Representative model. Photo: Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2018 Kia Soul recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2018 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 222
Latest campaign: Oct 26, 2023

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Power train	1	Oct 26, 2023	23V724000
Electrical system	1	Mar 29, 2023	23V218000
Air bags	1	Jan 25, 2022	22V031000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Oct 26, 2023Latest campaign


Oct 26, 202323V724000	Power train: automatic transmission gear position indication (prndl) Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 23V724000 What's wrong Kia America, Inc. (KIA) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles. The parking mechanism may be damaged, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied while the vehicle is powered on. Risk Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC287. This recall expands and replaces recall number 20V-389. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-389 will need to have the new remedy completed. Filed under Soul Ev Campaign NHTSA 23V724000 · Oct 26, 2023
Mar 29, 202323V218000	Electrical system: propulsion system traction battery A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 23V218000 What's wrong Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit while driving. Risk A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire. Remedy Dealers will update and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, free of charge. The new software will illuminate the EV warning light, limit charging capacity, and reduce vehicle power if abnormal voltage is detected. If this occurs, the battery will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC267. Filed under Soul Ev Campaign NHTSA 23V218000 · Mar 29, 2023
Jan 25, 202222V031000	Air bags Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 22V031000 What's wrong Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash. Risk Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Remedy Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226. Filed under Soul, Soul Ev Campaign NHTSA 22V031000 · Jan 25, 2022

Oct 26, 202323V724000

Power train: automatic transmission gear position indication (prndl)

Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 23V724000

What's wrong: Kia America, Inc. (KIA) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles. The parking mechanism may be damaged, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied while the vehicle is powered on.
Risk: Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC287. This recall expands and replaces recall number 20V-389. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-389 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Filed under: Soul Ev
Campaign: NHTSA 23V724000 · Oct 26, 2023

Mar 29, 202323V218000

Electrical system: propulsion system traction battery

A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.

DetailsHide details for campaign 23V218000

What's wrong: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit while driving.
Risk: A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, free of charge. The new software will illuminate the EV warning light, limit charging capacity, and reduce vehicle power if abnormal voltage is detected. If this occurs, the battery will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC267.
Filed under: Soul Ev
Campaign: NHTSA 23V218000 · Mar 29, 2023

Jan 25, 202222V031000

Air bags

Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 22V031000

What's wrong: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Filed under: Soul, Soul Ev
Campaign: NHTSA 22V031000 · Jan 25, 2022

Merged from NHTSA model names: Soul Ev, Soul. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2018 Kia Soul? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component222

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

222Complaints filed

15Involving a crash

14Involving a fire

12Injuries reported · 1 death

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Engine	142	64	1	10	0
Power train	32	14	1	0	0
Unknown or other	30	14	2	4	0
Electrical system	21	9	1	2	0
Fuel/propulsion system	11	5	1	0	0
Air bags	11	5	8	0	8
Engine and engine cooling	9	4	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	8	4	2	0	1
Service brakes	7	3	1	0	0
Steering	5	2	0	0	1
Structure	5	2	1	1	2
Exterior lighting	4	2	0	1	0
Visibility/wiper	3	1	0	0	0
Wheels	3	1	0	0	0
Lane departure	2	1	0	0	0

7 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Soul, Soul EV.

Latest reports

Engine
“I am reporting excessive engine oil consumption in my 2018 Kia Soul, VIN [XXX], with over 150,000 miles. The engine consumes approximately 1-2 quarts of oil every 1,000 miles.”
Filed 10/14/2026 · ODI 11771265
Engine
“This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.”
Filed 09/09/2026 · ODI 11763086
Engine
“This Kia has an oil consumption issue I need to add oil every 3 to 4 hundred miles also my oil gets black at least 1 week after an oil change.”
Filed 09/09/2026 · ODI 11763087

Other Kia Soul model years

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2018 Kia Soul recall questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Soul have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2018 Kia Soul. The most recent, 23V724000 (reported October 26, 2023), concerns power train. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Kia Soul?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 142 complaints out of 222 filed with NHTSA (64%). Across all complaints, owners reported 15 crashs and 14 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2018 Kia Soul?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Kia dealer.

Check a specific Kia by VIN

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