 13% of reported issues.
Airbag issues are less common, with 6% of reported issues.
Paint flaking and clear coat peeling are the least common issues, with 5% of reported issues.
Recall Details for the 2018 Kia Soul
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2018 Kia Soul by NHTSA:
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.
Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Kia Soul
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Kia Soul with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 3 involved fires.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from underneath the hood. The check engine and oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a blown engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repair...
The engine seized up at 165,000 miles. According to one [XXX] at Trinity Automotive in Fairfield, Ohio, it's a known issue. According to [XXX] at PrebCo in Eaton, Ohio, the issue is related to low-pressure piston rings. Compression tests showed between 0 psi in one cylinder and between 55 and 58 psi in the other three cylinders. These issues have been verified at Matt Castrucci Service Center. W...
ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY Purchased 8/5 from reseller, who had driver it over 200 miles with no issues. Had it inspected that day and no issues found. Scheduled appt w/ Clay Cooley Kia to drop off 8/12 to have warranty recalls addressed. Clay Cooley inspected and found no issues, verified in good shape; work completed 8/14. On 8/18, after driving it less than 183 miles, the...
Unknown...the car goes into limp mode suddenly...my battery was boiling an shot liquid out of it, prior to this my other battery leaked an the alternator was bad ....when this happens suddenly you have no steering, an if course the boiling battery may explode....I've had this car checked over several times since begining of January with everything checking out fine but this still happening
I am submitting this complaint regarding failure to complete a federally mandated safety recall and the subsequent release of my vehicle in an unsafe condition after prolonged dealer custody. Vehicle Information provided above Safety Recall Information Recall Type: Federal airbag safety recall Recall Notice Received: 2023 Summary of Safety Concern I delivered my vehicle to authorized Kia dealershi...
A Kia franchise dealership demanded payment for diagnostics in order to perform a federal airbag safety recall, which I refused. After the dealer’s involvement, the vehicle’s diagnostic/OBD port became unreadable, preventing recall completion. A second Kia dealer states they cannot complete the recall and wants thousands of dollars just to attempt diagnosis. The vehicle has been out of service for...
Driving on freeway,two pieces of paint, flaking flew onto my windshield obstructing my view. Pulled over to see what happened and it was paint on my hood was flaking off. The paint was stuck to my windshield. My safety was definitely at risk as paint blocked my view.
Excessive oil consumption
Was going down the freeway the check engine light came on pulled over and found there to be no oil on the dip stick and I had just checked it a week ago. Now the engine is knocking due to the oil consumption.
The clear coat peeled off of the driver and passenger side mirrors in the beginning of 2024. The white paint started chipping off in a one inch straight line where the red roof meets the white side panel on both sides. You can tell it is where a strip of tape was that maybe separated the two paint colors in the process of painting. This began at the end of 2024. Then in early 2025, the white pa...
Description of the Problem: My 2018 Kia Soul has a recurring and unresolved safety issue involving sudden loss of power while driving. The check-engine light repeatedly comes on, and at times the vehicle will hesitate or lose acceleration unexpectedly, creating a risk of being unable to maintain speed in traffic. Chronology: This issue has been occurring for over a year. I have taken the vehicle ...
9/25/25 Car would not accelerate on exit ramp and engine seized just as I pulled into Romeo Kia Kingston Car Repair Center, causing a dangerous driving situation. No prior noise or warning lights for the 6 years I have owned the car. 10/6/25 per Jared Illg, District Kia Mgr., “Although, my 2018 Kia Soul 2.0 engine is under the Class Action Settlement, my car is not under extended warranty, be...
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that occasionally the steering wheel was loose and inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the steering colum...
Kia is aware of these issues why haven't they issued a recall for engine oil composition low and causing problems
On 8/12/25, my 2018 Kia Soul (approx. 126,000 miles) suddenly began shuddering at low RPM with a flashing check engine light, near-stalling, and smoke from the exhaust. A warning message appeared for an engine control issue. Prior to failure, the engine intermittently knocked and displayed an oil pressure warning light. The engine burned oil at an excessive rate between routine oil changes. At th...
Engine is loosing oil into the #2 cylinder, causing an damage to the downstream exhaust. Once the cylinder fills with oil, the care immediately drops in operation speed causing significant driver response and immediately surrounding vehicles
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the front of the vehicle suddenly jumped. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mile...
Low compression on cylinder 3 and 4 and the car only has 40,000 miles on it. It's not covered in warranty because it's a 2018 model but I've only had the car for 1.5 years and still owe 18,000 on it and I'm a officer and a single mother and can't afford to let the car go back when Kia knows these cars have engine issues and low compression engine problems.
I thought my headlights needed cleaning because they are blurry instead of clear. As I am cleaning the headlights I tree that both of my headlights have micro cracks throughout the entire headlights This is not chips in the headlights it is literally Toni look cracks
Going through oil so fast excessive oil use
Showing 20 of 199 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Kia Soul
Has the 2018 KIA SOUL been recalled?
Yes, the 2018 KIA SOUL has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2018 KIA SOUL have?
The 2018 KIA SOUL has 199 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 14 involved crashes. 12 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 KIA SOUL?
The 2018 KIA SOUL received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 KIA SOUL?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 KIA SOUL involve engine (90 complaints), unknown or other (12 complaints), power train,engine (11 complaints). Other affected components include power train, air bags, electrical system.
How many crash reports does the 2018 KIA SOUL have?
There are 14 crash reports associated with the 2018 KIA SOUL out of 199 total complaints (7.0% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2018 KIA SOUL have?
There are 13 fire reports for the 2018 KIA SOUL out of 199 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 KIA SOUL?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 KIA SOUL. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2018 KIA SOUL?
12 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 KIA SOUL. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2018 KIA SOUL?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 KIA SOUL is extreme caution advised. It has 199 complaints, 1 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2018 KIA SOUL?
The components with the most failures on the 2018 KIA SOUL are: 1. ENGINE (90 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (12 complaints), 3. POWER TRAIN,ENGINE (11 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN (11 complaints), 5. AIR BAGS (6 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 90 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2018 KIA SOUL?
Be cautious of engine issues and check engine light problems, as they can lead to sudden loss of power and safety hazards. The 2018 KIA SOUL has 199 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2018 KIA SOUL?
The 2018 KIA SOUL receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 199 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 27 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Seizing and Check Engine Light.
What are the known issues with the 2018 KIA SOUL?
Known issues with the 2018 KIA SOUL include: Engine Seizing, Check Engine Light, Airbag Malfunction, Paint Flaking and Clear Coat Peeling. These are based on patterns found across 199 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common safety issues with the 2018 KIA SOUL?
Engine seizing and check engine light issues are the most common, with reports of sudden loss of power and the light coming on.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 KIA SOUL?
Kia has issued recalls for airbag issues, but engine oil composition problems have not yet led to a recall.
What should I do if I experience engine issues?
Have the vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic to diagnose and address the issue promptly.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine issues and check engine light problems, as they can lead to sudden loss of power and safety hazards.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Kia Soul
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Kia Soul. The data includes 199 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 14 reported crashes, 13 fire incidents, 12 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2018 Kia Soul an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16