2010 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 135 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 23 involved a crash and 15 involved a fire. 19 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, body, roof and pillarsDec 29, 2014
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.
A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC112.
Campaign 14V822000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Campaign 13V114000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringAug 31, 2010
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SOUL AND MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 THROUGH JULY 30, 2010. A LIMITED NUMBER OF WIRING HARNESSES SUPPLIED BY JCI AND USED FOR THE LIGHTING IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, LOCATED IN THE FRONT DOOR TRIM PANELS, AND THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION, LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR TRIM PANELS, MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SOLDERED.
WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY OCCUR THAT CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE LIGHTS IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, AND THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 10V388000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
11 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Feb 24, 2020
PROBLEM STARTED AFTER HAVING CLUTCH REPLACED IN APRIL 2019. WHEN IN 2ND GEAR, CAR HESITATES AND BEHAVES AS IF IT ISN'T GETTING GAS; IE: DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING GAS. I TAKE FOOT OFF OF GAS AND THEN PUT BACK ON THE PEDAL OR HAVE TO CHANGE GEARS BEFORE CAR ACCELERATES.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Oct 13, 2019
CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK, AND CANNOT BE STARTED DUE TO SAFETY FEATURE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO START CAR IN GEAR. TEMPORARY FIX WAS DISCOVERED TO BE SHIFT ALL THE WAY TO 2ND GEAR, THEN BACK TO PARK. TAKING TO KIA DEALER TOMORROW TO HAVE 'SWITCH' CHECKED FOR POSSIBLE SHORT. CAR WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED. PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE. ONCE IN CARPORT THE NEXT MORNING (10/9). THEN IN PARKING LOT AFTER RETURNING FROM SHOPPING IN GROCERY STORE (10/12).
Power train, Electrical system, Mar 29, 2019
THIS AND OTHER MODELS OF KIA/HYUNDAI HAVE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH AUTO TRANS A4CF1/2 ELECTRICA HARNESS THAT FAILS PREMATURELY AND FREQUENTLY, INCLUDING TEMP SENSOR INTERGRATED INTO IT. CAR NOW HAS 94K AND CODE P0713 FOR THE TEMP SENSOR FAILURE AND RECENTLY P0765 FOR SELONOID D, WHICH IS ALL RELATED TO WIRE HARNESS INSIDE TRANS. TEMP SENSOR FAILS, AND SOLDER CONNECTIONS BECOME LOOSE AND IRRETIC SHIFTING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND ALL SORTS OF TRANS PROBLEMS START. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED UPON OWNERS TAKING CARS TO DEALER OR TRANS SHOP, THEY ARE TOLD THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ARE NO GOOD.
Suspension, Power train, Jan 19, 2014
I RECENTLY CAME OUT TO GET INTO MY HUSBANDS KIA TO FIND A FLAT TIRE. WHILE THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL EVENT IT WAS EXPENSIVE. I PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, AND HAD THEM MOUNTED. THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THE UNUSUAL WEAR PATTERN ON THE BACK TIRES WHICH I HAD NOTICED AS WELL. THE TIRES WERE WEARING IN THE CENTER AND TO THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRES. HE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE THE SOUL TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ALIGN THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS SPECS. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO DO SO. I HEARD THE MECHANIC SAY TO THE DEPT. MANAGER THAT THE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN ALIGNED. AFTER A SHORT WAIT PERIOD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID THAT THE REAR AXLE HAD SHIFTED TO THE SIDE BY APPROX. 1/2". I ASKED WHEN HE HAD SEEN THIS ON A VEHICLE, AND HE SAID AFTER AN ACCIDENT. I STATED THAT IT HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND MY HUSBAND PURCHASED IT NEW. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR FOR PARTS, LABOR, AND A NEW ALIGNMENT WAS $1090.00. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO RETURN A CALL TO ME ABOUT THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW SINCE THE SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF RAIN/MOISTURE ON THE ROAD CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HANDLE VERY POORLY AT REDUCED SPEEDS OF 45 MPH. THIS DEFECT HAS NOW COST 852.00 FOR NEW TIRES, AND THEY WILL WEAR OUT IN THE SAME ODD WEAR PATTERN IF I DON'T REPLACE THE REAR AXLE, AND RE-ALIGN THE TIRES THAT I JUST PURCHASED. *TR
Power train, Jun 27, 2013
MANUAL CLUTCH DEFECTIVE AT ONLY 13,300 MILES. CHECKED ONLINE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH KIA, MANY WITH EVEN LESS MILES. APPARENTLY KIA KNOWS THE CLUTCH IS DEFECTIVE AS THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL (6) OF THE CLUTCHES PARTS IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR'S MODEL BUT THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CLUTCH IS A "WEAR AND TEAR ITEM". I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CLUTCH WEARING OUT AT ONLY 13,300 MILES. MY LAST MANUAL VEHICLE (JEEP) HAD 89,000 MILES WHEN TRADED IN AND STILL HAD THE ORIGINAL FACTORY CLUTCH. *TR
Power train, May 27, 2012
WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH OUT TO START MOVING THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD METALLIC MOANING SOUND. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND GETTING READY TO MORE THAN LIKELY BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED EACH TIME AND THE PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 19K MILES ON IT NOW, AND KIA NORTH AMERICA HAS BEEN CONTACTED EACH TIME AND THE REGIONAL ADVISOR HAS ALSO BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE IS STILL NO MENTION OF WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY ARE BULKING AT BUYING THE CAR BACK OR COMPLETELY REPLACING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN HARD TO PUT INTO REVERSE FROM A STAND STILL AT TIMES. *TR
Power train, Feb 22, 2012
SOLID REAR AXLE FAILURE. *TR
Power train, Jan 22, 2012, crash
MY WIFE AND I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2010 KIA SOUL ON 01/21/2012. SHE WAS DRIVING IT TO THE CAR WAS AND AS SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE HER WAY TO THE ENTRANCE SHE WAS PULLED UP TOO CLOSELY. SHE BACKED UP THEN SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR AND AS SHE BEGAN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THOUGHT IT WAS STILL IN REVERSE AND BEGAN TO MOVE BACKWARD. SHE THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THEN SHIFTED INTO FIRST AGAIN AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, THIS TIME CAUSING HER TO HIT THE PAY BOX FOR THE CAR WASH AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER SIDE FENDER, MIRROR AND DOOR. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Mar 2, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE FAILURE CONTINUED DURING THE TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER DISPENSING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK; THE FUEL CONTINUOUSLY SPRAYS OUT. ALSO, THERE WAS FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.
Power train, Sep 30, 2009
ON AUGUST 5, 2009 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2010 KIA SOUL WHEN IT BROKE DOWN. THE ENGINE GOT STUCK IN SECOND AND IT TOOK FOR EVER TO GET TO THIRD DESPITE PUSHING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE IT DID IT WOULD JERK HER AROUND. IT WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 THE SAME ISSUES CAME BACK. ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. ALSO WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN WHILE JERKING YOU FORWARD. IT THEN RELEASES LUNGING THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER. THEY SAID THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Latches/locks/linkages, Interior lighting, Sep 18, 2009
WITHIN A WEEK OF TAKING DELIVERY ON 7/24/09, THE INTERIOR AND MOST ESPECIALLY THE DOOR SKINS WERE ALREADY ACQUIRING MARKS AND SCRATCHES - A SLIGHT FINGER NAIL SCRATCH REQUIRED A SPECIAL PRODUCT TO REMOVE ETC. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. 1. WHEN RELEASING THE CLUTCH PEDAL THERE WAS A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A CABLE THAT HAS SINCE BECOME MORE CONSISTENT. ON 8/3/09, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CABLE CONNECTED TO THE THROW-OUT BEARING WHICH WAS SAID TO BE NORMAL. HOWEVER, THIS CABLE NOISE HAS NOT BEEN NORMAL WITH ANY OF MY OTHER MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, NOR IS IT PRESENT IN ALL KIA SOULS. 2. I BEGAN TO NOTICE A KNOCKING SENSATION COMING THROUGH THE SHIFTER HANDLE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR ALONG WITH A GRINDING SOUND WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT JOLT WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR - IT IS NOT A SMOOTH TRANSITION LIKE THE OTHER GEARS. 3. WHEN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO 1ST GEAR, AND WANTS TO GO INTO 3RD GEAR WHICH USUALLY TAKES A COUPLE OF TRIES BEFORE IT WILL GO INTO 1ST GEAR. 4. THERE HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE ENGINE REVVING 2X NOW. THE FIRST OCCURRED AFTER I CAME OUT OF REVERSE - THE SECOND WAS WHEN I TRIED TO GO INTO 1ST GEAR BUT ENDED UP IN 3RD GEAR AND BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO NEUTRAL. 5. THE LAST ISSUE CONCERNS EXCESSIVE WATER AND DIRT ACCUMULATING IN THE ENGINE. AFTER WASHING MY CAR, I POPPED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE HOOD LATCH IS ALREADY STRIPPED DOWN TO THE METAL AFTER ONLY BEING OPENED AND CLOSED 4-5 TIMES. THE ENGINE DESIGN SEEMS TO ATTRACT POOLS OF WATER IN CERTAIN AREAS, WHICH ALSO OCCURS WHEN IT RAINS, AND THERE IS CONCERN OF PREMATURE RUST. SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR 9/15 TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AT 1000 MILES AND TO GET THESE ISSUES ADDRESSED BUT HAD TO SCHEDULE A 3RD APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THE DEALER NOW NEEDS TO KEEP THE CAR FOR 5 HOURS SO THE OUTCOME IS PENDING. *TR