Is the Jeep Renegade more reliable than the KIA Soul?

Based on our data, the KIA Soul is more reliable with an average score of 77/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Jeep Renegade or the KIA Soul?

The Jeep Renegade has more recalls (15) compared to the KIA Soul (10). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Jeep Renegade or the KIA Soul?

Adjusted for sales volume, the KIA Soul has a lower complaint rate at 6.4 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 20.4 for the Jeep Renegade. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Jeep Renegade or the KIA Soul?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the KIA Soul is cheaper to maintain at $437/year versus $498/year for the Jeep Renegade.

Is the Jeep Renegade or KIA Soul safer?

Both the Jeep Renegade and KIA Soul received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 4/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-07-26

Jeep Renegade vs KIA Soul: Reliability Compared

Jeep Renegade

Good

More Reliable

KIA Soul

Good

Choosing between the Jeep Renegade and the KIA Soul? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The KIA Soul currently leads with an average score of 77/100 compared to 74/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Jeep Renegade and KIA Soul Generations Compare?

As of 2026, the Kia Soul is in its third generation (SK3), which began in 2020 and underwent a facelift in 2023. Being late in its generation cycle, the current Soul benefits from a mature platform, often translating to well-sorted reliability as initial issues have typically been resolved. In contrast, the Jeep Renegade is still in its first generation (BU), introduced in 2015. This generation received several updates, with the latest changes in 2023. Although the Renegade's platform is older, the multiple updates suggest efforts to address early issues, potentially enhancing reliability. Buyers may find the Kia Soul's more established platform offers a reliability advantage.

Verdict

The KIA Soul is more reliable than the Jeep Renegade, scoring 77/100 vs 74/100.

The KIA Soul demonstrates superior reliability compared to the Jeep Renegade, with a higher average reliability score of 77/100 versus 74/100 for the Renegade. The Soul also has a lower owner complaint rate of 6.4 per 10,000 units sold, significantly better than the Renegade's 20.4. Additionally, the KIA Soul's estimated annual repair cost is more budget-friendly at $437, compared to the Renegade's $498. While both vehicles share common issues with their power train and electrical systems, the Soul's lower recall count and overall complaint rate make it the more dependable choice in the compact SUV segment.

Key Differences

1KIA Soul costs $61 less per year to repair
2KIA Soul has 14.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3KIA Soul has 5 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

0Jeep Renegade

—

4KIA Soul

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Jeep Renegade vs KIA Soul: Which Is More Reliable?

Jeep Renegade vs KIA Soul at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Jeep Renegade	KIA Soul
Reliability Score	74/100	77/100
Years Tracked	6	8
Total Recalls	15	10
Complaints per 10k Sold	20.4	6.4
Annual Repair Cost	$498/yr	$437/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.2/yr
Major Repair Risk	9%	9%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2023 NHTSA	2025 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2 (1 tied)	3 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Jeep Renegade and KIA Soul?

The KIA Soul exhibits a significant proportion of its complaints in the engine category, with 410 issues reported, including two crash-linked incidents, highlighting a potential area of concern. The Jeep Renegade, while having fewer total complaints, shows a high incidence in the electrical system with 185 issues, three of which are crash-linked. Both models have a notable number of air bag-related complaints, with the KIA Soul recording 34 issues, 24 crash-linked, and the Jeep Renegade reporting 29 complaints, 21 crash-linked, underscoring a critical safety concern for both vehicles. Additionally, the KIA Soul has more complaints in the power train category compared to the Renegade, suggesting a broader distribution of mechanical issues.

Jeep Renegade vs KIA Soul common problem areas comparison
Component	Jeep Renegade	KIA Soul
ENGINE	3.8Average	2.6Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	5.5Average	0.5Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2.8Low	0.7Very Low
POWER TRAIN	2.5Low	1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.9Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.9Very Low	—None
STEERING	0.4Very Low	0.3Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	0.5Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
TIRES	0.1Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Jeep Renegade or KIA Soul?

Independent repair cost data indicates that the KIA Soul and Jeep Renegade have similar maintenance profiles, with both vehicles requiring an average of 0.2 repair visits per year and sharing a 9% risk of major repairs. However, the KIA Soul offers a slight edge in terms of annual repair costs, which are $61 lower than those of the Jeep Renegade. This translates to a savings of $305 over a five-year period for the KIA Soul. For cost-conscious buyers, the KIA Soul represents a better value in terms of maintenance expenses, offering comparable reliability to the Jeep Renegade but at a lower overall cost.

How Does Jeep Renegade vs KIA Soul Reliability Compare by Year?

Jeep Renegade vs KIA Soul year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Jeep Renegade	KIA Soul	Edge
2023	77/1002R / 20C	77/1004R / 45C	Tie
2022	76/1002R / 24C	78/1001R / 78C	KIA Soul
2021	75/1002R / 64C	72/1002R / 190C	Jeep Renegade
2020	75/1003R / 62C	70/1001R / 338C	Jeep Renegade
2019	75/1004R / 77C	76/1001R / 123C	KIA Soul
2018	65/1002R / 440C	73/1001R / 199C	KIA Soul

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Jeep Renegade scored 77/100 and the 2022 KIA Soul scored 78/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Jeep Renegade vs the KIA Soul?

If you prioritize low running costs and fewer owner complaints, the KIA Soul might be the better choice for you. With an independent repair cost estimate of $437 annually and only 6.4 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, the Soul offers a more economical and hassle-free ownership experience. Its reliability score of 77/100 also indicates a solid performance, despite having a similar major repair risk and repair frequency as the Renegade. On the other hand, if you are more concerned with the driving experience and don't mind slightly higher costs, the Jeep Renegade could appeal to you. However, be aware that it has faced a higher number of recalls (15) and a greater volume of owner complaints (20.4 per 10,000 sold). With an estimated annual repair cost of $498, the Renegade may demand more attention, but it could be worth it if you value its distinctive styling and off-road capabilities.

Jeep Renegade vs KIA Soul: Common Questions

Is the Jeep Renegade more reliable than the KIA Soul?: Based on our data, the KIA Soul is more reliable with an average score of 77/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Jeep Renegade or the KIA Soul?: The Jeep Renegade has more recalls (15) compared to the KIA Soul (10). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Jeep Renegade or the KIA Soul?: Adjusted for sales volume, the KIA Soul has a lower complaint rate at 6.4 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 20.4 for the Jeep Renegade. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Jeep Renegade or the KIA Soul?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the KIA Soul is cheaper to maintain at $437/year versus $498/year for the Jeep Renegade.
Is the Jeep Renegade or KIA Soul safer?: Both the Jeep Renegade and KIA Soul received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 4/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Jeep Renegade comparisons

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More KIA Soul comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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