Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2020 Kia Soul
NHTSA data on file today
The 2020 Kia Soul has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 388 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V259000 Improperly Heat-Treated Piston Oil Rings NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 245 complaints
- Power Train 91 complaints
- Unknown or Other 52 complaints
- Electrical System 28 complaints
- Steering 16 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 15 complaints
Of the 388 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 388 complaints, owners report 6 injuries and 8 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$12,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2020 Kia Soul suffers from significant engine issues, notably with piston oil rings, leading to a high volume of complaints. These issues contribute to costly repairs and lower overall dependability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 40,000–70,000 miles | $4,000–$7,500 | very common |
| power train | 30,000–60,000 miles | $1,200–$2,500 | common |
| electrical system | 20,000–50,000 miles | $200–$800 | occasional |
| steering | 50,000–80,000 miles | $300–$600 | rare |
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 change every 7,500 miles
- Replace air filter every 30,000 miles
- Brake pad replacement every 40,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 60,000 miles
- Transmission service every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine knocking sounds
- Transmission slipping
- Dashboard warning lights
- Excessive oil consumption
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2020 Kia Soul at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.