Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Kia Soul?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2018 Kia Soul?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2018 Kia Soul?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2018 Kia Soul reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,961 vehicles, the 2018 Kia Soul has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Kia Soul?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Kia Soul are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (34.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (33.7% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (25.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2018 Kia Soul?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Kia Soul (2018)

1,961 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.9% first-time pass rate

2018 Kia Soul

CarHunch analysed 1,961 real MOT records for the 2018 Kia Soul. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Kia Soul is a genuinely reliable car, with an 89.9% first-time pass rate that sits well above the UK average of 80%—and this consistency holds across all three fuel types, each hitting roughly 90%. However, 16.2% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is notably high and worth investigating during a pre-purchase inspection.

These cars are running at typical mileage for their age (just under 28,000 miles median), and they're not throwing up serious failures—averaging only 0.68 per vehicle. The 3.9 average advisories suggest routine wear items need attention, so budget for minor maintenance and always request the full MOT history before buying to check what repairs have already been flagged.

The 2018 Kia Soul passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (89.9%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

89.9%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

16.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.68

Over 5.7 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

28k

Middle half: 19k–37k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.9 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,961 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,961 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 34.5%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 25.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 7.8%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,961 Kia Soul cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Kia Soul

Based on MOT data from 1,961 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (52%)	1,014	90.2%	0.65
Diesel (28%)	544	90.3%	0.65
Electric (21%)	403	88.7%	0.77

Colour Breakdown

Based on 25,023 Kia Soul vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 33.2%

8,297

Black 19%

4,750

White 16.2%

4,047

Red 12.5%

3,136

Blue 9.9%

2,466

Cream 4.2%

1,048

Green 2%

496

Orange 1.2%

291

Brown 0.8%

204

Yellow 0.8%

198

Grey 0.3%

Multi-colour 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Kia Soul vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

27,974

typical

18,935

low mileage

37,250

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Kia Soul vehicles fall between 18,935 and 37,250 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 18,935 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 18,935–37,250 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Kia Souls sit.

⚠ Over 50,287 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Kia Soul — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Kia Souls are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,897 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.68

Avg failures per vehicle

3.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kia Soul: All Soul years → Which year to buy? →

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019

Or browse all models: Kia →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Kia Soul stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?