Verdict
2025 Kia Soul: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2025 Kia Soul — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
More reported complaints than most hatchback.
Owners filed 11 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 67% of 2025 hatchbacks. Exterior Lighting leads the reports (36%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2025 hatchbacks, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
11
Reports to NHTSA, 2025
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
30
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 67% of 2025 hatchbacks
The bar is this car's percentile among 2025 hatchbacks by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Exterior Lighting issues lead owner complaints (36% of 11 reports), followed by unknown or other (18%).
Share of all 11 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11722928, ODI 11707067, ODI 11677971, ODI 11673048.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2025 Kia Soul SUV FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soul | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 27 | 33 | 30 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2025 Kia Soul: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2025 Kia Soul?
Owners filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the 2025 Kia Soul — more complaints than 67% of comparable 2025 hatchbacks, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2025 Kia Soul?
The most-reported problem areas are Exterior Lighting (36% of complaints) and unknown or other (18%).
How many recalls does the 2025 Kia Soul have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2025 Kia Soul as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Kia Soul get?
The EPA rates the 2025 Kia Soul at 30 mpg combined.