Makes › Kia › Soul

Kia Soul reliability

C · Average

MOT pass rates and common problems from 196,482 MOT tests of cars first registered 2009–2022.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
71.9%pass first time
−1.0 ptsvs typical car
Beats 44%of cars
196,482MOT tests

Verdict

The Kia Soul passes its MOT first time on 71.9% of tests, 1.0 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (73.0%). That puts it ahead of 44% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2015 Soul does best (beats 68% of cars) and the 2011 worst (beats 30%).

Of its engines, the 1.6 Petrol does best (beats 44%) and the 1.6 Diesel worst (beats 43%).

Better than average on suspension, body & structure, emissions & leaks.

Watch these weak spots

Brakes1.4×as often as a typical car
Steering4.5×as often as a typical car
Track rod ends5.1×as often as a typical car
Handbrake performance2.0×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%100%3456789101112131415161789%84%79%71%64%57%55%55%
Kia SoulTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2009
Beats 39%
2010
Beats 39%
2011
Beats 30%
2012
Beats 26%
2013
Beats 24%
2014
Beats 63%
2015
Beats 68%
2016
Beats 66%
2017
Beats 64%
2018
Beats 55%
2020
Beats 67%
2021
Beats 63%
2022
Beats 45%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel2009–2018124,46370.1%Beats 43%C
1.6 Petrol2009–201858,85772.5%Beats 44%C
Electric2016–202213,16286.9%Beats 59%C

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 1.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 6.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 9.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 6.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 7.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 9.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.1 ptsTyres: 6.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.1 ptsBrakes: 7.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−2.1 ptsSuspension: 6.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+2.1 ptsExhaust: 1.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.2 ptsSuspension: 6.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 7.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 6.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 9.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 1.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 9.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 10.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.1 ptsTyres: 6.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.1 ptsBrakes: 7.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−2.1 ptsSuspension: 6.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 8.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+2.1 ptsExhaust: 1.1% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.2 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Brakes: 7.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 5.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
9.2% vs 10.3%
Brakes
7.8% vs 5.7%
Steering
6.7% vs 1.5%
Tyres
6.3% vs 6.2%
Suspension
6.0% vs 8.1%
Visibility
5.1% vs 4.5%
Body & structure
1.2% vs 2.5%
Emissions & leaks
1.1% vs 2.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.3% vs 0.6%
Wheels
0.3% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Track rod ends 5.1× typical
    Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
  • Handbrake performance 2.0× typical
    Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Sidelights
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Windscreen wipers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Brake pads
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

40%60%80%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k93%87%78%68%60%54%52%49%
Kia SoulTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Track rod ends6.1%1.2%5.1×
Tyre damage & cracking3.6%3.5%1.0×
Sidelights3.2%2.4%1.3×
Windscreen wipers2.8%2.2%1.3×
Brake pads2.5%1.9%1.3×
Headlight aim2.4%2.8%0.9×
Tyre tread depth2.3%2.4%1.0×
Windscreen washers2.0%2.0%1.0×
Handbrake performance2.0%1.0%2.0×
Suspension ball joints1.6%1.4%1.2×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play55.8
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn29.0
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning28.6
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen27.7
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm24.1
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements23.8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements23.4
A tyre seriously damaged23.4
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2022 Kia Soul1 engine88.4% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric1,69088.4%Beats 45%C
2021 Kia Soul1 engine88.6% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric3,28588.6%Beats 63%B
2020 Kia Soul1 engine88.3% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric3,37588.3%Beats 67%B
2018 Kia Soul3 engines86.1% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol6,00486.6%Beats 58%C
1.6 Diesel3,21686.8%Beats 62%B
Electric2,36283.9%Beats 38%D
2017 Kia Soul3 engines85.5% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel6,07985.7%Beats 68%B
1.6 Petrol4,21285.8%Beats 60%B
Electric1,36084.2%Beats 60%C
2016 Kia Soul3 engines83.7% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel11,31183.7%Beats 68%B
1.6 Petrol4,48083.5%Beats 60%C
Electric1,09085.0%Beats 74%B
2015 Kia Soul2 engines82.0% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel16,01881.9%Beats 69%B
1.6 Petrol5,96882.3%Beats 64%B
2014 Kia Soul2 engines78.2% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel15,76878.0%Beats 63%B
1.6 Petrol7,43778.8%Beats 62%B
2013 Kia Soul2 engines68.9% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel7,83668.3%Beats 20%D
1.6 Petrol3,64970.3%Beats 31%D
2012 Kia Soul2 engines65.5% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel10,12264.8%Beats 26%D
1.6 Petrol4,27867.0%Beats 27%D
2011 Kia Soul2 engines61.8% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel24,36061.4%Beats 30%D
1.6 Petrol6,00463.5%Beats 31%D
2010 Kia Soul2 engines60.4% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel19,27760.1%Beats 39%D
1.6 Petrol7,29661.2%Beats 38%D
2009 Kia Soul2 engines57.8% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Diesel10,47656.4%Beats 36%D
1.6 Petrol9,52959.4%Beats 42%C

FAQ

What is the Kia Soul MOT pass rate?

71.9% of MOT tests on the Kia Soul were passed first time, based on 196,482 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2009–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 73.0% of the time.

Is the Kia Soul reliable?

On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 44% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Kia Soul year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2015 Soul does best for its age and mileage: it beats 68% of cars on UK roads. The 2011 does worst: it beats 30%.

Which Kia Soul engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.6 Petrol does best: it beats 44% of cars on UK roads. The 1.6 Diesel does worst: it beats 43%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Kia Soul?

The most common failure items are track rod ends, tyre damage & cracking, sidelights. Compared with similar cars, track rod ends comes up 5.1× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.