Kia Soul Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kia Soul car check
Is the Kia Soul reliable? We analysed 301,582 real MOT tests across 24,409 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kia Soul? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kia Soul is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kia Soul.
Kia Soul Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kia Soul. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kia Soul MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kia Soul to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kia Soul Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kia Soul fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kia Soul Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Kia Soul models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Kia Soul Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kia Soul owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kia Soul MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kia Soul year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,629 | 88.5% | 15,228 | 24,501 | 37,186 |
| 2018 | 9,417 | 88.5% | 17,401 | 27,501 | 40,898 |
| 2017 | 11,242 | 88.0% | 20,544 | 31,701 | 46,990 |
| 2016 | 17,177 | 86.3% | 23,964 | 37,182 | 54,537 |
| 2015 | 24,390 | 85.1% | 27,309 | 42,219 | 61,974 |
| 2014 | 29,781 | 83.0% | 28,770 | 45,140 | 65,984 |
| 2013 | 17,505 | 78.1% | 30,466 | 47,745 | 70,300 |
| 2012 | 24,845 | 77.2% | 32,826 | 52,463 | 75,676 |
| 2011 | 59,355 | 75.5% | 37,704 | 59,312 | 84,364 |
| 2010 | 57,063 | 75.4% | 39,150 | 61,762 | 87,770 |
| 2009 | 47,953 | 74.2% | 41,058 | 65,454 | 92,364 |
How Long Does a Kia Soul Last?
Based on 24,409 Kia Soul vehicles on UK roads.
Kia Soul Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kia Soul MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Kia Soul
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.5% MOT pass rate from 9,417 tests
74.2% MOT pass rate from 47,953 tests
The best year to buy a used Kia Soul is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.5% across 9,417 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kia Soul Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul THIS CAR | 78.6% | 301,582 | 51,940 mi | 17 yrs |
| Kia Sportage | 80.4% | 2,634,551 | 53,679 mi | 26 yrs |
| Kia Picanto | 77.1% | 2,626,043 | 39,084 mi | 22 yrs |
| Kia Ceed | 76.1% | 1,665,385 | 60,630 mi | 19 yrs |
| Renault Kadjar | 83.1% | 491,607 | 41,719 mi | 11 yrs |
Compared to the Kia Sportage (80.4% pass rate) and the Kia Picanto (77.1% pass rate), the Kia Soul sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Kia Soul you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Kia SoulShould you buy a used Kia Soul?
The Kia Soul has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.6% across 301,582 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Kia Soul are brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (2,057 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1,926), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (1,754). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Kia Soul with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Kia Soul owner drives around 5,647 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Kia Soul models stay on UK roads for around 17 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.