Last updated: 2026-10-10
Buick Encore vs Kia Soul: Reliability Compared
Buick Encore
Kia Soul
Edging ahead on reliability, the Buick Encore needs half as many unscheduled shop visits as the KIA Soul. Both rate good overall. The Soul costs a bit less per year to repair, but its oil-consumption engine failures and early transmission faults weigh against it.
How Do the Buick Encore and Kia Soul Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Buick Encore is more reliable than the Kia Soul, scoring 79/100 vs 77/100.
Slight edge to the Buick Encore. It needs unscheduled shop visits half as often and has fewer recalls across its model years. The KIA Soul fights back on cost, with a lower yearly repair bill and a smaller chance that a repair is major. What holds the Soul back is its engine pattern: oil loss with no warning, then rattling, stalling, and in some cases a full engine replacement. The Encore's worst problems are narrower, though serious.
Key Differences
- 1Kia Soul costs $29 less per year to repair
- 2Buick Encore has 6 fewer total recalls
- 3Kia Soul has 3% lower major repair risk
Category Scoreboard
Buick Encore vs Kia Soul: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Buick Encore | Kia Soul |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 79/100 | 77/100 |
| Years Tracked | 5 | 8 |
| Total Recalls | 4 | 10 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 6.9 | 6.4 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $466/yr | $437/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.1/yr | 0.2/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 12% | 9% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2022 NHTSA | 2025 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 4 (1 tied) | 0 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Encore and Kia Soul?
Engine and drivetrain failures dominate the Soul's complaints. Oil disappears without a low-oil warning, then engines rattle, stall, or need replacing. The IVT transmission has also failed early, with metal shavings in the fluid and sudden power loss. Encore reports spread across several systems. Turbocharger failure cuts power without warning, and a radiator fan that runs after shutdown drains the battery. The Encore also has an air bag area with 11 crash-linked complaints, mostly front air bags that did not deploy. The Soul's main problem areas include no air bag category.
| Component | Buick Encore | Kia Soul |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1.5Low | 2.6Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1Very Low | 1Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.7Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.7Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.7Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.3Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.4Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| TIRES | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| WHEELS | —None | —None |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Buick Encore or Kia Soul?
How Does Buick Encore vs Kia Soul Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Buick Encore | Kia Soul | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 80/1000R / 8C | 78/1001R / 78C | Buick Encore |
| 2021 | 80/1000R / 9C | 72/1002R / 190C | Buick Encore |
| 2020 | 77/1002R / 19C | 70/1001R / 338C | Buick Encore |
| 2019 | 76/1002R / 82C | 76/1001R / 123C | Tie |
| 2018 | 80/1000R / 72C | 73/1001R / 199C | Buick Encore |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Buick Encore scored 80/100 and the 2022 Kia Soul scored 78/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Buick Encore vs the Kia Soul?
Buick Encore vs Kia Soul: Common Questions
- Is the KIA Soul more reliable than the Buick Encore?
- No, the Encore has a slight edge. It averages 0.1 unscheduled shop visits a year against 0.2 for the Soul, and it has fewer recalls. The Soul is cheaper to repair each year, but its engine oil-loss complaints and early transmission failures count against it.
- Which has more recalls, the Soul or the Encore?
- The Soul has more. Federal recall records show 10 recalls across its 8 model years, against 4 across 5 model years for the Encore. The Soul also covers more years, so some of the gap comes from its longer run on the market.
- Which is cheaper to repair, the Soul or the Encore?
- The Soul is cheaper, at an estimated $437 a year against $466 for the Encore. That is roughly $145 over five years. The Soul also has a lower chance that a repair is major, 9% against 12%.
- What are the biggest problems with the Buick Encore?
- Turbocharger failure and air bag faults stand out. Owners describe sudden power loss on hills and while passing. In the air bag area, front air bags did not deploy in several crashes, and the passenger seat sensor sometimes switched the air bag off with an adult seated.
- Which KIA Soul years should I avoid?
- Avoid 2020 and 2021, the weakest years. The common complaints on the Soul are oil disappearing between changes, engines that rattle or stall, and early IVT transmission failure. The 2024 and 2025 models look strongest, but they have had less time to collect complaints.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Buick Encore comparisons
Decided between Buick Encore and Kia Soul? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Buick Encore and Kia Soul
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
See incorrect data? Report an issue