Total Complaints
2 filings
KIA SOUL EV · model year
2014 KIA SOUL EV
2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2014KIASOUL EV carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2014 SOUL EV is engine with 1 filings, followed by air bags (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2014 SOUL EV. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
Recalls (1)
17V60800029/09/2017
STEERING
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Recent Complaints
20181229CrashAIR BAGS
"TAKATA RECALL " I HAD A REAR END ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE REAR END ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY I WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY AT 45 MI PER HOUR I BELIEVE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE POLICE HAVE PHOTOS
Mileage: 50,000
20180521ENGINE
MY FOUR YEAR OLD SON AND I WHERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OUT OF NOWHERE IT STARTS SHAKING, SMOKING, AND OIL STARTS SPEWING. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. WAS TOLD MY ENGINE EXPLODED. CALLED KIA AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING. I AM 1800 MILES OVER MY 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AND HAVE DONE EVERY MAINTENANCE REQUIRED. I STILL OWE ON THIS CAR AND EVEN THOUGH KIA HAS RECALLS ON SORENTOS AND OPTIMAS FOR THIS, THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING.
Mileage: 1,001,790
Compare 2014KIASOUL EV to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2014 KIA SOUL EV have?▼
The 2014 KIA SOUL EV has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2014 KIA SOUL EV?▼
Yes, the 2014 KIA SOUL EV has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 KIA SOUL EV?▼
The most-complained component for the 2014 KIA SOUL EV is ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS.
Is the 2014 KIA SOUL EV safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.