Last updated: 2026-10-10
Kia Soul vs Nissan Kicks: Reliability Compared
Kia Soul
Nissan Kicks
Reliability is effectively tied between the Nissan Kicks and the KIA Soul. Both stand in good shape with 10 recalls each. The split is in the risk: the Kicks draws more complaints per car sold, while Soul complaints center on engine oil loss.
How Do the Kia Soul and Nissan Kicks Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Nissan Kicks is more reliable than the Kia Soul, scoring 78/100 vs 77/100.
Neither car wins on reliability. Each holds a good standing and each has 10 recalls on record. The deciding difference is the kind of risk. The Kicks draws more complaints per car sold, mostly scattered electrical and stalling reports. The Soul draws fewer per car sold, but its complaints cluster around oil loss, engine replacement, and early transmission failure. Choose by which risk you can live with, not by a reliability gap.
Key Differences
- 1Kia Soul has 1.9 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 2Nissan Kicks scores 1 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Kia Soul vs Nissan Kicks: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Kia Soul | Nissan Kicks |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 77/100 | 78/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 10 | 10 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 6.4 | 8.3 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2025 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 4 | 4 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Kia Soul and Nissan Kicks?
Engine trouble dominates the Soul's complaints. Owners report oil vanishing with no warning light, then rattling, stalling, and full engine replacements, plus early IVT transmission failures with metal in the fluid. Kicks complaints spread out: rear hatch glass that shatters on a parked car, sudden power loss with a "System Malfunction" message, and rear automatic braking that stops the car for no reason. Only the Kicks has crash-linked complaints in service brakes. Only the Soul has crash-linked engine and steering reports. Dealers often could not reproduce Kicks stalls, so those cars left unrepaired.
| Component | Kia Soul | Nissan Kicks |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 2.6Low | 0.5Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.5Very Low | 1.8Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.7Very Low | 1.2Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1Very Low | 0.8Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.3Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.5Very Low | —None |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.4Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| WHEELS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Kia Soul vs Nissan Kicks Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Kia Soul | Nissan Kicks | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 85/1000R / 9C | 78/1003R / 24C | Kia Soul |
| 2024 | 86/1000R / 23C | 81/1001R / 20C | Kia Soul |
| 2023 | 77/1004R / 45C | 80/1001R / 23C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2022 | 78/1001R / 78C | 82/1000R / 19C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2021 | 72/1002R / 190C | 78/1002R / 66C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2020 | 70/1001R / 338C | 78/1000R / 85C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2019 | 76/1001R / 123C | 73/1001R / 123C | Kia Soul |
| 2018 | 73/1001R / 199C | 71/1001R / 78C | Kia Soul |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Kia Soul scored 86/100 and the 2022 Nissan Kicks scored 82/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Kia Soul vs the Nissan Kicks?
Kia Soul vs Nissan Kicks: Common Questions
- Is the Nissan Kicks more reliable than the KIA Soul?
- No, they are effectively tied. Both have a good reliability standing and 10 recalls. The Kicks has 8.3 complaints per 10,000 sold against 6.4 for the Soul, but Soul complaints lean toward engine and transmission failures, so the tie reflects different kinds of risk.
- Which has more recalls, the Kicks or the Soul?
- They have the same number, 10 each in federal recall records. The Kicks spreads them across 9 model years and the Soul across 8. Check the VIN of any specific car for open recalls before you buy.
- Which is cheaper to repair, the Kicks or the Soul?
- The data cannot settle it. Independent repair-cost data exists only for the Soul, at about $437 a year, with 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year and a 9% chance a repair is major. No comparable figures are available for the Kicks.
- What is the biggest problem with the KIA Soul?
- Engine oil loss is the biggest. It accounts for 410 engine complaints. Owners describe oil disappearing without a low-oil warning, then rattling, stalling, and sometimes full engine replacement. Early IVT transmission failures with metal in the fluid also appear in power train reports.
- Why does the rear window shatter on the Nissan Kicks?
- The data does not give a cause. Owners report the rear glass popping loudly, even on a parked car with nothing touching it, and one dealer could not find a reason. Those reports sit under the electrical system and structure categories.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between Kia Soul and Nissan Kicks? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Kia Soul and Nissan Kicks
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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