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: power train
13 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Jan 26, 2021
MY 2011 KIA SOUL I BOUGHT OFF OF A FRIEND. IT DROVE GREAT ONLY HAD 80000 MILES. HOWEVER WHEN I GOT IT 3RD GEAR WOULD SOMETIMES BE HARD TO GET IN GEAR AND GRIND. I JUST REACHED 100000 MILES AND I GOT UP FOR WORK TODAY AND IT WONT GO INTO GEAR IN FIRST OR REVERSE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND SEEMS ITS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS. IM HOPING ITS NOT MY TRANSMISSION BUT IM GOING TO SHOP IN AN HOUR. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR THIS VEHICLE. EVEN THE MILES ON MY CAR A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED. THIS STARTED ON A INTERSTATE SHIFTING COMING OFF OF THE RAMP 5TH GEAR I COULDNT GET IT IN I HAD TO FORCE IT.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 27, 2020
THERES SOMETHING REALLY WRONG WITH MY ENGINE AND OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUE. I'VE BEEN TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WONT FIX IT BECAUSE THERES NO RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED. THE SENSOR LIGHTS KEEP TURNING ON AND ONCE I CHECK IT IT SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG, BUT THE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND IT WILL TURN OFF WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT, ALSO THE SMELL OF THE ENGINE SMELLS LIKE ITS BURNING AND THE CAR GET REALLY HOT AS IF THE HEATER WAS ON.
Power train, May 20, 2019
THE LINE HOLDING MY AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FLUID IS LEAKING AT SUCH A RAPID RATE THAT MY CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON IN MY CAR UNTIL I WAS UNABLE TO SAFELY OPERATE MY VEHICLE AND SWITCH GEARS ON A HIGHWAY. THE PART IS SEVERELY LOW NATIONWIDE, POTENTIALLY ON BACK ORDER.
Power train, Engine, Feb 6, 2019
HEAD-GASKETS AND/OR THERMOSTATS FAILING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND LOW MILES. I AM ON 2ND HEAD-GASKET AND 4TH THERMOSTAT AND ONLY AT 109000 MI. TWICE THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND TWICE WHILE AROUND TOWN. FLUID LEVELS WERE GOOD AND OTHER MAINTENANCE DONE REGULARLY. I HAVE TALKED WITH MULTIPLE KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND THEY START BY SAYING THAT IS NOT NORMAL THEN AFTER LOOKING OVER THE CAR SAYING ITS A NORMAL THING FOR SOULS. THESE FAILURES HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT EACH TIME ONCE THE THERMOSTAT STICKS CLOSED. NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS AND TEMP GAUGE ONLY SHOWED THE OVERHEAT 2 OUT OF FOUR TIMES. THEY SEEM TO BE FAILING FAIRLY REGULARLY AROUND 20000 MI.
Power train, Engine, Dec 29, 2018
THE CLUTCH HAS GONE OUT TWICE . THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 54029 AND DATE OF 1/17/17. LESS THAN SIX MONTHS LATER I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS SLIPPING ON TAKEOFF. THEY SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THIS TIME IT 72735 AND DATE OF 12/28/18 . THE BILL FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS 1445.79 . IT IS REDICULOUS THAT IT GOES OUT SO SOON. I HAVE READ ON LINE THAT KIA USES A VALVE ON THE SLAVE CYLINDER THAT CAUSES SLIPPING.
Power train, Aug 1, 2017
I PURCHASED KIA SOUL PLUS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2 MONTHS AGO FROM ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 53,000 MILES. VEHICLE "LAGGED" MOMENTARILY WHILE TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTED. I ASSUMED CHARACTERISTIC OF CAR. APPROX. 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING CAR WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY WITH MY FIANC' @ APPROX. 65MPH THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY & DRASTICALLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO (I BELIEVE) 2ND OR 3RD GEAR, WITH NO PROVOCATION ON MY PART. IF MY FIANC AND I WERE NOT WEARING SEAT BELTS, THE SUDDEN CHANGE OF SPEED, OUR HEADS WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY HIT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. MY FIANC' IS SCHEDULED FOR SPINAL CORD SURGERY SOMETIME THIS MONTH (AUGUST). HER NEURO-SURGEON INFORMED US THAT ANOTHER SIMILAR SITUATION COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE HER TO BE QUADRIPLEGIC, OR EVEN DEATH. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED FREEWAY, HOWEVER, CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST 2ND (OR 3RD) GEAR, LIMITING CAR TO 30 TO 35MPH DRIVING HOME ON SIDE STREETS. CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT, AND NEXT DAY DROVE NORMAL AGAIN, FOR ONE WEEK. ON JULY 31, 2017 WHILE TAKING CAR TO CITRUS KIA IN ONTARIO, CA, FOR EVALUATION OF TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE DID SAME THING AGAIN. SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT DRASTICALLY SLOWING DOWN CAR TO 35MPH. AGAIN, WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST 2ND (OR 3RD) GEAR. I WAS ONLY OCCUPANT. AWARE OF KIA'S TSB #033 OUTLINING TCM'S UPGRADE ON TRANSMISSIONS BUILT PRIOR TO AUG. 2010, (MINE BUILT JUNE 2010) THE SERVICE WRITER AT CITRUS KIA STATED UPGRADE WAS DONE IN OCT. 2010. I AM ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THEIR FINDINGS. HOPEFULLY TODAY. (8/1/2017) KIA'S POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IS 100,000 MILES OR 120 MONTHS TO ORIGINAL BUYER, SUBSEQUENT BUYERS IS 60,000 MILES OR 60 MONTHS. SOUL IS PAST 60 MONTHS WARRANTY LIMIT HAVING 72 MONTHS OF SERVICE. HOWEVER, UNDER MILEAGE LIMITS AT 56,000 MILES. THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION!
Power train, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Sep 18, 2015
A BAD BEARING, CAUSED AIR PRESSURE IN LEFT TIRE TO INFLATE TO A DANGEROUS PSI, THAT COULD BLOW TIRE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEED AND DEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING USED TO DRIVE 525 MILES, FROM DALLAS TO KANSAS CITY, MO. DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE DRY, WITH 85 DEG OUTSIDE TEMP. AFTER DRIVING 200 MILES, THE LEFT TIRE HEATED UP TO A DANGEROUS 45PSI, CAUSING THE TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. WE STOPPED TO CHECK TIRE AND AIR PRESSURE, FOUND DANGEROUS PSI AND RELEASED AIR TO SAFE 32PSI. AFTER 150 MILES, THE LEFT TIRE AGAIN RE-INFLATED TO DANGEROUS 44PSI AGAIN. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO WALMART, REPLACED TWO FRONT TIRES, THINKING IT WAS A WORN LEFT TIRE, BUT TIRE WAS GRADED AT A #4, HALF WEAR. BOTH NEW TIRES WERE AT PROPER INFLATION. AFTER 175 MILES, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, DRIVING ON TURNPIKE, AT 65MPH. AIR PSI WAS 46PSI ON THE LEFT TIRE, AGAIN. WE REMOVED 14 PDS OF AIR AND DROVE 50 MILES HOME. AFTER TAKING IT TO A CERTIFIED KIA SERVICE GARAGE, THEY SAID IT WAS THE BEARING AND REPLACED THE LEFT BEARING, AT NO CHARGE, SAYING IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT NOR WAS THE BEARING DAMAGED IN ANY SERVICE REPAIR PROCESS, INDICATING ONLY REASON FOR FAILURE OF BEARING AS POOR MANUFACTURING AND/OR INSTALLATION. BEARING IS EITHER MADE WITH INFERIOR MATERIAL OR NOT PROPERLY LUBED/PACKED.
Power train, Jan 3, 2015
I TOOK MY KIA SOUL IN FOR A OIL CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC LET ME KNOW THAT THE AXLE SHAFT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE WAS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THR PART BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS A NEW MODEL AND THAT PART IN NOT IN CIRCULATION YET. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE WANTED TO CHARGE ME 650.00 TO INSTALL THE NEW AXEL. THIS IS RIDICULOUS WHY THIS PART IS ALREADY WORE OUT AND THE KIA DEALER REPORTED THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE PARTS AND LABOR BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS OVER THE 60,00 MILE WARRANTY. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF OTHER VEHICLES THAT YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Oct 11, 2014
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS (APPROX 10 DURING LAST 2.5 ) AFTER MY 2011 KIA SOUL PASSED 1-YR MARK, RPMS WILL SUDDENLY INCREASE W/NO PRESSURE ON ACCELERATOR. USUALLY OCCURS DURING REPEATED LIGHT INTERMITTENT BRAKING/LIGHT ACCELERATION DURING SLOW & GO RUSH HR TRAFFIC, SPEED RANGE APPROX 8-15MPH. WHILE JUST CREEPING FOR A COUPLE MILES AT 8-10MPH, RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASE & STICK AT ALMOST 2000RPM - MUCH LIKE A "STUCK THROTTLE" IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN A TAP ON ACCELERATOR WOULD RELEASE IT. TAP ON SOUL ACCELERATOR DOES NOT "KICK DOWN" THE RPMS, REMAIN STUCK AT HIGHER RPMS. THIS PULLS CAR FORWARD WITH NO ACCELERATOR APPLIED & BRAKE FIRMLY DEPRESSED. CAN ONLY BE REMEDIED BY TURNING CAR OFF. OK WHEN START UP AGAIN. REPORTED 2-3 TIMES TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE, THEY FIND NOTHING. VERY UNNERVING, FEELS LIKE TOYOTA UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT WAS BLAMED ON FLOOR MATS. KIA FLOOR MAT NOT OUT OF POSITION WHEN THIS OCCURS. I NOW DREAD/TRY TO AVOID SLOW&GO RUSH HR DRIVING FOR FEAR THE PROBLEM WILL RECUR. *TR
Power train, Apr 2, 2014
MY SOUL IS A FIVE SPEED, I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, IN FIRST GEAR READY TO START ACCELERATING, WHEN I REALIZED, MY CAR WAS REVERSING INSTEAD OF GOING FORWARD. I COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF REVERSE, NO MATTER WHAT GEAR I SHIFTED TO. OTHER FAMILY DROVE MY CAR AS WELL, AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. EVERY GEAR IS REVERSE, IT IS NOT ALWAYS HAPPENING, BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT, BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET INTO FIRST TO MOVE IT. *TR
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 11, 2013
THE CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL WORE OUT ON THE CAR AT 22K MILES. THIS IS EXTREMELY EARLY FOR A CLUTCH TO FAIL. THE CLUTCH FAILED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY (I-81) AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH FAIL AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. *TR
Power train, Jan 9, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION WAS DISENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE DRAINED AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Power train, Apr 14, 2011
VIOLENT SHUTTER VIBRATION, FELT LIKE BLOWN PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AFTER 30 MILES(DROVE OFF LOT) PULLED OVER TO INSPECT TIRES EVERYTHING LOOKED OK AND DROVE OFF WITH NO SHUTTER OR VIBRATION VEHICLE HAS DONE IT 4 TIMES NOW AT 1,000 MILES, HAS DONE IT AT 40 MPH-70 MPH, AT HIGHER SPEEDS VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *TR