2012 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 514 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 25 involved a crash and 23 involved a fire. 25 people were injured and 2 people 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
EngineFeb 22, 2019
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Campaign 19V120000 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
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
32 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Aug 6, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the mechanic cleared the warning light. There was no code for the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired however, the recall was closed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, May 17, 2021
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS EXCESSIVELY CONSUMING ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER AND STALL WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD THE SPARK PLUGS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD PLACE A REQUEST WITH THE LOCAL DEALER TO PERFORM A FREE OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER DECLINED TO HONOR THE REQUEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Jun 22, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A KNOCKING NOISE OCCURRED COMING FROM THE ENGINE AS WELL AS SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENGINE AND OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS CLOSED TO THE DEALER AND COASTED INTO SPRITZER KIA CLEVELAND (3414 BROOKPARK RD, CLEVELAND, OH 44134) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A ROD WENT THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERRED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), HOWEVER HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.
Engine and engine cooling, May 12, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,668
Engine and engine cooling, May 1, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPUTTER. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND FAULT CODE: P0240 APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A MUFFLER SHOP. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 1, 2012
I BOUGHT A 2012 KIA SOUL FROM CAPITAL CITY KIA IN MONTPELIER, VERMONT JUST OVER A MONTH AGO. IT HAD 600 MILES ON IT. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF DRIVING IT VERY SELDOM, IT STOPPED OPERATING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT IT THERE FOR A COUPLE HOURS AND WORKED ON IT WHILE I WAITED AND THEN SENT ME ON MY WAY. THEY SAID IT WAS JUST LOOSE CONNECTIONS. A HALF AN HOUR LATER THE CAR QUITE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AGAIN AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I WAS FRUSTRATED AND AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT SOME REASSURANCE THAT IT WAS TRULY FIXED. THEY SAID THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD. I LEFT WITH THE CAR AND WENT INTO A STORE FOR A HALF OF AN HOUR AND WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE HOME, IT DIED AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SENT THEIR MOST EXPERIENCED TECHNICIANS TO ME WHO EXPERIENCED STARTING IT UP AND THEN HAVING IT DIE AGAIN. THEY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN. UPON PICKING IT UP AFTER IT WAS WORKED ON, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A SPECIFIC THING( DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS OR HOW TO EXPLAIN) AND THAT IT WAS SET TO GO. YESTERDAY, WHILE I WAS OUT RUNNING ERRANDS IT DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT FOR AGAIN. KIA IN WILLISTON SAID THEY WOULD TAKE IT IN BUT I WOULD HAVE TO GET RIDE HOME, SO I ASKED TO HAVE IT TOED TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT IN MONTPELIER AND STATED THAT I WOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR EVER AGAIN, CITING THE DANGER OF HAVING IT QUIT AGAIN AND THIS TIME IN A DANGEROUS PLACE AND AT A DANGEROUS SPEED. CAPITAL CITY HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE CAR WITH A 2013, WITH HIGHER PAYMENTS. I DO NOT WANT THAT. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE A CAR FROM KIA, AS I FEEL THAT THEIR PRODUCT IS INFERIOR AND THEIR SERVICE IS UNSATISFACTORY. I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY BACK AND I WOULD LIKE THAT CAR TO BE DESTROYED SO THAT NO ONE ELSE WILL EVERY BE IN DANGER WHILE DRIVING IT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Other or unspecified, Sep 27, 2011
VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE SLUGGISH, RPM WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 2500 RPM, HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, LOST DRIVEABILITY. *TT