Is the Kia Soul reliable?
82% of the 27 we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, with an average of 73/100 — it scores noticeably better than the typical used car we inspect.
27
Cars inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections73/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/10082%
In good shape (60+)all cars we check: 55%Across 27 used Kia Souls we inspected, this model scores noticeably better than the typical used car we inspect — average condition 73/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.
What we found
Most common faults
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
48%
Oil leaks · Engine
37%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
30%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
30%
Signs of recent repair · Engine
22%
Share of inspected Kia Souls where each item was flagged.
How they score
Excellent 52%
Good 30%
Mediocre 15%
Poor 4%
Hidden history
What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on this model.
63%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
0%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
15%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%
More on Kia
Straight from recent Kia Soul reports
2016 Kia Soul · 100k mi — flagged: oil leaks, fault codes recently cleared, fuel trim out of range. Inspected Jun 6.
2019 Kia Soul · 97k mi — flagged: oil leaks, tires condition & wear, key fob. Inspected Apr 27.
The bottom line
The Kia Soul's clean bill on structural repairs means you can skip fretting over frame damage and zero in on the engine, where oil leaks, cooling-system troubles, and out-of-range fuel trims keep cropping up. Throw in tire condition, which needs attention on nearly half of them, and you have your shopping priorities locked. Use any of those issues to negotiate hard or walk if the seller shrugs them off; a Soul that checks out clean underneath is otherwise a low-drama pick worth taking seriously.
FAQ
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What are the most common problems on a used Kia Soul?
The items we flag most often are tires condition & wear (48%), oil leaks (37%), low coolant / cooling system issues (30%). Have these checked before buying.
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Should I worry about cleared fault codes?
On 15% of these cars the ECU codes had been erased shortly before sale, which can hide active faults. Ask for a diagnostic scan and start the engine from cold.
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Based on 27 inspections · updated Aug 12, 2026
