2020 Kia Soul problems and complaints
Owners have filed 390 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Soul. The most-reported areas: Engine (246), Power Train (91), Unknown Or Other (52).
Key takeaways
- 390 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 9 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 6 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 246 | 63% |
| Power Train | 91 | 23% |
| Unknown Or Other | 52 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 28 | 7% |
| Steering | 16 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 | 4% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 4% |
| Structure | 11 | 3% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 | 3% |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 2% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2020 Kia Soul
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Soul SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-11-03
My car quit running and when I checked the oil there was none and this has been three months ago
Structure - filed 2026-11-03
The pearl white paint on my car has begun to bubble and peel off in several sections. One of the areas is around the top of the front windshield, and I am concerned that will affect the windshield itself, which might crack or not hold securely. There is also a large section of paint which has peeled off, down to the me...
Engine - filed 2026-10-22
Reason for Dispute & Desired Resolution: I am filing an executive escalation regarding a catastrophic engine failure on my 2020 Kia Soul, which is actively included in the Piston Oil Ring Safety Recall (Campaign SC209). The engine suffered a total structural failure where a rod broke and punctured a hole directly throu...
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2020 Kia Soul
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.