Head-to-head reliability
KIA SOUL vs Honda Accord
How the KIA SOUL and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
KIA SOUL vs Honda Accord: The Soul has 2,245 complaints over 10 years (about 225 per year) and 13 recalls, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints (about 452 per year) and 38 recalls. The Soul's complaints are heavily engine-focused, while the Accord's are more varied. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA SOUL or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
KIA SOUL
The Kia Soul is a compact, boxy hatchback that has generated 2,245 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 225 per year. The dominant issue is the engine, with 1,420 complaints, many describing stalling, oil consumption, and engine failure, often linked to recall 25V099 for 2.0L Nu MPI engines. Owners also report power train and electrical problems, including sudden shutdowns and smoke from the engine bay. With 13 recalls and 103 crash-related complaints, living with a Soul means staying on top of recall notices and being alert to engine symptoms.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 452 per year. Complaints are spread across engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and fuel system, with owners reporting issues like loss of power, electronic steering and braking failures, and false automatic braking. There are 38 recalls covering hybrid software, fuel pumps, seat belts, and air bags. With 162 crash-related complaints and 146 injuries, the Accord's advanced systems can sometimes introduce new failure modes.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA SOUL | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,245 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 103 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 224.5 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 103 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 13 | 3 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
KIA SOUL
- 01ENGINE1,420
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER321
- 03POWER TRAIN255
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING208
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM185
Owners frequently report excessive oil consumption, stalling, and complete engine shutdown, often tied to faulty piston rings in 2.0L Nu MPI engines. Some complaints mention smoke and fire risk, and many say the problem recurs even after repairs.
Complaints describe rough idling, loss of power, unresponsive throttle, and stalling while driving, sometimes with smoke from the rear. These symptoms can leave a driver stranded or unable to accelerate safely.
Owners report intermittent shutdowns and warning lights that don't store codes, making diagnosis difficult. This can lead to repeated dealer visits without a fix, eroding trust in the vehicle.
Many complaints reference the same engine defect and frustration that Kia only repairs after failure, not proactively. This suggests a pattern of owners feeling stuck with a known risk.
“I am writing to formally report a concern regarding my 2022 Kia Soul, which is exhibiting symptoms identical to those described in NHTSA Recall 25V099000 (engine recall for excessive oil consumption and potential fire risk in 2.0L Nu MPI engines). Vehicle Inf…”
“Weeks before the vehicle completely shut down, my car began stalling and shutting off in traffic without warning while driving. I was usually able to turn the vehicle off and restart it, and it would come back on temporarily. At red lights and stop signs, the…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe rattling noises during acceleration, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden loss of speed with multiple warning lights. These issues can affect drivability and may require costly diagnostics.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can be terrifying and dangerous if they occur while driving.
Owners report the system braking unexpectedly on open roads or with adaptive cruise control engaged, sometimes repeatedly on the same route. This can cause near-collisions or loss of control.
Some complaints mention persistent rotten-egg odors and fuel pump issues, which may indicate fuel delivery problems. These can lead to stalling or failure to start, and may be covered by recalls.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
KIA SOUL — 13 recalls
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
The risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact…
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
The risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia c…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
The risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact…
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air b…
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-8…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
KIA SOUL or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Kia Soul has fewer complaints per year (about 225 vs. 452 for the Accord), but its issues are heavily concentrated in the engine, with many reports of stalling and oil consumption. The Accord's problems are more spread out, including electrical and advanced driver-assist failures. In practice, the Soul may have a narrower but more severe reliability risk, while the Accord may have more frequent but varied issues.
Key differences
- The Kia Soul's complaints are dominated by engine problems (1,420 of 2,245), often involving stalling and oil consumption, while the Honda Accord's complaints are more evenly spread across engine, electrical, and collision avoidance systems.
- The Soul has 13 recalls, including engine hard parts, while the Accord has 38 recalls covering hybrid software, fuel pumps, and air bags.
- Soul owners frequently mention sudden shutdowns and smoke, whereas Accord owners report electronic steering and braking failures and unexpected automatic braking.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs. 103) and injuries (146 vs. 103), but the Soul has more deaths (13 vs. 3) in the provided data.
- Check for excessive oil consumption by asking for maintenance records and inspecting oil level; many complaints cite oil burning and engine failure.
- Test drive at various speeds and listen for abnormal engine noises or stalling; owners report sudden shutdowns and rough idling.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking at low and highway speeds; complaints describe simultaneous failure.
- Ask if the forward collision avoidance system has been updated or repaired; owners report false braking and warnings.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are completed by checking the NHTSA VIN lookup tool for both models.
- Take a long test drive including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for stalling, hesitation, or unexpected braking.
- Request a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on engine compression and electronic systems.
- Ask for a complete service history, especially for oil changes and any engine or electrical repairs.
- Check for warning lights on the dashboard and scan for stored trouble codes, even if no light is on.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | KIA SOUL | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 109 |
| 2024 | 30 | 219 |
| 2023 | 52 | 226 |
| 2022 | 88 | 252 |
| 2021 | 234 | 234 |
| 2020 | 381 | 362 |
| 2019 | 136 | 691 |
| 2018 | 218 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 272 | 537 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific KIA SOUL or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA SOUL vs Honda Accord
- KIA SOUL total complaints
- 2,245
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- KIA SOUL total recalls
- 13
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- KIA SOUL avg complaints/year
- 224.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- KIA SOUL
- KIA SOUL top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE