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2018 Kia Soul problems

The most common problem on the 2018 Kia Soul is engine and cooling, typically around 73,454 miles. It has fewer complaints than a typical Soul model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
78/100
Owner complaints
221
Recalls
1
Service bulletins
95
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
27-28mpg
Typical repair
$8,817

The worst 2018 Kia Soul problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2018 Kia Soul

Knocking 53Engine failure 48Check engine light 42Oil consumption 42Stalling 24Fire or smoke 19Loss of power 19Misfire 8Hesitation 7No deployment 6

Trouble codes owners of the 2018 Kia Soul mention

P1326 4P0300 2P0303 2

Recalls 1

Air bagsReported January 25, 2022 · 410,619 vehicles affected
What is 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.

Recall number 22V031000 · Recall details

See all 1 recalls for the 2018 Kia Soul

Technical service bulletins for the 2018 Kia Soul 95

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 95 bulletins for the 2018 Kia Soul

2018 Kia Soul fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
1.6L 4‑cylFWD24-2630-3127-28
2.0L 4‑cylFWD253027
Electric motor Electric 111 mi rangeFWD12493108 MPGe

What 2018 Kia Soul owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 5, 2026 · Seat belts · OH · crash · 1 injury

Intersection crash driver sealtbelt did restrain the driver, driver ok front passenger sealtbelt did not restrain passenger ended up in back seat with sever injuries.

Filed Oct 25, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · RI

**Vehicle:** 2018 Kia Soul\ **Mileage:** Approximately 198,000 miles 1\. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The engine appears to have experienced a serious malfunction, and the vehicle is no longer moving. I believe the engine may have failed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2\. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** There is no immediate safety risk at the moment because the vehicle is not being driven. However, an unexpected loss of engine power or the inability to move could create a dangerous situation if it occurred in traffic. 3\. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** No. The vehicle has not been inspected or diagnosed by a dealer or independent service center. The exact cause of the failure has not been confirmed. 4\. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others?** No. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or any other party. 5\. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?** The check engine light came on, and the vehicle showed misfire codes for cylinder 1 and cylinder 3, along with an oxygen (O2) sensor code. The vehicle was also producing a significant amount of white smoke from the exhaust. These symptoms occurred before the vehicle stopped moving. The exact cause has not yet been determined because the vehicle has not been professionally inspected.

Filed Oct 14, 2026 · Engine · SC

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. There are no visible external oil leaks, and the vehicle does not produce visible exhaust smoke. I am concerned that this excessive oil consumption may indicate an internal engine defect and could lead to engine damage or sudden engine failure if the oil level becomes too low . Having to add oil so frequently creates an ongoing risk that the engine could become dangerously low on oil between checks, potentially resulting in engine failure while driving and creating a safety hazard for the driver and other motorists. I contacted Kia America to report the problem and request assistance with diagnosis and engine repair or replacement. Kia reviewed my VIN and stated in writing that there are no applicable oil-consumption recalls, service campaigns, or warranty extensions for my vehicle. Kia also denied my request for goodwill assistance. I am concerned that this problem may affect other Kia Soul owners and believe it warrants further investigation. I am submitting this complaint so that the federal safety agency can document the excessive oil consumption and determine whether further investigation is warranted INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Engine · MA

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 Sep 9, 2026 · Engine · MA

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 Sep 9, 2026 · Engine · MA

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 Sep 9, 2026 · Engine · MA

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 Sep 9, 2026 · Engine · MA

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 Aug 11, 2026 · Engine · IL

My car has very high oil consumption. I regularly take it for oil changes and have never missed an oil change. In between oil changes I need to put anywhere between 2-3 bottles of oil in. I have taken it in to the dealership for a couple of oil consumption tests that both failed step one so they kept it overnight and did some kind of flush or cleanse and then it passed step 2 both times. The car is good for a little while and then it starts consuming alot of oil again. Due to the high consumption of oil my catalytic converter is going bad and the engine seems very sluggish at times. I do have a yellow check engine light constantly on and the code is for the catalytic converter due to high oil comsumption. The dealership told me they can't do anything about the warning light until it starts to flash yellow instead of being solid yellow. I brought it into the dealership for that and they acknowleded my year make and model are known for excessive oil consumption which can cause the catalytic converter to go bad. They won't do anything about it because it passes step 2 of oil consumption test. but they keep giving me a hard time about just permanently fixing it under the warranty since it passes step 2 even though I am back months later for the same problem. I feel they are trying to run my warranty out so they won't have to fix it. My car now won't pass an emissions test because of the catalytic converter.

Filed Jul 25, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NC

The vehicle is suffering from an extreme internal engine oil consumption defect, burning approximately 3 quarts of engine oil every 500 to 600 miles with no external leaks. The internal oil burning heavily fouled the vehicle's ignition system (spark plugs and coil packs), causing severe engine misfires and a sudden vehicle stall while operating in motion on public highways. This unexpected loss of motive power creates an extreme safety hazard. The local dealership, Paramount Kia of Hickory, refused to follow proper factory Technical Service Bulletin (TSB-ENG219) testing protocols to document the defect, leaving the consumer operating an unsafe vehicle.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 2018 Kia Soul before you buy

Compare the 2018 Kia Soul

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Other model years

2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

Questions about the 2018 Kia Soul

Is the 2018 Kia Soul reliable?

Owners have filed 221 complaints about the 2018 Kia Soul, fewer than a typical Soul model year.

What is the 2018 Kia Soul year score?

The 2018 Kia Soul scores 78 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Kia Soul: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Kia Soul?

Engine and cooling, with 148 complaints, typically around 73,454 miles. Next is transmission (31).

How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Soul have?

1 recall, covering air bags.

What year does the Kia Soul have bad engine?

The Kia Soul model years with the most engine complaints are 2015 (663 complaints), 2016 (623 complaints) and 2014 (591 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2018 Kia Soul get?

Official estimates for the 2018 Kia Soul range from 27 to 28 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.6L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 24-26 city and 30-31 highway.

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