2018 KIA Soul EV Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Soul EV years
- Not enough data 4th of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 KIA Soul EV. That ranks 4th out of 7 Soul EV model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 67%), typically at around 66,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 3owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 KIA Soul EV problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 67% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2018 KIA Soul EV recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl); electrical system:software
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air bags
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Vehicle Rollaway (RQ23005) — opened Sep 10, 2023, closed Jan 16, 2024, led to recall 23V724.
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Soul EV. The contact stated that the electrical system had experienced power fluctuations, which reduced the charging capacity of the battery to only 8 percent. The EV warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was…
This is for 2018 Kia Soul EV. I stopped, placed the car in park and got out. Car then rolled down a hill with no one in the car. Causing an accident.
My 2018 kia soul EV has had a significantly decreased range, inconsistent charging, and a check EV light illuminating periodically. All of these are symptoms of the recall. Kia is not only not giving a timeline to diagnose and repair the problem, they are also charging me a "diagnostic" fee for the…
Other KIA Soul EV years
← 2017 Soul EV · 2019 Soul EV →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Soul EV | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 Soul EV | 3 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 Soul EV | 18 | 3 |
| 2016 Soul EV | 7 | 4 |
| 2015 Soul EV | 6 | 4 |
| 2014 Soul EV | 2 | 1 |
See all KIA Soul EV problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 KIA Soul EV?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 KIA Soul EV?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 KIA Soul EV a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Soul EV model years, the 2018 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.