Platform Heritage
The Kia Soul (Korean: 기아 쏘울) is a compact five-door, five-passenger hatchback manufactured and marketed by Kia from 2008 to 2025, over three generations. Marketed as a crossover since its introduction, the Soul was a five-door, five-passenger hatchback with a boxy proportion and tall roof, maximizing interior space. Despite its SUV-like styling, the Soul was exclusively available with front-wheel drive.
In a period when small, boxy cars would come to populate the compact U.S. market, prominently the Chrysler PT Cruiser (2000–2010), Scion xB (2004-2015, Honda Element (2003–2011) and Nissan Cube (2009–2014), Kia presented the Kia Soul Concept in 2006 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and presented the production model at the 2008 Paris Motor Show — aiming for the North American market and targeting buyers in the 18-35 year-old range.
The second-generation model was introduced in 2013 for the 2014 model year, which slightly larger exterior and interior dimensions along with a reworked chassis, retaining its boxy styling. Kia introduced the third generation Soul in 2018 for model year 2019. Between 2014 and 2024, Kia also offered a battery electric variant as the Soul EV.
The nameplate Soul doubles as a homophone of Seoul, the city that hosts Kia's headquarters.
On October 6, 2025, Kia announced the end of the Soul's production later that month.
Source: Wikipedia intro extract · as of Jun 19, 2026
Key facts for this model year
129NHTSA owner complaints
1Safety recalls on file
55Top issue reports · Engine
$0Typical OEM recall remedy cost to you
Verify the data — open primary sources · as of Jun 19, 2026
System Defect Summaries & Field Data
Active safety recalls on file: 1 (source: NHTSA Recalls API · as of Jun 19, 2026)
Top NHTSA complaint categories
Recent recall summaries
Campaign 22V031000 · AIR BAGS · API record
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.
YouTube voice themes below are research hints only — verify against NHTSA data before citing.
Search demand cross-check: ~2,958 avg monthly intent searches (source: google ads data · as of Jun 19, 2026)
On-Site Kia Soul Pre-Purchase Checklist
- Verify OBD-II readiness monitors are complete (not recently cleared) using a full protocol scan.
- Compare dashboard mileage to ECU-stored odometer modules where accessible.
- Pull permanent and pending DTCs — not only stored codes visible on the dash.
- Inspect systems related to ENGINE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to UNKNOWN OR OTHER (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to AIR BAGS (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Confirm recall remedy completed for AIR BAGS (campaign 22V031000).
- Run a MotoMetrics on-site scan for Kia Soul before signing the bill of sale.