Kia Soul extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Kia Souls are known to have above-average reliability, but considering an extended warranty is still smart for owners who want comprehensive coverage against unexpected repairs, despite the vehicle's strong track record.
We’ll break down what a Kia Soul warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Kia Souls come with a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Soul ranged from $1,227.96 to $2,223.17 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightKia has above-average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a Soul gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightKia Soul extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Soul comes with. For context, Kia Souls come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 4-year-old truck with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 40,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Kia Soul, you have two options:
- Buy the official Kia extended warranty, called Kia Distinction VSC.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your truck to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Most Americans can't pay for a $1,000 repair bill with cash, according to a ConsumerAffairs investigation. Nearly 13% of drivers have no way to handle a bill that large — even by borrowing.
Whether you get a third-party plan or a warranty from a dealer, a plan that offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum) will provide the most value. These plans cover almost all the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive plans (e.g., Gold, Silver, powertrain) may be cheaper, but they also cover fewer parts per dollar.
Note that auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of parts that are specifically covered and fail from normal wear and tear. They don't cover damage from accidents or aftermarket modifications. In general, repairs also aren’t covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
| Warranty type | Typically covered | Not covered |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | ||
| Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a Kia Soul extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $2,223.17 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Kia Soul registered in Austin, Texas, with 65,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,227.96 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” Kia extended warranty is called Kia Distinction VSC, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Kia dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Soul with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
Extended warranty pricing varies significantly among providers. Compare quotes from multiple companies to ensure you're getting a good deal.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Kia Soul were more expensive by comparison.
Bumper-to-bumper warranties often go by names like "Platinum" or "Complete Care." Lower-tier plans are usually cheaper, but they cover fewer parts per dollar. Based on customer reviews, many people are disappointed by the coverage limits on these plans, so we suggest a bumper-to-bumper warranty for most situations.
Keep in mind that some extended auto warranties start from the original owner's purchase date of the vehicle. So if the factory warranty lasts for four years and 50,000 miles, a six-year/100,000-mile plan may only provide two additional years or 50,000 additional miles of coverage.
Is a Kia Soul extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Kia Soul extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Kia as a brand has above-average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Kia 8th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the Soul specifically, RepairPal gave it a 4.5 out of 5.
Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Kia Souls.
Ruth in Texas reported an issue with the vehicle’s fuel pump: “I bought my 2019 Soul new. When it had 46,000 miles on it the fuel pump quit working.”
I bought a Kia Soul 2017 brand new and since then I have had nothing but issues.”
Engine issues also appear to be common, as Cesar, a reviewer from California, experienced firsthand: “My 2016 Kia Soul with 62,000 miles engine stalled.”
“I bought a Kia Soul 2017 brand new and since then I have had nothing but issues,” said Judy in Illinois. “In two months my starter went bad..In four months my transmission went bad...In a little over a year my engine went bad..My converter went bad..The electrical system is bad etc.”
Overall, engine issues are more common at a lower mileage for more Kias than other brands. That being said, Kia has been trying to improve quality since 2015. So if you have a newer model, an extended warranty may not be as valuable.
While the cost of Kia Soul maintenance is below-average and the car is generally seen as reliable, there are certainly common — and expensive — issues to look out for. If you can get a good price on an extended warranty for your Kia Soul, it might be worth the peace of mind.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “Kia Soul Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
