Kia Soul

Engine power and kerb weight are registration-weighted averages of the Kia Soul registered in the EU/EEA in 2025 (54 cars), engine power from 4 countries, kerb weight from 5 countries. Source: EEA CO₂ monitoring (CC BY 4.0).

Engine power is the type-approved engine power (EEA field Ep). For hybrids and plug-in hybrids it is the power of the combustion engine, not the system power, and for electric cars it can differ from the peak power the manufacturer advertises.

New registrations in Norway

Number of Kia Soul registered for the first time in Norway per year.

Source: EEA CO₂ monitoring (CC BY 4.0).

Power by engine variant (Norway)

5,097 Kia Soul cars registered for the first time in Norway in 2019–2025, by drivetrain and type-approved engine power. The EEA data has no trim names, so variants are told apart by power.

Plus 1 variant with fewer than 10 cars (1 cars in total).

Power is the type-approved engine power (EEA field Ep). For hybrids and plug-in hybrids it is the combustion engine, not the system output; for electric cars it can differ from the peak power in the maker’s marketing. Kerb weight is the average for the variant. Source: EEA CO₂ monitoring (CC BY 4.0), one record per car (the years EEA lists twice, 2019 to 2021, are counted once).

New registrations by country (2025)

Number of Kia Soul cars registered for the first time across 6 European countries in 2025.

Source: EEA CO₂ monitoring (CC BY 4.0), 2025 data.

WLTP range by version

Type-approved WLTP range of the electric versions of the Kia Soul, as recorded for each car in the Dutch vehicle register (RDW). The table shows the median; the spread is where 80% of the cars fall.

WLTP is the test cycle of EU type approval, so the same version carries the same figure across the EU/EEA. Power is the net maximum electric power from the same register. Versions with fewer than 20 cars are left out. Source: Open Data RDW (Netherlands, CC0).

Other Kia models

Similar SUV models

Common problems & reliability

US owners have filed 1,456 complaints for the Kia Soul, most often about engine, unknown or other, power train, electrical system. These are owner-reported issues, useful for spotting recurring weaknesses before you buy. In the UK, 76% of Kia Souls pass their MOT test first time, based on 23,161 inspections in 2023. (2023 is the most recent annual release published by the DfT.)

Based on real owner complaints and inspection data, not an editorial rating. Sources: NHTSA (US, public domain), DVSA MOT (UK, Open Government Licence).

Recalls & safety

10 recall campaigns recorded in the EU Safety Gate (European market) and 13 in the US-market NHTSA database for the Kia Soul. Recalls can flag known weaknesses of the model.

• Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Bulgaria)

  The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

  EU Safety Gate · alerted 2022-04-01

• Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Germany)

  The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

  EU Safety Gate · alerted 2024-05-03

• Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Poland)

  The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

  EU Safety Gate · alerted 2025-01-10

• Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Belgium)

  No description of the defect in Safety Gate.

  EU Safety Gate · alerted 2020-09-11

• Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Germany)

  No description of the defect in Safety Gate.

  EU Safety Gate · alerted 2021-03-26

• Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Germany)

  The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

  EU Safety Gate · alerted 2024-08-30

• Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Germany)

  The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

  EU Safety Gate · alerted 2022-06-10

• Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Belgium)

  No description of the defect in Safety Gate.

  EU Safety Gate · alerted 2021-01-15

• Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Germany)

  As a consequence it may be impossible to steer the vehicle.

  EU Safety Gate · alerted 2018-12-14

• Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Poland)

  A fault with the steering gear box could lead to the driver not being able to steer the vehicle properly.

  EU Safety Gate · alerted 2016-04-15

• AIR BAGSUS · NHTSAModel year 2023

  Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul and 2024 Seltos vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the side curtain air bags may deploy unexpectedly.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both side curtain air bag modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 31, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC289.

  NHTSA campaign 23V830000 · reported 23/12/2023

• POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMPUS · NHTSAModel year 2023

  Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.

  Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC275.

  NHTSA campaign 23V531000 · reported 31/07/2023

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANELUS · NHTSAModel year 2023

  Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen.  The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.  As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

  Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.

  NHTSA campaign 23V298000 · reported 26/04/2023

• ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICALUS · NHTSAModel years 2021–2023

  Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.

  NHTSA campaign 25V099000 · reported 18/02/2025

• ENGINEUS · NHTSAModel years 2020–2021

  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.

  Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.

  NHTSA campaign 21V259000 · reported 13/04/2021

• POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)US · NHTSAModel years 2015–2019

  Kia America, Inc. (KIA) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles. The parking mechanism may be damaged, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied while the vehicle is powered on.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC287. This recall expands and replaces recall number 20V-389. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-389 will need to have the new remedy completed.

  NHTSA campaign 23V724000 · reported 26/10/2023

• AIR BAGSUS · NHTSAModel years 2017–2019

  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.

  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 campaign 22V031000 · reported 25/01/2022

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERYUS · NHTSAModel years 2015–2019

  Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit while driving.

  Remedy: Dealers will update and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, free of charge. The new software will illuminate the EV warning light, limit charging capacity, and reduce vehicle power if abnormal voltage is detected. If this occurs, the battery will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC267.

  NHTSA campaign 23V218000 · reported 29/03/2023

• ENGINEUS · NHTSAModel years 2015–2016

  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.

  Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.

  NHTSA campaign 19V120000 · reported 23/02/2019

• STEERINGUS · NHTSAModel years 2015–2016

  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.

  Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.

  NHTSA campaign 17V608000 · reported 29/09/2017

• POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)US · NHTSAModel years 2015–2016

  Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Kia Soul Electric Vehicle (EV) vehicles. The parking mechanism may become damaged if the driver moves the gear shift lever into Park 'P' before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. If the parking mechanism is damaged, unintended vehicle movement may occur when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied.

  Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC191.

  NHTSA campaign 20V389000 · reported 02/07/2020

• ENGINEUS · NHTSAModel year 2015

  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.

  Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.

  NHTSA campaign 20V750000 · reported 02/12/2020

• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDALUS · NHTSAModel year 2015

  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.

  Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will add a supporting rubber underneath the pedal stopper, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC116.

  NHTSA campaign 15V123000 · reported 02/03/2015

Sources: EU Safety Gate (European market) and NHTSA (US market). See all Kia recalls.