KiaSoul2019Overview/kia/soul/2019/base/

2019 Kia Soul

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2019 Soul.

Body SUV

The 2019 Kia Soul is an SUV powered by turbo engines, with oil service specified at 5W-30, 5W-40, or 10W-30. The 2019 model has drawn 133 owner complaints and one recall, with engine issues cited as the top complaint area. Set against the 2010–2025 model span, that complaint count sits well below the 2015 peak of 898, making the 2019 Soul a comparatively calm point in the model's reliability history.

Model year202520232022202120202019201820172016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacityTurbo EnginesOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque79-94 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 121R · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 121R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size235/45R18 94VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length163 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height63 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Curb weight3325 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Soul of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.3–9.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.30 sec — 2017 !
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2017! 1.6L Turbo I-46.30 sec15.00 sec201 hpFWD
2017! 1.6L Turbo I-46.50 sec15.10 sec201 hpFWD
2016EV+ Elec 27-kWh9.70 sec17.40 sec109 hpFWD
2015! 2.0L I-48.30 sec16.40 sec164 hpFWD
2015+ 2.0L I-48.50 sec16.70 sec164 hpFWD
2015Eco Electric + Elec 27-kWh9.20 sec17.00 sec109 hpFWD
2015Eco Electric + Elec 27-kWh9.30 sec17.10 sec109 hpFWD
2014! 2.0L I-48.10 sec16.40 sec164 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds Turbo Engines of 5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 engine oil, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 79-94 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDot 3
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity5.3
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity5.3; Turbo
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity5.4
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · 10W-30 · 15W-40 · 20W-50 · 5W-20

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts53-56 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts53-56 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87-94 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22-25 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-17 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs84-120 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts79-94 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub203.0

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)630 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)AC Speed Up: 700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)AC Speed Up: 100 rpm

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number121R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48 Must use a AGM VRLA Battery.
Standard BCI Cranking Performance760 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)70.0-75.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)72.0
RPM72.0

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque16.0-23.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58.0-; Rear: 47.0-
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .827; Rear: .331
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0002
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .0016; Rear: .002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep M6 bolts: Step 1: 52 inch lbs.

2104-112 inch lbs.; M8 bolts: Step 1: 7 ft. lbs.104–112 in
214-17
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
113-16 ft. lbs.13–16 ft. lbs
290
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.13–16 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.13–16 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
134.0-38.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 38-4234–38 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
148.0-54.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 43-4748–54 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 90°, Step 3: Turn 90°.22 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
124-27 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 90-95°, Step 3: Turn 90-95°.24–27 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.13–16 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120-23 ft. lbs., Step 2: 120°-125°.20–23 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,500 mi; spark plugs every 45,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Air Intake System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect)
Every 6,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miSuspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 12,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 45,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2019 Kia Soul recorded 133 complaints, 1 recall and 1 investigation, marking a low point after the complaint peak of 898 in 2015 and a steady decline that began in 2016. Compared with the preceding years, 2018 had 210 complaints and 2017 had 269 complaints, both with only one recall each and no investigations, showing that 2019 continued the downward trend. In the years following 2019, complaints rose again to 362 in 2020 before falling to 221 in 2021, while recalls remained generally low (mostly one per year) except for occasional spikes such as the seven recalls in 2015 and four in 2023. Thus, 2019 sits within the generation’s relatively complaint‑light interval that followed the mid‑2010s high‑volume period and preceded the modest resurgence seen in 2020. Based solely on the federal record, the 2019 model year exhibits fewer complaints and recalls than many surrounding years, suggesting it could be a favorable choice for a used purchase, though buyers should note the subsequent increase in complaints in 2020.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
98
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
133
Owner complaints
11 involved a crash · 8 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 133 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine58
Unknown Or Other7
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System5
Air Bags4
Unknown Or Other,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System3
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Service Brakes3
Electrical System3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

22V031000Air BagsReported 25/01/2022

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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 98 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
CS2311_TSB_R42026-06-08StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION: CYLINDER…
TSB_BOD3362026-06-04StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: KEY AND CYLINDER SET REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides…
PI2107_OWNR_5012026-04-07Electrical SystemPRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2107 Flight 501) - This document is…
CS2311_OWNR_PC2012025-12-19StructureCUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: POSTCARD OWNER RENOTIFICATION (CS2311) - This document is…
PS7972025-12-09Back Over PreventionPITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Soul. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2019 Soul take?

Turbo Engines of Turbo Engines: All Temperatures: 5W-30 or 5W-40. Above 0°F: 10W-30. Above 10°F: 15W-40. Above 20°F: 20W-50. Non Turbo Equipped Engines: All Temperatures: 5W-20 is preferred or 5W-30. Above 0°F: 10W-30., per the factory manual.

Does the 2019 Soul have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.