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: steering
166 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Jan 3, 2020
CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN. FAILURE OF STEERING COUPLING
Steering, Dec 1, 2019
WHEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION MY DAUGHTER'S 2012 KIA SOUL MAKES A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM WHAT FEELS LIKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS DEEPER IT IS THE RUBBER COUPLER AT THE ELECTRIC STEERING ASSIST. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR OTHER YEARS AND MODELS SO BOTH KIA AND HYUNDAI BOTH KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REPAIR ALL VEHICLES. I HEAR IT'S AN $8 PART AND $400 FOR LABOR THROUGH THE DEALER. WHAT A GREAT INCOME STREAM FOR THEM!!
Steering, Oct 24, 2019
THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE.
Steering, Sep 11, 2019
MY 2012 KIA SOUL IS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN ABOVE 70MPH WHEN TURNED SLIGHTLY LEFT OR RIGHT. IT APPEARS TO BE THE FLEX COUPLER IN THE POWER STEERING. THIS STARTED A FEW WEEKS BACK. KIA HAS RECALLED NEWER MODELS THAT USE THE SAME PART BUT WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR 2012 MODELS. THIS IS ON KIA. GOD FORBID IF MY DAUGHTER IS INJURED IN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE NEGLIGENCE OF KIA!
Steering, Aug 31, 2019
I TOOK IN BECAUSE STEERING TO RIGHT, THERE IS A CLUCKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL, MY MECHANIC CHECKED ON FOUND NOTHING STATED WAS A DEALER RECALL BUT THERE IS ONE FOR KIA 2012 SOUL HOWEVER MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER VEHICLES.
Steering, Aug 19, 2019
CLICKING SOUND HEARD WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR SITTING STILL.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 10, 2019
STEERING WHEEL MAKES A LOUD POPPING NOISE IT IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. THE LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN TURNED ON INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, May 16, 2019
WHERE DO I START, MY 2012 KIA SOUL HAS ABOUT 86,000 MILES AND HAS EXPERIENCE ISSUES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IT STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE I CHANGED MY LEFT BRAKE LIGHT AND DISCOVERED IT WAS AN ONGOING ISSUE WHERE BULB IS BURNT AND HAVE TO REPLACE ABOUT TWICE YEARLY. SECOND, SOMETIMES WHEN I GO TO CRANK MY CAR IT WOULD START FAINTLY THEN STALL OUT AND I WILL HAVE TO RETRY AGAIN UNTIL IT CRANKS CORRECTLY. THIS HAVING ALSO BEEN OCCURRING FOR A FEW YEARS. THIRD, WITHIN THIS PAST YEAR I'VE EXPERIENCED A/C CONTROL PROBLEMS. WHEN I GO TO TURN IT ON IT WONT DO ANYTHING,NO DEFROST/BLOWING/HOT/COLD NOTHING. THEN I WOULD PROCEED TO KEEP TRYING TO TURN OFF AND ON AND OUT OF NO WHERE IT JUST STARTS ON ITS OWN. SOMETIMES IT'S SCARY ESPECIALLY WHEN I NEED TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS AND IT DECIDES NOT TO WORK. TOOK IT TO SUN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT AND SAID AND I QUOTE "IT HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE", WHATEVER THAT MEANS. FOURTH, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL BUTTON. DONT KNOW IF IT'S AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THIS HAS ALSO STARTED WITHIN THIS PAST YEAR. FINALLY, ABOUT A FEW MONTHS AGO MY STEERING WHILE STARTED MAKING THIS ANNOYING CLICKING SOUND WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT . THAT IS WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED OR STOPPED. IT JUST KEEPS CLICKING EVERY MOVEMENT, BUMPS AND TURNS. SUDDENLY I RECIEVED A LETTER ABOUT THIS GIVEN WARRANTY RECALLING MY VEHICLE TO GET FIXED. NOW I'M QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT IF MY OTHER PROBLEMS ARE COMMON IN OTHER VEHICLES AND IS ON THE ROLL TO RECALL
Steering, May 14, 2019
THE STEERING WHEEL HAS STARTED TO MAKE A CLICKING NOSE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE NOSE HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS BOTH STATIONARY AND WHEN MOVING. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS BY OTHERS ON THE INTERNET. 2014-2016 MODELS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVE ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR A STRONG PROBLEM WITH THE"PINION WHEEL", ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 MODELS MAY BE WITH THE"STEERING COUPLER". DOESN'T SEEM SAFE AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM UPON FURTHER RESEARCH.
Steering, Suspension, Electrical system, May 14, 2019
RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KIA STATING TO HAVE MY STEERING CHECKED OUT . I AM HEARING A POPPING NOISE WHEN I TURN LEFT IN THE STEERING. IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING THE KIA DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING GOING ON AND THEY KEEP TRYING TO TELL ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. ALSO THERE'S A SUSPENSION NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEN I GO OVER A GREAT OR ANYTING EVEN A SMALL LITTLE DENT IN THE ROAD IT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHOLE BACK END OF MY CAR IS GOING TO FALL APART ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES MY LIGHTS DIM ON THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE THEN WHEN I GO THE LIGHTS WILL GO BRIGHT AGAIN.
Steering, Apr 29, 2019
STEERING WHEEL CLICKS AND HAS GIVE AT LOW SPEEDS (LIKE WHILE PARKING OR TAKING CORNERS SLOWELY) AND AT HIGH SPEEDS (70MPH +). TAKEN TO KIA DEALER, AND COUPLER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. KIA RECALLED LATER MODELS WITH SAME PARTS AND OPTIMAS WITH SAME PARTS, BUT NOT 2012 SOULS. IT'S THE SAME PART THAT WAS REPLACED FOR FREE IN OTHER MODELS, BUT 2012 ISN'T COVERED.
Steering, Apr 25, 2019
MY 2012 KIA SOUL STEERING STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO FELT LOOSE . THE VEHICLE HAS 81,465 MILES ON IT. I FIRST NOTICED IT YESTERDAY. I BROUGHT THE SOUL TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THE STEERING COUPLING HAD FAILED (FP# 56315-2K000FFF). COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $432.60 AFTER THE KIA DEALERSHIP APPLIED A 15% COSTCO DISCOUNT. THE PART IS ONLY $7 BUT IT'S THE LABOR THAT INCREASES THE COST OF THE REPAIR. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM TO NHTSA. ANOTHER KIA VEHICLE (I BELIEVE THE OPTIMA) USES THE SAME COUPLER AND THAT VEHICLE HAS A RECALL NOTICE. THE 2012 SOUL USES THE SAME COUPLER AS THE RECALLED VEHICLE BUT DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ISSUED. ANY 2012 SOUL THAT USES THIS COUPLING SHOULD BE RECALLED. LOSS OF STEERING COULD HAPPEN IF THIS COUPLING FAILS COMPLETELY. THE COUPLING THAT FAILED IN MY 2012 SOUL FELT SOFT AND COULD BE EASILY BE SQUEEZED. THE NEW COUPLING THAT REPLACED IT FELT MUCH HARDER. APPARENTLY, THE NEW COUPLING IS MADE FROM A DIFFERENT MATERIAL. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE FAILED COUPLING. THIS COUPLING SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE.
Steering, Apr 19, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO AND OCCURRED EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE WORSENED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO BILL BRYANT KIA (9039 US-441, LEESBURG, FL 34788), BUT THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO LEAVE SINCE SHE DID NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Steering, Apr 4, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. ALSO, AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
Steering, Apr 1, 2019
I CAN FEEL SLACK PLAY IN THE UPPER STEERING THAT MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN STATIONARY, MOVING, IN TOWN OR ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO ON INTERSTATE WHEN I REACH APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END STARTS AND INCREASES WITH SPEED. IT GETS TO AN INTENSITY THAT I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING OVER SIXTYFIVE MPH
Steering, Mar 26, 2019
WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT'S MAKING A CLICKING SOUND AND EVERY TIME YOU GO OVER A BUMP IT MAKES THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE
Steering, Mar 24, 2019
WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THERE IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH A DISINTEGRATED RUBBER BUSHING IN THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR AND THERE IS A RECALL DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. WHY IS MY CAR NOT COVERED?
Steering, Mar 16, 2019
I HAVE A 2012 KIA SOUL THAT HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS STARTED MAKING THE HIGHLY COMPLAINED ABOUT CLUNKING NOISE AND SHIFTING/LOOSE SENSATION IN THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHETHER STATIONARY OR DRIVING. IT HAS ALSO FOR SOME TIME BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SHAKING STEERING WHEEL AT AROUND 80 MPH THAT HAS COMPLAINTS. I AM A FORMER MECHANIC AND THROUGH READING ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND SEEING SYMPTOM/REPAIR VIDEOS I HAVE DIAGNOSED MY CLUNKING STEERING COLUMN TO BE CAUSED BY A FAILED STEERING COUPLER. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED BY KIA ON OTHER VEHICLES BUT NOT ON 2012 SOUL.THIS STEERING COUPLER ISSUE SHOULD HAVE KIA RECALLING ALL VEHICLES THAT HAVE REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE. I AM LOOSING FAITH IN KIA MOTORS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THIS PART ON MY TIME/MONEY.
Steering, Feb 21, 2019
STEERING IS MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAYS IT IS A COUPLER MUST BE FIXED BEFORE I LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER. I AM AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SINCE IT COULD LOSE STEERING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 31000 MILES ON IT.
Steering, Feb 19, 2019
STEERING MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AND FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT LOCK UP AT LOW SPEEDS.
Steering, Feb 19, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALOHA KIA (94-169 FARRINGTON HWY, WAIPHAU, HAWAII 96819) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Steering, Feb 15, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS FAULTY AND EXTREMELY LOOSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO STEER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
Steering, Feb 10, 2019
KIA FLEXIBLE STEERING COUPLER 56315-2K000FFF COMPLETELY FAILED 12/2018. SAME COMPLAINT AS HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF 2012 KIA SOULS. PLASTIC STEERING COUPLER COMPLETELY FALLS APART CAUSE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PLAY AND BAD BANGING WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. GOING OVER ROAD HOLES, SPEED BUMPS AND EVEN ROAD REFLECTORS CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL IN EITHER DIRECTION AS WELL AS DRIFTING ISSUES. DEFECTIVE PART WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE BREAKDOWN OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT. KIA DEALERSHIP IN LAKE WALES, FL QUOTED $450 TO REPLACE THE $10 STAR SHAPED COUPLER STATING THE COSTS ARE MAINLY IN LABOR. THESE REPAIR COSTS SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. THE PART SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS A POOR DESIGN ON THE PART OF KIA. THE 2012 SOUL SHOULD BE INCLUDED ALONG WITH THE 2014-2016 RECALLS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE EXACT ISSUE. I ALSO OWN A 2015 SOUL AND HAVE RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE COUPLER REPAIR. (WE ALSO OWN A 2017 SPORTAGE) WHY ARE THE 2012 OWNERS BEING LEFT OUT AND DISREGARDED? THE PART IS THE SAME, THE LABOR IS THE SAME AND THE POTENTIAL DANGER AND FURTHER DAMAGE IS THE SAME. KIA SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THE RIGHT THING BEFORE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS FILED AND COST THEM A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT MORE. KIA'S LACK OF CUSTOMER CARE, CONCERN AND COMMITMENT TO THE 2012 OWNERS IS DISRESPECTFUL AND SHAMEFUL. I TRULY AND SINCERELY HOPE KIA WILL TAKE NOTICE OF OUR COMPLAINTS AND PLEA AND HELP US. *TR
Steering, Feb 10, 2019
THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN BEING TURNED, WHILE STATIONARY OR MOVING. 90,000 MILES ON CAR, AFRAID THE STEERING MAY GIVE OUT... HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SINCE INITIAL CLUNKING BEGAN AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES
Steering, Feb 10, 2019
STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME LOOSE WITH A "CLICK" ON EITHER SIDE OF PLAY. WAS TOLD BY KIA DEALER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1843. IF I DIDN'T FIX IT, MY STEERING MIGHT GO OUT AT ANY TIME. KIA COVERED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH RECALLS ON LATER MODELS BUT REFUSED TO COVER THIS BECAUSE OF VEHICLE AGE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A MILEAGE OR AGE ISSUE, IT'S A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. I'VE FOUND DOZENS OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE.