2011 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 194 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 27 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 29 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Representative owner complaints: air bags
26 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Aug 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the airbag warning light was illuminated, indicating that the airbag system was inoperative. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the clock spring needed replacement. The vehicle was repaired. A certified letter was sent to the manufacturer, requesting a goodwill refund; however, the request was denied due to the lack of recall coverage for the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 167,492.
Air bags, Jun 30, 2025, crash
This vehicle had just passed a inspection for me to get it licensed and Kentucky. There was no light showing that the airbags would not work. Unfortunately, this vehicle is not available.I had reached out to kia multiple times. My fears I have another Kia the same year.
Air bags, Aug 26, 2024, crash
The contact owned a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 63 MPH, an object hit the vehicle's front, driver-side tire which caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact crashed into a highway sand barrel as the vehicle flipped forward and rolled over onto the driver's side. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact exited the vehicle through the front passenger door with the assistance of a fellow motorist. The contact was taken by ambulance to the emergency room and was treated for head trauma, pain to both shoulders, neck, and back; as well as, scratches to the left elbow and right hand. A police report was filed. A couple of sand barrels were damaged which left sand scattered across the highway. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Air bags, Dec 25, 2023, crash
Driving 36 mph and got hit in drive side and the airbags didn't deploy
Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Jun 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the cruise control was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the driver's side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
Air bags, Feb 17, 2020, crash
I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON AZ SR 95 AT 45 MPH. OTHER VEHICLE WAS NORTH BOUND AND MADE A "U" TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I COULD NOT AVOID HITTING HIM BROADSIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE.
Air bags, Apr 23, 2019, crash
I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A CAR FAILED TO YIELD CAME ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND I IMPACTED THE PASSAGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE.
Air bags, Feb 8, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 75 MPH. THE CONTACT WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT THE WAY WAS STRUCK A SECOND TIME, WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NECK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. *BF *TR
Air bags, Mar 23, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, BACK, AND NECK, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, AND WAS LATER TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Service brakes, Apr 19, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ECM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A STOP LAMP SWITCH AND THE UNDER BODY CORROSION RECALL. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 14, 2017, crash
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING COLLISION. SEAT BELT TENSIONER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT ENGAGE.
Steering, Air bags, May 17, 2016, crash
MY DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT 50 MILES PER HOUR. ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED INTO HER LANE, HIT HER HEAD-ON AND SHE DIED ON THE SCENE. WHEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO INVESTIGATE, THEY NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL OF HER KIA SOUL DETACHED FROM THE COLUMN AND THEY LOCATED THE STEERING WHEEL (AIRBAG DEPLOYED) IN THE FLOORBOARD BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT.
Air bags, Seat belts, Feb 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED AND STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE FACE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR CUT THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,285.
Air bags, Feb 1, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DURING ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Air bags, Nov 12, 2015, crash
AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN SERIOUS FRONTAL IMPACT - A TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT IT AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH, 5 LANE BUSINESS HWY *CN
Air bags, Oct 27, 2015, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES AND CRASHED IN AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR CUT THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 1, 2015, crash
MY SOUL WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMOACT ROLL OVER CRASH IM WHICH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNLATCHED AND THEEE WAS NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT O WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND THE TRUCK THAT STRUCK THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH...UPDATED 08-06-15 *BF
Air bags, Nov 18, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SIDESWIPED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRAIN INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS RESET AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Air bags, Structure, Wheels, Sep 18, 2014, crash
MY SON AND I WERE IN A SEVERE CRASH. WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND AT ABOUT 50 MPH BY TWO CARS. WE WERE KNOCKED OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN A DROP OFF. WE LANDED AND WENT OVER LARGE BOULDERS. CAR WAS TOTALED. FRONT END AND REAR END GONE. TWO WHEELS CAME OFF. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS IS A GREAT CONCERN FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY WANT TO PURCHASE THE SOUL. ALL OTHER VEHICLES IN THE CRASH HAD AIR BAGS THAT DID DEPLOY. I THINK IF OUR AIR BAGS WERE WORKING PROPERLY THEN MY SON AND I MAY OF NOT HAD SUCH SEVERE INJURIES TO OUR HEADS, BACKS AND NECKS. *TR
Air bags, Service brakes, Jul 31, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND GOING OVER A POT HOLE, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Air bags, Jul 2, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Air bags, Seat belts, Seats, Aug 21, 2013, crash
I WAS THROWN AGAINST THE DRIVERS DOOR (YES SEAT BELT WAS PROPERLY ON) AND SUFFERED A TBI AS WELL AS EXTREME BRUISING ALONG THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY WHY DIDN'T THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOY?. I WAS REAR-ENDED AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS WHERE THE PASSENGER SEAT USED TO BE.. ALSO THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE IN THE PRONE POSITION ON IMPACT AS I WAS SPINNING ACROSS TWO OPPOSING LANES OF TRAFFIC. *TR
Air bags, Aug 14, 2013, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AS THE FRONT BUMPER OF A TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE QUARTER PANEL, DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AND DRIVER FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SUSTAINED HEAD AND SPINAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 31, 2012, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER IMPACTING THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CONTUSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,500.
Air bags, Aug 29, 2012, crash
MYSELF AND 13 YOA DAUGHTER WERE ON CR0151 WHEN WE WERE STRUCK BY A 1996 CHEVY S-10 ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR 2011 SOUL HITTING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER DOORS AND PILLAR BETWEEN THE RIGHT SIDE DOORS. NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF WITH THIS IMPACT AND WITH ALL THE AIR BAGS WHY DIDN'T ANY GO OFF? ...UPDATED 09/12/12 *BF UPDATED 09/18/2012 *JS