Home · 2019 Kia Soul EV · Complaints

What 136 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Kia Soul EV

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (136)Crash / fire / injury (21)Engine (86)Fuel system (15)Airbags (14)Electrical system (14)Brakes (9)Transmission & drivetrain (7)Seat belts (6)Engine & cooling (5)Lights (5)Steering (5)

9 of 136 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Nov 25, 2025BrakesAirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

The contact owned a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle stopped in front of the contact’s vehicle and the brake pedal was depressed to attempt to avoid a crash; however, the vehicle skidded and crashed into the rear of the other vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. During the crash the front end and the hood of the vehicle was severely damaged, but the air bags did not deploy. Additionally, the seat belt malfunctioned and failed to secure the contact in the seat, causing the contact's chest and stomach to impact the steering wheel. The contact sustained a bruised chest and neck injury but had not yet sought medical treatment. The contact stated that an appointment was schedule to see her Primary Care Physician. The contact was unaware of any injuries to the other driver. A Police report was filed at the scene but was not available. The vehicle was towed away from the scene. The contact stated that the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11701523

Dec 13, 2024BrakesElectrical system

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the ABS and AED warning lights were occasionally illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Auto Zone and scanned. The contact was informed that the HECU Solenoid Voltage Relay needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with a faulty HECU Solenoid Voltage Relay, and the contact was informed that the HECU Solenoid Voltage Relay needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. In addition, after the vehicle was taken to the local dealer, the ABS and AED warning lights were no longer illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,763.

NHTSA ODI 11630578

Feb 7, 2024Brakes

Last April 2, 2023 Brake pedal went to floor would not stop.... veered off highway..... No brake light appeared... Brought to Kia Dealership on 04/07/2023.. They replaced master brake cylinder under warranty......

NHTSA ODI 11570653

Feb 3, 2024BrakesEngine

Driving on the freeway car brakes don’t work, first oil light blinking a very loud noise like metal scraping and all the lights turned on very dangerous situation was able to pulled over until car stopped . Kia dealer knows about all the problems car still under guaranty and they ignore the problem.

NHTSA ODI 11569698

Aug 15, 2023BrakesEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle continued to lose motive power. The contact stated that there was no revving coming from the engine while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled; however, the power steering and braking system were still operable. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled off the roadway and was able to shift to neutral(N), and the vehicle was restarted after several attempts. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the knock sensor and timing cover needed to be replaced. Additionally, there were two oil leaks that were repaired. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had started to idle rough and was losing motive power. The contact stated that the failure had become a reoccurring failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated and there was a slight pull to the right on the steering wheel while the warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

NHTSA ODI 11538753

Sep 29, 2019Brakes

I CAN BE STOPED ON THE ROAD WITH THE BREAK PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY AND THE CAR STILL MOVES FORWARD. AT SOME POINTS AT STOP LIGHTS I PUT MY CAR IN PARK SO IT WON'T MOVE FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPEN A LOT SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2018.

NHTSA ODI 11258855

Jun 28, 2019AirbagsBody & structureBrakesCrash

I HAVE A TOTALED CAR DUE TO A WRECK. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS HIT MULTIPLE TIMES EXTREMELY HARD.

NHTSA ODI 11223093

Jun 24, 2019BrakesCrash1 injury

BRAKE FAILURE CAUSING WRECK, COMING ON TO A RED LIGHT, HIT BRAKES AND CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I SWERVED TO MISS HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME, THINKING HITTING SOMEONE FROM BEHIND WOULD CAUSE A NUMBER OF INJURIES. I MISSED BOTH OF THESE CARS, BUT HAD TO RU N A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS ONE CAR IN LEFT HAND TURN LANE ON THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT IF I COULD GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION I MIGHT COULD LET THE CAR SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN IN A FIELD ACROSS THE STREET. THE CAR IN THE TURN LANE BLOCKED MY VIEW ON ONCOMING TRAFIC. A TRUCK GOING 45 OR 50 MILES PER HOUR HIT ME IN RIGHT FRONT TOTALING MY CAR AND CAUSING ME SOME BACK AND NECK INJURIES. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON AND MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. THE AIR BAGS WORKED PERFECTLY, BUT MY CAR WAS DESTROYED. BOTH VEHICLES HAD TO BE TOWED OFF NON DRIVABLE . I WILL GET PHOTOS LATER. I HAD A PROBLEM EARLIER IN THE WEEK, WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST GOING TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR WOULD STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11222050

Mar 30, 2019Brakes

WHILE BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS GOING TO THE FLOOR BOARD: SCARY. NOT EVERY TIME--INTERMITTENTLY. WHAT IF THE BRAKES FAIL ALTOGETHER? WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND WITHIN THE FIRST 400 MILES EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. IT WAS IN THE SHOP FROM 3/16 TO 3/21 THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. THEY FINISHED IT JUST IN TIME FOR MY HUSBAND'S PLANNED VACATION. THE VACATION INCLUDED DRIVING THE KIA OVER 2000 MILES. ON THE WAY BACK, STILL OVER 700 MILES FROM HOME AND JUST PRIOR TO TRAVELLING THROUGH THE SMOKEY'S, THE BRAKES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M TYPING THIS AS I FRET ABOUT WHETHER HE WILL MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. I CALLED THE SHOP HE IS SCHEDULED TO GO BACK IN ON MONDAY. I HOPE HE MAKES IT HOME SAFELY TO GET TO THAT APPOINTMENT AND THAT THEY CAN REALLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11192614

Working with the data? Download all 136 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2019 Kia Soul EV verdict →