The crossover that dares to be different
The Kia Soul is a quirky, box-shaped compact crossover that appeals to buyers who want something visually distinctive without sacrificing practicality. It competes with the Honda HR-V and Toyota C-HR but stands apart with its unmistakable silhouette. Popular with younger buyers and those tired of generic crossover styling, it offers strong value backed by Kia's industry-leading warranty.
We track 8 known issues across the Kia SOUL range, with 5 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Kia SOUL? Enter the reg to see which of our 8 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
PS (2009–2020) — Petrol options included the 1.6 GDI, 1.6 MPI, with 1.6 CRDi on the diesel side. We track 8 known issues on this generation, with 5 classified as significant. The most significant concern is DPF issues (£500–£1,200 to address).
The diesel particulate filter (DPF) on 1.6 CRDi engines blocks with soot when used primarily for short urban journeys. The system requires regular high-temperature regeneration cycles that cannot complete during stop-start driving. Blocked DPF units cause reduced power, increased fuel consumption, and limp mode activation. This is exacerbated by the Soul's typical use as an urban runabout where the DPF never reaches optimal operating temperature.
Complete DPF blockage causes limp mode and potential engine damage from excessive back-pressure. DPF replacement costs £500-1500 including labour. Professional cleaning services cost £200-400 but may not be effective on severely blocked units. The car remains driveable with reduced performance until complete failure occurs.
Ask about the car's typical usage — short urban journeys prevent DPF regeneration. Check for DPF warning lights and ask about any previous regeneration issues. A forced regeneration at a garage costs far less than a DPF replacement.
Front lower ball joints fail prematurely on the Soul, with MOT data showing failure rates 18.8x higher than the fleet average. The joints separate rubber seals allowing contamination and rapid wear of the bearing surfaces. This affects both steering precision and safety, with complete separation causing loss of steering control. The design appears undersized for the vehicle's weight and road conditions, with replacement joints showing similar longevity issues.
Complete ball joint separation causes immediate loss of steering control and potential wheel collapse. Worn joints cause irregular tyre wear, steering instability, and MOT failure. Replacement requires specialist press tools and wheel alignment. The car should not be driven with severely worn ball joints due to safety risk.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
The CV joints and flexible couplings in the driveshaft system deteriorate at 14.3x the fleet average rate, particularly on petrol variants. The rubber boots protecting the joints split prematurely allowing contamination of the bearing surfaces. This leads to clicking during turning, vibration under acceleration, and eventual joint seizure. The issue appears related to poor boot material quality and inadequate protection from road debris.
Complete CV joint failure causes loss of drive to the affected wheel and potential damage to the differential. Worn joints cause vibration, noise, and uneven power delivery. Joint replacement requires driveshaft removal and specialist tools. The car remains driveable with worn joints but deterioration accelerates rapidly once contamination occurs.
Listen for clunking or vibration from underneath when pulling away or changing direction. Check for play in the driveshafts by rocking the car in gear with the handbrake on. Worn CV boots are a telltale sign — look for grease splatter around the inner wheel arch.
Brake calipers bind at 204.0x the fleet average rate, causing uneven braking force and brake drag. The rear sliding caliper design is particularly susceptible to seizure when exposed to salt corrosion and inadequate servicing. Binding calipers cause rapid brake pad wear, disc overheating, and reduced fuel economy due to constant drag. The issue affects all variants including electric models where it impacts range significantly.
Binding calipers cause rapid brake pad and disc wear, overheating, and potential brake failure. Severe binding can cause brake fires and complete system failure. Replacement calipers cost £150-300 per corner plus labour. The car should not be driven with severely binding calipers due to fire risk.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
Brake hose ferrules corrode at 204.0x the fleet average rate, particularly affecting the connection points between flexible brake hoses and rigid brake lines. The steel ferrules are inadequately protected against corrosion and fail prematurely in UK conditions. This causes brake fluid leaks, loss of braking pressure, and potential brake system failure. The issue affects all variants equally as it relates to the basic brake line design.
Corroded brake hose ferrules can cause complete brake system failure through fluid loss or hose rupture. Even minor leaks compromise braking performance and allow air entry into the system. Brake hose replacement costs £100-200 per hose plus system bleeding. The car should not be driven with leaking brake hoses.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
For the full breakdown of all 8 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Kia SOUL common problems page.
Based on 119k real DVSA MOT tests, the Kia SOUL fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is parking brake inefficient at 160x the fleet average, followed by headlight fault (38x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Kia SOUL MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
See the full Kia SOUL service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Kia SOUL is a solid choice on the used market, though not without its quirks. The issues we track are well-understood and largely avoidable if you know what to look for. A thorough inspection and complete service history go a long way. 2017-2019 second-generation models offer the best balance, with significantly fewer complaints than the troublesome 2014-2016 cars. The 2017 saw complaint numbers drop sharply, and these later models benefit from improved engines and refined interiors while avoiding the recall-prone 2020-2023 piston ring issues.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Kia SOUL, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 8 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 8 known Kia SOUL issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.