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
194 reports, newest first.
Exterior lighting, Sep 3, 2015
2011 KIA SOUL BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN ENGAGED BY PEDAL. TESTING LIGHTS SHOWS THAT ALL OTHER LIGHTS ARE IN WORKING ORDER. VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE STOP LAMP SWITCH RECALL ISSUED BY KIA IN 2013; HOWEVER, THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IN NEED OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT.
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
Suspension, Jul 23, 2015
AFTER A ROUGH WINTER IN PA. STARTED HEARING A LOUD THUNKING NOISE IN REAR OF CAR. NEVER COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. THIS YEAR 2015 WHEN GOING FOR A INSPECTION, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE REAR TRAILING ARM BUSHING WAS COMPLETELY WORN AWAY. HE WAS VERY SUPRISED FOR THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR FOR THIS TO OCCUR. WAS MORE SUPRISED THERE WASNT A RECALL FOR THIS ITEM. WAS VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 9, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS SLOW TO REGISTER THE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENDER ASSEMBLY PUMP HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 11, 2015
ESC HAS ENGAGED AT 50 MPH ON DRY ROADS RAPIDLY SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO 15 MPH. THIS IS THE THIRD OCCURRENCE IN A MONTH.
Electrical system, Mar 14, 2015
OCASSIONALY THE HORN WILL NOT WORK. *TR
Suspension, Mar 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD CLUCKING NOISE WAS HEARD NEAR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Visibility, Feb 2, 2015
THE REAR WINDOW ON MY 2011 KIA SOUL SHATTERED AFTER CLOSING THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR WAS NOT SLAMMED OR CLOSED WITH ANY FORCE AND THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF AT THE TIME. IT WAS LIGHTLY SNOWING AND AROUND 20 DEGREES F WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE WINDOW WAS BROKEN FROM THE CENTER, BUT THE GLASS BOWED OUTWARD AND THE EDGES OF THE WINDOW HAD CRUMBLED AND FALLEN OUT AS WELL. THE GLASS IS VERY THIN AND LOOKS TO BE OF POOR QUALITY AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY CAR WINDOWS BREAKING EVERY TIME I EXIT THE VEHICLE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Feb 2, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED TO 6000 AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. AFTER SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RPM'S CONTINUED TO INCREASE BEFORE SUDDENLY DECREASING TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
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
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.
Suspension, Structure, Nov 4, 2014
VEHICLE HAS SOUND COMING FROM REAR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A BOLT LOOSE ON THE SUSPENSION ACCORDING TO HTTP://WWW.KIASOULFORUMS.COM/10-SOUL-PROBLEMS/19930-CLUNKING-RATTLE-NOISE-LEFT-REAR-SOUL.HTML#/FORUMSITE/20709/TOPICS/19930 I AM A SINGLE NEW MOM AND HAVING ONLY HAD THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR IM HIGHLY CONCERNED DIRECTLY BEHIND ME AND U CAN FEEL IT SHIFT. HILLS *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
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
Electrical system, Aug 15, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
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.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 16, 2014
I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM MAZDA IN HILO, HAWAII. AFTER THREE MONTHS THE A/C WHEN IT IS TURNED ON, WOULD WORK FOR 5 MINUTES OR SO, THEN IT WILL BLOW WARM AIR. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN HILO, HAWAII TRIED TO REPAIR THE A/C PROBLEM ONCE, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THEN MAZDA SENT ME TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHICH TRIED TO FIX THE A/C PROBLEM TWICE, WITH NO SUCCESS. I SINCE MOVED TO OAHU IN APRIL 9TH, 2014. THE A/C PROBLEM IS STILL ON GOING. MY NIECE BOUGHT KIA SOUL 2011 HERE ON OAHU AND HER CAR HAS THE SAME A/C PROBLEM, I HAVE. IS THERE OTHER KIA SOUL 2011 OWNERS WITH THE SAME A/C PROBLEM? *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 9, 2014
THE ESC ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON DRY ROAD BETWEEN 30 AND 55 MPH. TRIED TURNING PUSHING THE ON/OFF ECS SWITCH, BUT LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. WITH VEHICLE STOPPED, SHIFTING TRANSMISSION WHILE PUSHING ON BRAKE PEDAL, ESC LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. TURNED OFF ENGINE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTARTED, LIGHT CAME BACK ON. LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER DRIVING A FEW FEET AND STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT DAMAGE OR PROBLEMS THIS MAY CAUSE TO THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE VEHICLE. IF IT HAPPENS ONE MORE TIME, AS I SUSPECT IT WILL, I WILL CONTACT THE DEALER. *TR
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.
Suspension, Tires, Apr 24, 2014
THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TIRE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE EVERYTIME I HIT A BUMP OR TURN THE VEHICLE. FEELS LIKE THE AXLE IS GOING TO FALL OFF. I SAW THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING OR HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WANTED TO POST THE COMPLAINT, HOPING THAT SINCE IT IS A COMMON ISSUE, KIA IS FORCED TO HAVE IT FIXED OR REIMBURSE US. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE OF THE CAR. *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 16, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH WHICH PREVENTED HER FROM SEEING WHEN REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO STANDARDS AND WAS UNABLE TO ALTER THE DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,500.
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
Visibility, Structure, Mar 30, 2014
I WAS DRIVING AND A PEBBLE HIT MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CHIP WHICH TURNED INTO A CRACK. I GOT IT FILLED AT SAFE LITE. 3 DAYS LATER ANOTHER PEBBLE HIT MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CRACK. IN THE PAST 3 YEARS MY WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN HIT & CRACKED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING 18 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CHIP OR CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD.OBVIOUSLY KIA SOUL WINDSHIELDS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET THE COST OF A NEW WINDSHIELD. *TR
Suspension, Feb 25, 2014
TOOK CAR TO KIA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A CLUNKING NOISE IN REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR WHEN CAR HIT BUMPS IN ROAD. TECHNICIAN WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. THEY RETORQUED THE REAR CONTROL ARM BOLTS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY DID OR DID NOT HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. I JUST WONDER HOW SERIOUS A PROBLEM THIS COULD HAVE BECOME. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 20, 2014
WITHOUT WARNING AND WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT EVEN AT STEADY SPEED ESC WARNING LIGHT FLASHES AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER DRASTICALLY (BARELY RUNS) .ESC ACTING LIKE CAR IS ON ICE WHEN IT IS NOT . DROVE 1 MILE ON DRY PAVEMENT WITH CAR BARELY RUNNING. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HAS OCCURRED ON 3 OCCASIONS WITHIN 300 MILES OF DRIVING. HAD CAR TO DEALER FOR ESC MALFUNCTION ON 3-4 OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM ON VISITS 1-2. BRAKE SWITCH & ABS MODULE REPLACED BUT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM . LAST VISIT AFTER ANOTHER ESC BREAKDOWN THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG , EVEN THOUGH IT MALFUNCTIONED ONLY 2 DAYS BEFORE CAR BROUGHT IN. DEALER HAS HAD CAR IN SHOP FOR OVER 1 MONTH TOTAL TIME. THEY APPARENTLY ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT. I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR WITH ONLY A LITTLE OVER 9000 MILES ON IT THAT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. YET THEY HAVE OFFERED NO RESOLUTION. I DON'T NEED MY CAR TO GO INTO "LIMP MODE" WHILE PASSING A CAR ON A 2 LANE ROAD!. CAR RUNS NORMAL HOWEVER IF ESC SWITCH IS TURNED OFF. *TR