Last updated: 2026-10-10
2024 Kia Soul Reliability Report
The 2024 KIA Soul rates excellent for reliability with no recalls, but some owners report a blank instrument cluster and one engine fire.
Recalls
0
Complaints
23
Complaint Rate
4.4per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$437
Annual Fuel Cost
$1,950–$2,000
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Best-rated of the eight scored Soul years, with no recalls, though owners report blank instrument clusters and one engine compartment fire.
Top Issues to Watch
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (6)
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING (2)
- POWER TRAIN (2)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2024 is 1 year after the third facelift (2023) refresh.
- Year 5 in the Third generation (SK3) (2020–present).
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- 3rd generation Soul (US).
What this means for buyers
Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.
2020: Third generation (SK3) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2023: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2024: This Model Year
2024 is 1 year after the third facelift (2023) refresh.
Should You Buy the 2024 Kia Soul?
Owner complaints put this Soul at the top of its own lineup. Reliability is excellent, well above average among 2024 SUVs, and the best of the eight scored Soul years. Federal recall records show none. The 2023 had 45 complaints and 4 recalls. The 2025 rates about the same, with 9 complaints and no recalls.
The most common problem is an instrument cluster that goes dark. The speedometer, fuel gauge, odometer, and safety alerts vanish, in one case at 1400 miles. Fixes ranged from a reset and software update to a months-long wait for a part. The most serious report is an engine compartment fire at about 2691 miles that destroyed the car. The driver had to kick the doors open. Some owners also find the low beams dim and yellow, and one was told there is no fix.
Ask for dealer records on any cluster repair. Drive the car at night on a dark road to judge the headlights. Backing up relies on the camera alone, because one dealer said the car lacks the sensors.
Compared to the 2025 Kia Soul, which scored 1 points lower. See also the 2023 Kia Soul for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Strong reliability score
- +$29 cheaper to maintain than avg subcompact SUVs
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (9%)
- +No recalls issued
Cons
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Instrument cluster goes completely dark, leaving no speedometer, fuel gauge,... (6 complaints)
- −1 fire incident reported in owner complaints
Compare 2024 Kia Soul With
2024 Hyundai Kona
Reliability: 68/100
2024 Nissan Kicks
Reliability: 81/100
2024 Buick Envista
Reliability: 75/100
2024 Chevrolet Trax
Reliability: 80/100
2024 Mazda CX-30
Reliability: 68/100
Common Problem Categories
Other
HIGH RISK- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (6)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (5)
Recall Overview
0
recalls on record
No recalls are on record for the 2024 Kia Soul — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
4.4
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 6.9
Safety Incidents
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 4/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
Buying a used 2024 Kia Soul? Check its history first
Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2024 Kia Soul, and 0 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2024 Kia Soul NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 14.7%
Safety Technologies
Kia SoulRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4.5Maintenance rating: 4.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$437
vs $466 avg for subcompact SUVs
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.2
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
9%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Kia Soul Resale Value
The Kia Soul is estimated to retain about 69.5% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Kia Soul model overall and is not specific to the 2024 model year.
- Value Retained
- 69.5%
- Depreciation
- 30.5%
- Listings Analyzed
- 355
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore Kia Soul depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
30–31 MPG
Running cost: $2,400–$2,450/yr
Fuel + repair
27–29 city / 33–35 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2024 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soul Eco dynamics 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 29 | 35 | 31 | $1,950 |
| Soul 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 27 | 33 | 30 | $2,000 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2024 Kia Soul.
Press the horn several times before buying and confirm it sounds loud and normal.
Start the car several times and confirm the instrument cluster lights up fully every time.
Ask for service records showing any horn or instrument cluster repairs, software updates, or parts still on back order.
Idle at several red lights during the test drive and watch for stalling or a check engine light.
Drive at night on an unlit road and judge whether the low beams light the road well enough.
Reverse toward an object and note whether any warning sounds or only the camera responds.
Inspect the steering column, ignition, and windows for signs of attempted theft or forced entry.
2024 Kia Soul Common Problems by Component
23 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6 complaintsThe instrument cluster goes completely dark, leaving no speedometer, fuel gauge, odometer, or safety alerts. One report pairs the blackout with a constant "wrong driving direction detected" message. It shows up early, in one case at 1400 miles, and some owners drive for days without gauges before a dealer visit. Fixes range from a reset and software update to a months-long wait for a replacement part. A second pattern is a dead horn, sometimes along with a missing lock confirmation from the key fob. One complaint says a diagnosis visit was required before parts could be ordered.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5 complaintsHorn failures lead this group, and the main complaint is the wait for parts. Owners describe nationwide back orders, no repair date from the automaker, and delays of four to six weeks. Some go without a horn the whole time. The driver attention warning can also pop up at random, sometimes several times in a short drive, with a loud chime that can't be turned off. Dealers say they can't reproduce it. Other single reports include a rear window that shattered while the car sat parked and theft-related vandalism that left an expensive repair bill.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2 complaintsLow-beam headlights look dim and yellow, and owners say they don't light the road well where there are no streetlights. Switching between automatic and manual headlight control makes no difference. High beams are less affected. One owner says a dealer told them there is no fix. These complaints describe weak lighting by design rather than a part that fails. Visibility at night on dark roads is the safety concern.
POWER TRAIN (2 complaints)
POWER TRAIN
2 complaintsSafety-relatedA fire starts in the engine compartment and destroys the car. One complaint in this group involves fire, at about 2691 miles, and the driver had to kick the doors open to get out. A second report describes a cascade of electrical faults. The gauges freeze, the fuel gauge stops moving after a fill-up, warning lights come on, the trunk won't open, and the dash stays lit after the key is removed. Only two complaints are on file here, but one carries a serious risk of injury.
BACK OVER PREVENTION (2 complaints)
BACK OVER PREVENTION
2 complaintsNo warning sounds when an object is behind the car while reversing. The backup camera works, but owners expected an audible alert and didn't get one. In one case a dealer explained that the vehicle was not equipped with sensors for this. These complaints describe missing equipment rather than a broken part, so drivers have to rely on the camera alone and watch the screen closely when backing up.
ENGINE (2 complaints)
ENGINE
2 complaintsSoul engine problems across all model years
Sudden stalls are the core problem. The car shuts off while idling at a light, or loses power while moving and refuses to go faster than 20 mph. Restarting can take several tries, and the stall can come back right away. A check engine light appeared in one case. In another, the car stalled in traffic while dealer staff were driving it. One owner put the failure at about 7,000 miles. Losing power in traffic raises the risk of a crash.
LANE DEPARTURE (1 complaints)
LANE DEPARTURE
1 complaintshortly after purchasing the car (06/2024) while driving (regardless of the weather or temperature, whether it’s day, night, hot, cold, etc) all of my dash warning lights come on, complete ADAS system malfunction. it shows a code for my front camera through the kia connect app and says it’s chasis related. i have taken my car in multiple times for this and i still leave with it the same day hours later. despite being told that both recommendations from my last service appointment had already been done, this is what i am left with. even after being involved in a front end collision, none of my safety features (that have never not been on) never came into play, emergency braking never happened. attaching most recent, first time addressing this issue was in august.
TIRES (1 complaints)
TIRES
1 complaintSize: P205/60R16 My Daughter was driving when all of a sudden the Front Driver Tire exploaded while taking a turn on a residential street. There was no nail or puncture to the tire (see photos). We do have a video showing that there is no puncture damage via nail or sharp object, but the video file is too large.
SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaintTHE BRAKE PEDAL RUBBER IS MADE OF A HARD PLASTIC OR SYNTHETIC RUBBER. BOTH I AND MY WIFES FOOT SLIDES OFF OF IT NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF SHOE WERE WEARING. I STARTED WEARING TENNIS SHOES, HELPED A LITTLE. BUT I'VE NEARLY HAD SEVERAL WRECKS WHERE I WAS GOING SLOW CAME UP TO THE LIGHT AND MY FOOTS COME OFF THE PEDDLE AND I NEARLY RAN INTO THE STOPPED CAR INFRONT OF ME, I MEAN BY INCHES. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE PEDDLE NOW WITH ONE UP ON THE PEDDLE METAL STEM THAT HOLDS THE PAD OWN OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION. I'M REALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR.IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN
STEERING (1 complaints)
STEERING
1 complaintBudget rental out of KSGF. THIS DANGEROUS COMPACT SUV IS UNFIT FOR UNITED STATES ROADS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. IN 2 WEEKS THE CAR OVER 8x Attempted to Overpower my driver inputs nearly driving me in to semi tractor trailer rigs. Further every time that happens a loud annoying message to take a coffee break even 7 minutes into the drive since engine start up. The partial Turn Off only partly lessens this Dangerous technology. It attempts to STOP THE DRIVER FROM STEERING AND ACCELERATOR AND EVEN BRAKE INPUTS. maybe appropriate in South Korea type of roads and laws and high density of autos... not true in the Continental U.S..
Best & Worst Kia Soul Years
Best Kia Soul Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2024
(Current Model)
2022
2023
Kia Soul Years to Avoid
Kia Soul Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 86/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 85/100 | Excellent |
Kia Soul Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2024 KIA Soul reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2024 KIA Soul?
Does the 2024 KIA Soul have instrument cluster problems?
Does the 2024 KIA Soul have a recall?
How much does the 2024 KIA Soul cost to maintain?
Don’t buy a 2024 Kia Soul without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2024 Kia Soul
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2024 Kia Soul does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on complaint severity (75/100). 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.
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