Head-to-head reliability
KIA SOUL vs Toyota Camry
How the KIA SOUL and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The Soul averages 224.5 complaints per year with 1,420 engine complaints, while the Camry averages 205.6 per year with 315 engine complaints. The Camry has 31 recalls versus 13 for the Soul. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA SOUL or Toyota Camry 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 car that has averaged about 225 NHTSA complaints per year over the past decade, with engine problems dominating the list. Owners frequently report stalling, excessive oil consumption, and engine failure, often linked to a known defect in 2.0L Nu MPI engines. These issues can leave you stranded and may require major repairs, though some are covered by recalls. Overall, the Soul demands careful attention to engine health and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a strong reputation for reliability, but it still averages around 206 complaints per year. The most common issues involve the power train, brakes, and electrical systems, with reports of hesitation, shuddering, and brake noises. While the Camry has fewer engine-related complaints than the Soul, it has more recalls and a higher number of crash-related reports. Still, many problems are intermittent and may not affect every vehicle.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA SOUL | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,245 | 2,056 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 103 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 224.5 | 205.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 103 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 13 | 1 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 report stalling, shutting off in traffic, and excessive oil consumption, often tied to faulty piston rings in 2.0L Nu MPI engines. Some complaints reference recall 25V099 for engine failure and fire risk. These symptoms can lead to sudden loss of power and expensive repairs.
Complaints include white and black smoke from the exhaust, rough idle, loss of power, and unresponsive throttle. One owner described smoke while passing a truck, indicating potential internal damage. These issues affect drivability and safety.
Some owners report the car turning off while driving with no diagnostic codes stored, making it hard for dealers to fix. This can cause repeated breakdowns and frustration. It may also relate to instrument cluster or other electrical faults.
Many complaints mention engine defects and recall 25V099, with owners frustrated that repairs are only done after failure. This suggests a pattern of premature engine wear. Buyers should check for open recalls and service history.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove. Others describe hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on. These issues can leave you unable to secure or start the car reliably.
Complaints include the electronic parking brake not disengaging, requiring a tow, and clicking or vibrating noises from the ABS system. These problems can affect braking confidence and lead to costly repairs.
Some owners experience delayed throttle response, where pressing the gas pedal results in a several-second delay before the car moves. This can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic. It may be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring can malfunction simultaneously. One owner reported several safety systems failing at once. This could compromise driver assistance features.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
KIA SOUL or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (about 206 vs. 225 for the Kia Soul), but it has more recalls (31 vs. 13) and more crash-related reports. In practice, the Soul's issues are more often tied to serious engine failures, while the Camry's problems are more varied and sometimes intermittent. Both require a careful inspection, but the Soul's engine pattern is a bigger red flag for costly breakdowns.
Key differences
- The Kia Soul has far more engine complaints (1,420) than the Camry (315), often involving stalling and oil consumption.
- The Camry has more recalls (31 vs. 13) and more crash-related reports (171 vs. 103), but fewer deaths (1 vs. 13).
- Soul owners frequently mention recall 25V099 for engine defects, while Camry complaints focus on power train hesitation and brake noises.
- The Camry's issues are spread across more systems, while the Soul's problems are heavily concentrated in the engine.
- Check for excessive oil consumption by asking about oil change intervals and looking for low oil levels or blue exhaust smoke.
- Listen for abnormal engine noises or rough idling, and verify that recall 25V099 has been addressed if applicable.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and check for any sticking or need to disconnect the battery.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area and test the electronic parking brake engagement and release.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and confirm all recalls are completed, especially engine-related for the Soul and brake/electrical for the Camry.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on engine compression, oil consumption, and transmission behavior.
- During a test drive, accelerate firmly to check for hesitation or shuddering, and test all electrical features including brakes and driver aids.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially oil changes, and look for signs of engine sludge or neglect.
- Check for any stored diagnostic trouble codes even if the check engine light is off, as some issues may not trigger a warning.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 163 |
| 2024 | 30 | 50 |
| 2023 | 52 | 64 |
| 2022 | 88 | 61 |
| 2021 | 234 | 157 |
| 2020 | 381 | 274 |
| 2019 | 136 | 395 |
| 2018 | 218 | 744 |
| 2017 | 272 | 148 |
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA SOUL vs Toyota Camry
- KIA SOUL total complaints
- 2,245
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- KIA SOUL total recalls
- 13
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- KIA SOUL avg complaints/year
- 224.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- KIA SOUL top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN