DPF / EGR
usually 120,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: DPF light
Fix: Clean or replace
€300–1,500
Common faults, service intervals and costs
Kia Soul II
2013–2019 · Kia Soul 2
3
engines covered
8
known faults
12,620
roadworthiness tests in the statistics
8
official recalls
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
The Kia Soul II was built from 2013 to 2019.
For this generation we cover 3 engines and 8 known faults, each with the mileage range where it usually appears.
The most expensive known risk is Oil consumption (piston rings, GDi): it usually appears at 100,000–180,000 km and costs €500–3,000 to fix.
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 50–100 thousand km this model most often failed on: lights, wipers and visibility (7.3 %), brakes (6.6 %), tyres and wheels (5.0 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: brakes. It fails less often than average on: suspension.
Engines
| Engine | Fuel | Timing drive | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.7 CRDi (Hyundai-Kia U2) | Diesel | Chain | 5W-30 · ACEA C3 · ~5.3 L · every 15,000 km |
| Electric (Hyundai / Kia) | Electric | None (EV) | — |
| 1.4 / 1.6 MPi / GDi (Hyundai-Kia Gamma, naturally aspirated) | Petrol | Chain | 5W-30 / 0W-30 · API SN / ACEA A5 · ~3.6 L · every 15,000 km |
Faults by engine
1.1 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.7 CRDi (Hyundai-Kia U2)
Electric (Hyundai / Kia)
Kona Electric battery recall (2018–2020)
at any mileage · High risk
model years 2018–2020 only
Signs: Fire risk with some LG cells — battery replacement campaign
Fix: Check recall status with the VIN (free)
free / recall
Reduction gear / motor noise
usually 60,000–200,000 km · Wear part
Signs: Whine or clunk
Fix: Inspect; oil change / repair
€100–1,500
1.4 / 1.6 MPi / GDi (Hyundai-Kia Gamma, naturally aspirated)
Carbon build-up (GDi direct injection)
usually 100,000–180,000 km · Medium risk
engine codes: G4FD, G4FT
Signs: Rough idle
Fix: Valve cleaning
€300–600
Oil consumption (piston rings, GDi)
usually 100,000–180,000 km · Medium risk
engine codes: G4FD
Signs: Low oil warning
Fix: Monitor; repair
€500–3,000
Gearboxes
Manual
Clutch wear
usually 120,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Slipping, high bite point
Fix: Replace clutch kit
€500–900
Dual-mass flywheel
usually 150,000–220,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Rattle at idle, vibration pulling away
Fix: Replace with clutch
€700–1,400
Automatic (torque converter)
Torque converter / valve body
usually 150,000–250,000 km · Wear part
Signs: Delayed or harsh shifts
Fix: Fluid service, repair
€300–2,500
Scheduled service
Intervals and typical prices for the 1.1 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.7 CRDi (Hyundai-Kia U2) engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| DPF health check (soot / ash load)Emissions | every 20,000 km | €0–60 |
| Engine oil + oil filterEngine | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €70–150 |
| Cabin (pollen) filterClimate | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €15–40 |
| Brake fluidBrakes | every 24 months | €50–95 |
| A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate | every 24 months | €70–150 |
| Air filterEngine | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €15–45 |
| Fuel filterFuel | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €40–110 |
| Glow plugsEngine | every 100,000 km | €120–300 |
| Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine | every 120,000 km | €70–180 |
| Coolant replacementCooling | every 150,000 km or every 96 months | €70–150 |
| Timing chain inspection (listen on cold start)Engine | every 150,000 km | €0–120 |
| Manual gearbox oilTransmission | every 150,000 km | €60–130 |
| Front brake padsBrakes | usually at 30,000–60,000 km | €60–150 |
| Front brake discs + padsBrakes | usually at 60,000–120,000 km | €150–320 |
| Rear brake padsBrakes | usually at 50,000–90,000 km | €50–130 |
| Tyres (set of 4)Wheels | usually at 40,000–60,000 km | €320–700 |
| Wiper bladesBody | checked at service | €20–50 |
| 12V batteryElectrical | checked at service | €100–220 |
Roadworthiness tests by mileage
Share of tests in the United Kingdom (DVSA MOT, 2024) that this model failed because of each system. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and mileage. Sample: 12,620 tests.
| thousand km | 0–50 | 50–100 | 100–150 | 150–200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 2.6 % | 6.6 % | 11.1 % | 13.3 % |
| Suspension | 0.7 % | 2.2 % | 4.7 % | 10.1 % |
| Steering | 0.2 % | 1.3 % | 3.7 % | 6.8 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 3.2 % | 5.0 % | 6.8 % | 10.7 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 5.4 % | 7.3 % | 9.8 % | 14.2 % |
| Body and corrosion | 0.1 % | 0.3 % | 0.5 % | 0.9 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 0.4 % | 0.4 % | 0.9 % | 2.2 % |
Most common engine versions in the EU
New cars of this generation registered in the EU, Iceland and Norway 2010–2025: 49,628, of which 1 in Croatia. The share shows how common each version is.
| Version | Share | Years | CO₂ | Fuel use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.7 CRDi (Hyundai-Kia U2)1.6 (1,582 cm³) · 100 kW (136 hp) · Diesel | 19.9 % | 2015–2018 | 127 g/km | — |
| 1.4 / 1.6 MPi / GDi (Hyundai-Kia Gamma, naturally aspirated)1.6 (1,591 cm³) · 97 kW (132 hp) · Petrol | 18.5 % | 2014–2018 | 154 g/km | — |
| Electric (Hyundai / Kia)Electric | 15.3 % | 2014–2018 | — | — |
| 1.1 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.7 CRDi (Hyundai-Kia U2)1.6 (1,582 cm³) · 94 kW (128 hp) · Diesel | 13.5 % | 2014–2017 | 132 g/km | — |
| Electric (Hyundai / Kia)25 kW (34 hp) · Electric | 10.4 % | 2014–2018 | — | — |
| 1.4 / 1.6 MPi / GDi (Hyundai-Kia Gamma, naturally aspirated)1.6 (1,591 cm³) · Petrol | 5.0 % | 2014–2018 | 153 g/km | — |
| 1.1 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.7 CRDi (Hyundai-Kia U2)1.6 (1,582 cm³) · Diesel | 4.6 % | 2014–2018 | 127 g/km | — |
| Electric (Hyundai / Kia)24 kW (33 hp) · Electric | 3.9 % | 2014–2018 | — | — |
| Electric (Hyundai / Kia)81 kW (110 hp) · Electric | 3.5 % | 2014–2018 | — | — |
| Electric (Hyundai / Kia)26 kW (35 hp) · Electric | 2.7 % | 2017–2018 | — | — |
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA), monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars, CC BY 4.0. CO₂ and fuel use are official type-approval values (WLTP from 2021), not real-world consumption.
Owner complaints in the US
Which systems owners reported to the US agency NHTSA and at what mileage. Complaints are not confirmed faults and some relate to recalls. Sample: 2,142 complaints.
Official recalls
Recalls the manufacturer published in the United Kingdom for this model (8). The same recalls usually apply across Europe. Ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether your car is affected and whether the work has been done.
- Gearbox The park mechanism within the Gear Drive Unit (GDU) might fail to engage when Park is selected16/02/2024 · R/2024/030
- High voltage / charging Kia Soul PS EV Battery Management System Upgrade16/02/2024 · R/2024/010
- Airbag Damage can occur in the air bag control unit11/04/2022 · R/2022/082
- Airbag In the event of a frontal collision the front impact sensors could become disconnected and the air bags may not activate as expected11/04/2022 · R/2022/083
- Brakes / ABS / ESP The vehicle's integrated electronic brake motor control software logic can automatically disable motor operation upon detection of an abnormal sensor signal11/01/2021 · R/2020/374
- Brakes / ABS / ESP Vehicle may roll away if the electronic parking brake is not applied when switching off the vehicle in park.29/09/2020 · R/2020/253
- Steering Loss of directional control20/06/2016 · R/2016/100
- Steering Steering rack may fail22/08/2014 · R/2014/093
Common questions
Does the Kia Soul II have a timing chain or a timing belt?
1.1 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.7 CRDi (Hyundai-Kia U2): chain; 1.4 / 1.6 MPi / GDi (Hyundai-Kia Gamma, naturally aspirated): chain.
What are the known problems with the Kia Soul II?
The faults with the highest risk: oil consumption (piston rings, GDi) (100,000–180,000 km, €500–3,000); DPF / EGR (120,000–200,000 km, €300–1,500); dual-mass flywheel (150,000–220,000 km, €700–1,400); clutch wear (120,000–200,000 km, €500–900). The full list by engine is on this page.
What does the Kia Soul II most often fail its roadworthiness test on?
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 50–100 thousand km this model most often failed on: lights, wipers and visibility (7.3 %), brakes (6.6 %), tyres and wheels (5.0 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: brakes. It fails less often than average on: suspension.
What should you check when buying a used Kia Soul II?
Before you buy, ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN that the recalls have been done (8 have been published for this model). On the test drive, watch for these signs: low oil warning; DPF light. The full checklist is in the guide to buying a used car.
Other generations
Models with the same engines
These models share engines with this car, so they share some of its faults too.
Kia Sportage (QL) 2015–2021Kia Niro 2016–Kia Ceed III 2018–Kia Rio III 2011–2017Hyundai i20 II 2014–2020Hyundai i20 I 2008–2014Hyundai Tucson (TL) 2015–2020Kia Sportage (SL) 2010–2015
Other Kia models
Kia Carens IV 2013–2019Kia Cee'd / ProCeed II 2012–2018Kia Sorento III 2014–2020Kia Optima (JF) 2015–2020Kia Picanto II 2011–2017Kia Optima (TF) 2010–2015Kia Picanto III 2017–Kia Rio IV 2017–2023Kia Sorento II 2009–2014Kia Stonic 2017–
Sources and notes
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.
Updated 08/10/2026