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2020 Kia Soul

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Soul.

The 2020 Kia Soul accumulated 361 owner-reported complaints, with engine issues leading the categories and a single recall on record. Across the model's 2010–2025 production span, that figure positions the 2020 well below the 2015 peak of 898 complaints but notably above the 2025 low of 11, suggesting a mid-cycle reliability profile that reflects neither the early-generation turbulence nor the later refinement. The engine-focused complaint pattern underscores a specific area for researcher attention, while the solitary recall indicates limited systemic intervention.

Model year2025 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque79-94 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

Tail / brake / turnTELLOEM · verified

Tire size235/45R18 94VOEM · verified

Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	165.4 in
Overall width	70.9 in
Overall height	63.8 in
Wheelbase	102.4 in
Curb weight	2844 lb
Track (front / rear)	61 / 61 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.

6.4–8.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 2020 GT-Line Turbo

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2020	GT-Line Turbo 1.6L Turbo I-4	6.40 sec	15.00 sec	201 hp	FWD
2020	GT-Line Turbo 1.6L Turbo I-4	6.50 sec	15.00 sec	201 hp	FWD
2020	GT-Line Turbo 1.6L Turbo I-4	6.70 sec	15.20 sec	201 hp	FWD
2020	X-Line 2.0L I-4	6.90 sec	15.20 sec	147 hp	FWD
2020	GT-Line Turbo 1.6L Turbo I-4	7.00 sec	15.40 sec	201 hp	FWD
2020	X-Line 2.0L I-4	8.00 sec	16.40 sec	147 hp	FWD
2020	X-Line 2.0L I-4	8.30 sec	16.50 sec	147 hp	FWD
2020	EX 2.0L I-4	8.60 sec	16.70 sec	147 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Torque lug nuts to 79-94 ft-lbs.

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	94-101 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	53-56 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	53.0-56.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	87.0-94.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

79-94 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity	0.98-1.05 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	30
Oil Capacity	3.88-4.58 oz

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	16.0-23.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	Front: 58.0-; Rear: 47.0-
ABS Sensor Torque	Front: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: .827; Rear: .331
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	.0002
Maximum Rotor Runout	Front: .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.

2	104-112 inch lbs.; M8 bolts: Step 1: 7 ft. lbs.	104–112 in
2	14-17

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

M6 Bolts

9–10 ft. lbs

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

M6 Bolts

108–120 in

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	13-16 ft. lbs.	13–16 ft. lbs
2	90

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

13.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°

13–16 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

34.0-38.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 38-42°

34–38 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

48.0-54.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 43-47°

48–54 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

22.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°

22 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

24-27 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-95°, Step 3: 90-95°

24–27 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

13.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°

13–16 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

20.0-23.0 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 spark plugs every 42,000 mi.

Every 6,000 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Air Intake System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect)
Every 6,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Suspension System (inspect)
Every 12,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
At 30,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 37,500 mi	Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 42,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory 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 federal record for the Kia Soul shows a peak in complaints between 2014 and 2016, followed by a significant decline through 2019. The 2020 model year represents a notable spike in this trend, recording 362 complaints and 138 TSBs compared to just 133 complaints and 98 TSBs in 2019. This increase was short-lived, as complaints dropped to 221 in 2021 and continued to decline in subsequent years. For the 2020 model, the primary complaint areas are the engine (154) and power train (49), though the data does not specify the root causes of these issues. Despite the spike in complaints, 2020 maintained a low recall volume of one, consistent with the 2017-2019 period. Because 2020 marks a localized increase in complaints and TSBs relative to the years immediately surrounding it, this is not the ideal year to buy.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

138

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

361

Owner complaints

9 involved a crash · 6 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

’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19’20’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 361 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine154

Power Train49

Unknown Or Other28

Power Train,Engine18

Steering10

Unknown Or Other,Engine6

Electrical System,Engine6

Structure5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V259000EngineReported 13/04/2021

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. Remedy: 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)…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 138 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
CS2311_TSB_R4	2026-06-08	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION: CYLINDER…
CS2312_TSB_R2	2026-06-08	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
TSB_BOD336	2026-06-04	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: KEY AND CYLINDER SET REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides…
SC199_OWNR_SK3_3	2026-02-19	Power Train	VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC199 FL301) - This document…
TSB_CS2312_R1	2026-02-18	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…

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.

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2020 Soul have open recalls?

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

2020 Kia Soul

Quick specs

Fitment & sizes

Full specifications

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Performance & power Independent road tests

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Engine torques

Chassis torques

Battery & A/C

Brakes

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Common OBD-II trouble codes

VIN tools

Reference guides

Related vehicles

Other years

Frequently asked