Best Kia Soul Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Kia Soul years to buy are 2019 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2021 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Every Kia Soul year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 0 | OK |
| 2024 | 27 | 0 | OK |
| 2023 | 48 | 4 | OK |
| 2022 | 87 | 1 | OK |
| 2021 | 220 | 2 | AVOID |
| 2020 | 358 | 1 | AVOID |
| 2019 | 131 | 1 | BEST |
| 2018 | 209 | 1 | OK |
| 2017 | 268 | 1 | OK |
| 2016 | 800 | 2 | AVOID |
| 2015 | 897 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2014 | 890 | 5 | AVOID |
| 2013 | 657 | 3 | AVOID |
| 2012 | 512 | 3 | AVOID |
| 2011 | 193 | 3 | OK |
| 2010 | 134 | 3 | OK |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Kia Soul?
2019 — based on federal NHTSA records, it shows the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Kia Soul model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Kia Soul years should I avoid?
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2021 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by engine issues. The full breakdown is on our Kia Soul years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Kia Soul a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 5,442 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Kia Soul years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Kia Soul year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Kia Soul you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).