Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2014 Kia Soul
NHTSA data on file today
The 2014 Kia Soul has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 903 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #22V096000 Front Air Bags May Not Deploy NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V750000 Engine Damage May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V120000 Overheated Catalytic Converter May Damage Engine NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V608000 Steering Gear May Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V123000 Accelerator Pedal may Fracture NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 554 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 130 complaints
- Electrical System 98 complaints
- Unknown or Other 85 complaints
- Power Train 58 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 55 complaints
Of the 903 complaints on file, 33 report a crash and 69 a fire; across all 903 complaints, owners report 28 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2014 Kia Soul has a mixed performance in reliability due to recalls relating to essential systems like airbags, engines, and steering. Despite these issues, the vehicle generally performs well with proper maintenance, keeping it in the average category.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $1,500–$3,500 | common |
| catalytic converter | 60,000–90,000 miles | $1,000–$2,000 | common |
| steering gear | 80,000–110,000 miles | $800–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 50,000 miles
- Tire rotations every 7,500 miles
- Coolant replacement every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine knocking sounds
- Unusual exhaust smoke
- Steering wheel play
- Illuminated check engine light
- Burning smell from engine
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2014 Kia Soul at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.