2014 Kia Soul reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2014 Kia Soul — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,213
- 439 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 544 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 52 reported crashes · 40 injuries · 3 deaths · 108 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#277
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
+948
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2012-2016
+909
median 304 complaints in 626 records
Top component share
45%
Engine: 544 complaints
What owners report fails — 2014 Kia Soul
- ENGINE 544
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 124
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 93
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 81
- POWER TRAIN 56
5 recalls on record for the 2014 Kia Soul
- NHTSA 22V096000 · 2022 · AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODU Front air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- NHTSA 20V750000 · 2021 · ENGINE An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 19V120000 · 2019 · ENGINE Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the en
- NHTSA 17V608000 · 2017 · STEERING If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 15V123000 · 2015 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL If the vehicle has a bent or broken accelerator pedal, the driver may have difficulty accelerating the vehicle, increasi
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2014 Kia Soul
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2014 Kia Soul units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2014 Kia Soul reliable?
NHTSA has 1,213 consumer complaints on record for the 2014 Kia Soul and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (544 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2014 Kia Soul units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Kia Soul?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (544), exterior lighting (124), electrical system (93), unknown or other (81). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2014 Kia Soul?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.