Kia Soul SK3
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The third-generation Soul (SK3) is most interesting here as the e-Soul — the fully electric variant, which is the only drivetrain captured in this record. Long-legged, genuinely usable daily, built on Kia's proven 64-kWh EV platform.
The core is the KIA-SOUL-EV with 204 hp and a 64-kWh battery: punchy launch, realistic long-distance ability and good efficiency (~15.7 kWh/100 km). A mature EV sharing its tech with the e-Niro and Kona Electric.
Recurring themes: the electronic parking brake fails to engage reliably in one recall case — check status. Safety-critical is the high-voltage battery fire recall on the e-Soul; affected modules were replaced, VIN check mandatory. Add the piston-ring recall 21V259 (relevant to combustion siblings) and frequent nav/GPS dropout. The theft issue around missing immobilizers mainly affects US cars without push-button start — verify on imports.
Test drive: check battery health via an SOH readout or at least the charge curve, cycle the parking brake several times, test the nav for a GPS fix, and clear the HV-battery recall via the VIN.
Market 2026: used e-Souls (64 kWh) mostly sit between $16,000 and $32,000, with an SK3 e-Soul book value around $17,000. Early examples from roughly $16,000–19,000.
Insider pick: an e-Soul with the HV-battery recall documented as done and a healthy SOH — lots of range for the money, clean with no open fire risk.
Generations
Engine Overview
The Kia Soul SK3 is available with one engine variant at 110 hp.
Compact electric motor in two generations with battery capacity growing over the model years, from the early version with short range to the later one with significantly larger storage. Simple, robust technology without a timing chain or oil change, very low-maintenance in daily use. Regeneration relieves the brakes, which therefore last a long time. Early batteries show noticeable degradation over the years, so when buying used it is essential to measure the state of health (SoH) by diagnostics and compare it with the rated capacity. Range is markedly lower in winter and at motorway speeds. The 12-volt battery is a frequent failure point and causes starting problems — check its condition and charging history, and verify the software level.
- !! Severe battery degradation on early models from 100,000 km
Early Soul EVs with the 27 and 30 kWh SK Innovation battery have only passive air cooling. In warm climates the cells degrade above average and range drops sharply. Cases below 70 percent remaining capacity are documented; warranty claims were sometimes rejected.
Symptoms: Markedly reduced range, low SOH reading, power limitation, gauge dropping faster in heat. - !! High-voltage battery fire risk, BMS recall
On Soul EVs with the E400 battery, a short circuit between anode and cathode caused by excessive precipitate in the cells can trigger a fire. The recall (NHTSA 23V218) installs a BMS update that detects abnormal cell voltage; if flagged, the battery is replaced free of charge.
Symptoms: Incomplete charging, fluctuating range, EV warning light; in rare cases smoke or popping noises from the battery area. - !! On-board charger failure
The Soul EV's on-board charger fails due to local overheating of power components, sometimes after a blown 40-amp fuse or alongside a failing coolant pump. Kia replaces the on-board charger under fault codes P1CF5 or P1CF6. Repeat failures one after another are documented.
Symptoms: Repeated clicking under the hood after plugging in, charging starts briefly then stops, no AC charge despite a working station.
+ 2 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Recall: electronic parking brake does not activate 39,606 Soul EV vehicles worldwide (including 11,760 in Germany) were recalled because the electric parking brake cannot be activated when the vehicle is ready to drive. The vehicle may roll unintentionally when the gear selector is in P. Symptoms: No direct driver warning; vehicle rolls away even though gear selector is in P; EPB warning light may illuminate. | Low | |
| Recall e-Soul: high-voltage battery — fire risk Kia recalled approx. 23,000 Soul EV because the battery management system (BMS) does not reliably detect short circuits in the high-voltage battery. A short circuit between anode and cathode can cause a thermal event (fire). Symptoms: No visible symptom for the driver; BMS warning light may appear; battery diagnostics show fault. | Low | |
| Recall 21V259: piston rings — engine failure and fire risk NHTSA recall 21V259000 for Soul 2020–2021 with the 2.0L Nu MPI engine: piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, causing engine damage, oil leaks onto hot exhaust components, and fire risk. Kia inspects and replaces engines as needed, free of charge. Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PRNS) software is also deployed. Symptoms: Knocking noise from the engine, oil pressure warning light, engine stalls while driving, burning smell. | ||
| Theft epidemic: missing immobilizer — 'Kia Boys' TikTok vulnerability Kia Soul 2019–2021 without an electronic immobilizer became the primary target of the US-wide 'Kia Boys' TikTok theft wave — vehicles can be stolen in under 60 seconds without a key. Kia offered free anti-theft software updates that activate a theft deterrent alarm but do not provide a true engine immobilizer. A class action lawsuit was filed over the missing immobilizer. Symptoms: Vehicle stolen without forced entry; no alarm on unauthorized access; steering lock can be bypassed with a USB cable. |
Top Reported Issues
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Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 14 weaknesses have been documented for the Kia Soul SK3 (2019–2024) — 5 engine-related and 9 vehicle-related. Typical issues affect Other, Brakes, Electronics, HVAC.
Soul (KIA-SOUL-EV, 2019–2024) — Be Careful: Severe battery degradation on early models, High-voltage battery fire risk, BMS recall, On-board charger failure. Power: 204 PS.
What to watch out for with the Kia Soul? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Kia Soul SK3 have? +
What should I look for when buying a used Kia Soul SK3? +
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Which Kia Soul SK3 engine is the most fun? +
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee