Most common 2019 Kia Soul problems
Share of the 137 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Soul complaints by model year
Best Soul years: 2010, 2011, 2025. Years to avoid: 2015, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021. Compare all years →
2019 Kia Soul recalls (1)
Air bags
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2019 Kia Soul:
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
What 2019 Kia Soul owners say
Engine & cooling all 93 →
The contact owned a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at 50 MPH, the brakes failed to operate upon depression as heavy, black smoke began to emit from the under the hood of the vehicle. The contact's daughter managed to pull off to the shoulder of the highway as all occupants quickly exited the vehicle. The vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames as police arrived immediately on the scene. The fire department also arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported. A police report was filed but when the contact called for a copy, he was informed that the report was not yet produced. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard were the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact went to view the vehicle and linked the failure the engine's connecting rod which he saw hanging from what remained of the engine. …
The contact owned a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at a low rate of speed, an abnormal, burning odor began to emit from the vehicle. As the odor grew stronger, the contact's wife parked and exited the vehicle. Soon after exiting the vehicle, white smoke began to emit from underneath the hood and the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported and a police report was filed. The vehicle parked in front of the contact's vehicle sustained damage as a result of the fire. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location through the contact's insurance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle was totaled as a result of the fire. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
Air bags
The contact owned a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle stopped in front of the contact's vehicle and the brake pedal was depressed to attempt to avoid a crash; however, the vehicle skidded and crashed into the rear of the other vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. During the crash the front end and the hood of the vehicle was severely damaged, but the air bags did not deploy. Additionally, the seat belt malfunctioned and failed to secure the contact in the seat, causing the contact's chest and stomach to impact the steering wheel. The contact sustained a bruised chest and neck injury but had not yet sought medical treatment. The contact stated that an appointment was schedule to see her Primary Care Physician. The contact was unaware of any injuries to the other driver. …
On April 05, 2022 I was struck head-on by a negligent driver who rounded a blind turn at a rate of speed of above sixty miles per hour. His vehicle drifted across the double yellow lines into my lane and hit three quarters of my front bumper. He was driving a four door sedan and I was driving a 2019 Kia Soul. My vehicle was lifted off of the ground, slid across his hood and roof, landed on its side and grinder against the passenger side of the car along the floor and the roof grinded the guard rail. My steering wheel air bag did not deploy, causing my head to go through the windshield. All of this is evidenced by my dual camera dash cam. The front panel of my car was crushed, which caused the side curtain airbags to deploy. Unfortunately, even though the main impact was the front bumper, the steering wheel airbag did not deploy. I suffered severe permanent injuries from this accident. …
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic receiving an undercoating, the independent mechanic performed an inspection of the vehicle. The contact stated that during the inspection, the independent mechanic identified that there was severe corrosion on the fuel tank straps. The contact was informed that the fuel tank straps needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was scheduled for inspection. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact referenced an unknown recall however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 46,200.
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. The vehicle was steered into a parking lot and parked. The vehicle was restarted, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle failed accelerate above 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a parts store where a handheld diagnostic machine retrieved DTC codes: P0303 and P016F. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the fuel system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
2019 Kia Soul engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 124 / 93 / 108 MPGe | 111 mi |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 26 / 31 / 28 | — |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 31 / 28 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 30 / 27 | — |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 30 / 27 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2019 Kia Soul a good car?
Based on 137 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Soul rates average: 38% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Soul at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Kia Soul?
The engine & cooling — 93 complaints, 68% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor. Next are the air bags (15) and fuel & propulsion system (15).
How many recalls does the 2019 Kia Soul have?
There is 1 recall for the 2019 Kia Soul, the most recent from January 25, 2022 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Soul?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2011 and 2025. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2014, 2016, 2020 and 2021. See the full Kia Soul years comparison.
At what mileage do 2019 Kia Soul problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 49% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.