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: steering
12 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 16, 2024
Hello, I would like to report that someone attempted to steal my 2010 Kia Soul. The incident occurred on [XXX], in San Jose, CA 95111. As a result of the attempted theft, there is damage to the car’s steering wheel and ignition. Please let me know if additional information or documentation is needed to assist with this report. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, Jan 28, 2021
I WAS DRIVING MY TYPICAL ROUTE TO WORK AND MID TURN, WITH MY CAR ON, ON A CITY ROAD, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I HAD TO STOP MY CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART IT TO GET IT TO UNLOCK. VERY SCARY THING TO HAPPEN, VERY WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN A MORE DANGEROUS PLACE, LIKE THE FREEWAY.
Steering, Mar 10, 2020
I NEED TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM BECAUSE IT'S LOOSE, AND WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED 1,000 MILES AGO.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Jul 19, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 (NA) KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V123000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 15V736000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 4, 2016
MY 2010 KIA SOUL IS CEASING AND LOCKING UP ON ME AND MY ENGINE IS SHUTTING OFF. IT HAS DONE THIS FIVE TIMES. I DOCUMENTED TWICE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD TO RECREATE IT. I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE WOULD SAY THIS. WHEN I TURN RIGHT THE WHEEL WILL TURN LEFT AND IT WILL STIFFEN AND SHUTT OFF. I ALMOST CRASHED 5 TIMES. 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
Steering, Feb 15, 2011
KIA SOUL STEERING ASSEMBLY FAILURE (TEMPORARY) WHEN TURNING THE 2010 KIA SOUL SHARPLY (AS FAR AS IT WILL GO EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT) AND ATTEMPTING TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL QUICKLY AFTER TURNING RESULTS IN THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENING TO WHERE YOU CANNOT TURN IT FOR A COUPLE SECONDS AS THOUGH IT LOCKS UP. ALSO, WHEN IDLE, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTS IN A TUGGING SENSATION FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT VIBRATES THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
Steering, Dec 23, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN THE TURNING POSITION AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE WOULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD WORK SOMETHING OUT AS LONG AS THE CONTACT DOES NOT INVOLVE A LAWYER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Steering, Structure, Dec 1, 2010
ALL INTERIOR DOORS ARE NICKED AND SCRATCHED ESPECIALLY THE FRONT DOORS. THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR LOOKS LIKE A TEN YEAR OLD CAR AND THIS IS A 2010 SOUL. CALLED KIA MANY TIMES AND THEY JUST CONTINUE TO TELL ME THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR A YEAR AND A HALF ALREADY! I WANT THE PANELS REPLACED WITH A HIGHER QUALITY PRODUCT. ALSO HAVE NOTICED WHEN I DRIVE ON ROUGH ROAD OR HIT BUMPS OR HOLES THE CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE CONTROL A BIT. LIKE IT SKIPS ACROSS THE ROAD AND I CAN'T STOP IT. I CAN'T SEEM TO STEER IT FOR THAT BRIEF SECOND. *TR
Steering, Oct 26, 2010, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 -15 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE OF HER VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER HAND. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A VIN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2200.
Steering, Aug 17, 2010, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DURING RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY VEER OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 700.
Steering, Aug 17, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH OFF FROM A SIDE STREET, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM HIM. HE STATED THAT HE HAD TO HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL EXTREMELY HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,500.
Steering, Air bags, Aug 2, 2010
I PURCHASED A 2010 KIA SOUL AND HAD IT ABOUT TWO MONTHS WHEN WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING COLUMN CAME OFF. I TOOK PICTURES, AS I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE WHEELS, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP. I KEPT PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE WAY, THAT WAS WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN. I CONTACTED KIA 24 HOUR ROADSIDE, THEY TRANSPORTED MY VEHICLE TO UNION CITY KIA, WHERE I FOUND OUT FROM TONY IN THE SERVICE CENTER THAT MY AIRBAG NEEDS TO ALSO BE REPLACED IN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE IT WAS NON FUNCTIONAL. THIS IS DAY THREE, AS THIS HAPPENED DURING THE WEEKEND, I CALLED KIA TODAY ABOUT HAVING A VEHICLE TO STAY MOBILE. I AM STILL WAITING ON A CALL BACK, THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEY ARE STATING THAT I CANNOT HAVE A LOANER CAR OR RENTAL REIMBURSEMENT. *TR