2018 Kia Soul: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
218 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The second-generation Soul (2014–2019) carries the Gamma and Nu engines that were subject to Kia's engine-failure investigation and the 2019 recall for catalytic-converter damage leading to piston failure; the 2014–2016 years have the highest counts, with engine noise, stalling and fire cited. The 2017–2019 years are better, and the third generation from 2020 is quiet apart from a bump in 2020. Read the full note on the model page. 2018 specifically: a year the record favours — 218 complaints, score 83/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Kia Sorento, Sportage and Soul: the recall years and the good years after them, including 2018 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 218 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 27.25
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.
This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.
This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.
Recalls: 1 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 22V031000 | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 28 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,250
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine140 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train31 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Unknown Or Other30 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System19 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Fuel/Propulsion System11 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Air Bags11 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
Other Kia Soul years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Kia Soul?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (140 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 Kia Soul a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 83/100, computed from 218 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 Kia Soul's most common problem?
140 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 Kia Soul sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2018 Kia Soul cost to run per year?
About $4,557 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $22,788 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2018 Kia Soul have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 Kia Soul, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 25/01/2022. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2018 Kia Soul really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 218 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 218 NHTSA complaints on record (27.2/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (30.1/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems