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.
Visibility, Mar 16, 2012
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 18 MONTHS, AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS WAY TOO EASILY. I'VE OWNED 23 CARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ONE BEFORE. THIS KIA IS GETTING ITS 2ND WINDSHIELD TODAY. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING ACTUALLY HIT IT, BUT HAVE HEARD A 'POP' SOUND EACH TIME, AND THE WINDSHIELD SPLITS ACROSS. BOTH TIMES IT HAS ORIGINATED ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RH SIDE. THERE ARE CHIPS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CRACK LIKE A ROCK *MAY* HAVE IMPACTED THERE, BUT IT SEEMS TO CRACK WAY TOO EASILY AND NEEDS TO BE THICKER OR STRONGER IN MY OPINION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 9, 2012, fire
THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE WIND SHIELD EXPLODED. EVERYTHING MELTED DOWN AND CAR IS TOTALED. THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY AN INTERIOR MALFUNCTION WITH THE CAR. WOULD LIKE KIA TO REPLACE THIS CAR WITH A NEW CAR BECAUSE THIS WAS A NEW CAR THAT I PURCHASED THROUGH KIA. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Dec 12, 2011, crash
ON THE ABOVE DATE THE REFERENCED KIA SOUL WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN A FORD 350 PICK UP TRUCK RAN INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AREA. THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE COLLISION CAVED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR'S EXTERIOR SKIN AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR SKIN WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE SIDE AIRBAGS ON THE KIA SOUL. *TR
Tires, Nov 30, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK NEXEN P225/45/R13 TIRES, DOT 8EJ7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OWNER. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Electrical system, Nov 28, 2011, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO WARM, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 25, 2011, crash
PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE, CAR ACCELERATED AND BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR WENT OVER THE PARKING CURB ON TO WALKWAY, THE CORNER OF THE STORE STOPPED ME NO DAMAGE TO THE WALL, DAMAGE TO THE MY CAR. KIA SOUL, 2011 *TT
Visibility, Sep 22, 2011
I HAVE A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD THAT IS GETTING BIGGER- DO NOT RECALL A ROCK HITTING IT... *TR
Seats, Sep 15, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH REAR SEATS FAILED TO LATCH PROPERLY IN A SECURE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE LATCH WOULD FUNCTION CORRECTLY WHEN INTENSE FORCE WAS APPLIED BY USING AN OBJECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Visibility, Sep 1, 2011
2011 KIA SOUL WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES HAD PEBBLE HIT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW AND CHIPPED IT IN SEVERAL SPOTS. AT 6,000 MILES, PEBBLE HITS WINDSHEILD THAT CHIPS AND CRACKS WINDSHEILD. SAFETYLITE COULD NOT REPAIR AND CRACK IS GROWING. ALSO, FRONT AND SIDES OF CAR PAINT IS CHIPPING AT AN ALARMING RATE. PAINT CHIPING IS A GROSS QUALITY ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE SUBSTANDARD GLASS IS A REALLY GROSS SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN RESULT IN INJURY AND OR DEATH. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF THESE DEFECTS AND SHOULD BE THROUGHLY INVESTIGATED. *TR
Visibility, Aug 6, 2011
TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY 35 THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. NO APPARENT FOREIGN OBJECT APPEARS TO HAVE HIT THE GLASS, IT JUST EXPLODED INTO A THOUSAND PIECES.
Electrical system, Jul 8, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, HIS KNEE SLIGHTLY BUMPED INTO THE IGNITION KEY. AS A RESULT, THE KEY TURNED INTO THE OFF POSITION AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 725.
Visibility, Jul 6, 2011
THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK LAST WEEK, ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. TODAY WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, SAME THING. I WAS NOT TAILGATING, I WAS NOT FOLLOWING ANY BIG TRUCKS...NOTHING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 13 YEARS AND HAVE NOT HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME BEFORE. COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT. I THINK THERE IS A DEFAULT WITH THE GLASS. I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT AND DRIVING AS I ALWAYS DO, AND TWICE IN A WEEK? UNACCEPTABLE.
Electrical system, Jun 3, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HORN WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE FAILURE BUT NONE WERE SUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITH THE HORN WHEN THE USING THE AUTO LOCK FEATURE ON THE REMOTE. THE HORN ONLY CONFIRMED LOCKING 1/2 OF THE TIME BY A CONFIRMED BEEP. THEN HE NOTICED THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK IN THE MORNINGS WHEN HE PRESSED IT THE BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HORN RELAY WAS REPLACED. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME, THE HORN STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE HORN SOUNDER BOARD. UPDATED 07/29/11
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 24, 2011
DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN THE BRAKES INITIATED FOR NO REASON AND NO GAS SEEMED TO BE GOING TO THE THROTTLE. THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT OFF BUT THERE WAS STILL NO CHANGE. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR AND STALLED OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES BECAUSE LACK OF GAS GOING TO THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN A CONGESTED AREA AND WAS ONLY TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HAD I BEEN ON A HIGHWAY. *TR
Equipment, Other or unspecified, May 10, 2011
SINCE PURCHASING MY KIA SOUL ON FEB.28, 2011 I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD TWICE! YES, IT WAS HIT BUT SMALL STONES BOTH TIMES, BUT ONE WOULD THINK THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD WITHSTAND SUCH IMPACT. ANY MINOR THING THAT HITS THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE LEAVING BIG PATHS OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING DAMAGE. TO ME, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Structure, Apr 15, 2011
WE PURCHASED A MOLTEN 2011 KIA SOUL. 3 MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE CAR WE NOTICED MULTIPLE PAINT CHIPS ALL OVER THE CAR AND WINDSHIELD CHIPS. I HAVE LESS THAN 4500 MILES AND I DO NOT DRIVE ON GRAVEL OR FOLLOW SALT TRUCKS. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR IT. ALSO, A SPEAKER RUMBLES, IT DID NOT START ONE TIME (ONLY HAD IT FOR A FEW DAYS), AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN SMELL ANTIFREEZE. THE DEALERSHIP IS STILL DECIDING IF THEY WILL HELP ME IN REGARDS TO THE PAINT AND WINDSHIELD. THEY HAVE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT SPEAKER. THEY SAID THAT THE STARTING SYSTEM IS FINE AND THE ANTIFREEZE SMELL IS "THE ENGINE BREAKING IN". I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT PAIN AND WINDSHIELD CHIPS. PLEASE HELP US! *TR
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
Visibility, Apr 6, 2011
PARKED IN FRONT OF COFFEE SHOP ABOUT 3PM. WINDY BUT WARM (NOT HOT OR COLD WEATHER). CAME OUT TO FIND BACK WINDOW SHATTERED. INSURANCE CO. CALLED, WILL REPLACE WINDOW W/ $250 DEDUCTIBLE FEE. NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY INVOLVED. *TR
Tires, Feb 10, 2011
TL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL WITH NEXXEN TIRES, SIZE 225/45 R18. THE DOT WAS NOT AVTHE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACT PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TREAD ON THE TIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER GAVE THE CONTACT THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED TO THE CONTACT TO SEND PICTURE OF THE TIRES TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS. THE CONTACT SENT THE PICTURES TO THE MANUFACTURER AND HAS NOT HEARD FROM THE MANUFACTURER AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THESE TIRE DO NOT MEET FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS AND WILL CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. JO