2020 Kia Soul: Problems & Reliability
The 2020 Kia Soul has 388 NHTSA owner complaints, 135 manufacturer service bulletins, and 1 recall campaign on federal record, led by engine and power train issues. Among the 12 Kia Soul model years with federal records, it ranks 4th by combined complaint and bulletin volume.
Sources: NHTSA complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-11-05 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
388
NHTSA complaints
135
Service bulletins
1
Recall campaigns
—
Avg. buyer-paid
Most-reported problem areas on the 2020 Kia Soul
Engine — 245 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Power Train — 91 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Unknown Or Other — 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
How the 2020 compares to adjacent years
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Kia Soul years to avoid.
Know what to pay for the right 2020 Kia Soul — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2020 Kia Soul reliable?
The 2020 Kia Soul has 388 NHTSA owner complaints, 135 manufacturer service bulletins, and 1 recall campaign on federal record, led by engine and power train issues. Among the 12 Kia Soul model years with federal records, it ranks 4th by combined complaint and bulletin volume. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Kia Soul?
The most-reported problem areas for the 2020 Kia Soul in NHTSA owner complaints are engine, power train, unknown or other. Service bulletins (135 on file) show what the manufacturer issued repair guidance for.
Does the 2020 Kia Soul have recalls?
Yes — 1 recall campaign on federal record for the 2020 Kia Soul. Recall completion is VIN-specific: run the exact VIN to see whether the work was actually done on the car you're considering.
Is the 2020 Kia Soul a good year to buy?
The 2020 sits mid-pack among Kia Soul model years on the federal record; the 2025 and 2024 years have the cleanest records. Judge the specific car: run the VIN and get an inspection.
How do I check a specific 2020 Kia Soul before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.