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, Jul 7, 2017
THE STEERING COLUMN "CLUNKS" WHEN TURNED AND WHEN DRIVEN ON UNEVEN ROADS. IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS BUT I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER CV JOINT MOUNT.
Steering, Jul 5, 2017
I OWN A 2012 KIA SOUL. I KNOW A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR A STEERING PROBLEM FOR 2013-15. MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE WAS A POP AND MY STEERING IS LOOSE. WE CALLED KIA AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM ON THEIR CARS. MINE NOW HAS IT. IT SHOULD BE FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE LIKE THEY DID THE OTHERS. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE POP HAPPENED AND THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING. WE HAVE HARDLY BEEN DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID. THE PROBLEM IS REALLY BAD IF YOU TRY TO TURN IT TO THE LEFT.
Steering, May 31, 2017
STEERING WHEEL / COLUMN LOOSE AND LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A HISTORICAL PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SOUL AS PREVIOUS DOCUMENTATION/COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA AND KIA. WAITING TO SEE WHAT CORAL SPRINGS KIA WILL DO TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. 31,000 MILES ON VEHICLE 2012 KIA SOUL.
Steering, May 1, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND WAS NOT OPERABLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Steering, Mar 1, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A VEHICLE IN FRONT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES ABRUPTLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER MERGED ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. THE DRIVER WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE DRIVER OF THE FIRST VEHICLE THAT WAS IMPACTED ALSO SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER IN THE FIRST VEHICLE SUSTAINED SHOCK TRAUMA AND THE CHILD SEATED IN THE REAR SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES IN THE SECOND VEHICLE. ALL INJURED OCCUPANTS REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE IT CURRENTLY WAS PENDING AN INSPECTION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. PRIOR TO THE CRASHES, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT POSSIBLY ENCOUNTERED AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD, WHICH CAUSED THE BLOW OUT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT ABNORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Steering, Feb 13, 2017
CLICKING IN THE STEERLING WHEEL. PULLING AND JIGGLING (NO IT'S NOT THE ALIGNMENT)
Steering, Dec 13, 2016
I HAVE 80000 MILES ON MY 2012 KIA SOUL AND THE STEERING COLUMN IS VERY NOISY AND SEEMS TO BE ON THE VERGE OF DISINTEGRATING AND LEAVING ME WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT SINCE IT OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Steering, Oct 19, 2016
DEFECTIVE STEERING FLEXIBLE COUPLER. CAUSED MY STEERING WHEEL TO LOOSEN UP.
Steering, Oct 16, 2016
STEERING IS MAKING A BANGING NOISE AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING LOOSE. GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. THIS IS MOST PROFOUND WHEN VEHICLE IS STANDING STILL AND YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.
Steering, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 25, 2015
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER AND EVERY SO OFTEN THE GAUGES AND THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH WILL NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. I HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE, I THEN TOOK IT TO THEIR REPAIR SHOP. THE GENTLEMAN (MECHANIC) WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND REQUESTED ANOTHER VEHICLE, OF COURSE THEY REFUSED. IN A MATTER OF DAYS, THE DASH MATERIALS BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY, 20 DAYS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. NONE OF THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES IN THE DASH WORK, AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE. I AM SIMPLY UNHAPPY WITH THE MATTER, BECAUSE THEY ARE CHARGING ME NEARLY $20,000. FOR THE VEHICLE. *TR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 28, 2014
THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WHICH KIA CAN'T IDENTIFY OR TROUBLESHOOT. IT HAS BEEN IN THE KIA GARAGE HALF A DOZEN TIMES AND STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED. THE ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS INITIALLY STARTED. THE STATUS LIGHTS IN THE DASH ALL LIGHT UP AND GO OUT ONE BY ONE WHEN SYSTEMS ARE CONFIRMED GOOD, EXCEPT THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST STEERING AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS STAY LIT. THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO GEAR AND DRIVEN FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE TO RESET EVERYTHING AND THEN IT IS FINE. KIA WAS CALLED OUT TO A PARKING LOT AT ONE POINT WHILE THE SYSTEMS FAILED AND THEY HOOKED UP THEIR DIAGNOSTICS TO THE PORT AND WERE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SYSTEM IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TRACK THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE UNTIL THE SYSTEM TOTALLY FAILS AND REFUSES TO RESET. DIAGNOSTICS DOES NOT PICKUP THE ERROR WHEN IT OCCURS AND THE VEHICLES INTERNAL COMPUTER DOES NOT REGISTER THE FAILURE EITHER. *TR
Steering, Sep 26, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 20012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE CONTACT TO BE ABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,432 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 6,100 UPDATED 11/12/13*CN
Steering, Mar 29, 2013
STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AT SPEED VERY DANGEROUS IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *TR
Steering, Jan 21, 2013
WE TRAVELED FROM TENNESSEE TO FLORIDA AND THE STEERING KEPT LOCKING-UP ON THE KIA SOUL. WE WENT TO GALEANA KIA IN FT. MYERS, FL AND TOLD THEM THAT ?WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY STEERING WHEEL JUST LOCKS GOING STRAIGHT AND HAS TO HAVE APPLIED PRESSURE TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT?. GALEANA KIA DID THIS ON 12/4/2012: VERIFY INTERMITTENT P/S ASSIST INOP. REMOVE P/S COLUMN & ASSIST UNIT. APPLIED STABILANT 22 TO ALL CONNECTORS. REMOVE CONTROL WIRING HARNESS. REMOVE IPM MODULE. REMOVE & TEST HECU. FOUND STRIPPED BOLT IN GROUND GNG10 LOOSE GROUND. REMOVE & RETHREADED GROUND CLEAN PAINT. NOTIFIED TL. ON THE RETURN TRIP BACK TO TENNESSEE, THE STEERING STARTED LOCKING-UP AGAIN. ON 12/28/2012, WE TOOK THE CAR THE RUSTY WALLACE KIA, AND COMPLAINED AGAIN ABOUT THE STEERING. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND RETURNED TO CAR TO US AND TOLD US TO DRIVE IT AND CALL THEM IF WE STILL HAD THE PROBLEM. ON 1/17/2013, THE STEERING STARTED LOCKING UP AGAIN ? MORE OFTEN. ON 1/21/2013, THE STEERING IS STILL LOCKING UP AND I CALL RUSTY WALLACE KIA TO TAKE IT IN FOR MORE SERVICE. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA HEADQUARTERS ([XXX]) ABOUT THIS STEERING PROBLEM AND HAVE CASE #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Jul 24, 2012
2012 KIA SOUL. CONSUMER STATES POWER STEERING FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO FIND AN ERROR CODE OF 300 ELECTRICAL AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING MOTOR. ON JAN 13, 2012 AS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, HE DISCOVERED THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. HE STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED FIVE SECONDS AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. IT APPEARED TO WORK FINE AFTER THAT. ON JAN. 201, 12, AS THE CONSUMER WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. HE STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED 10 SECONDS AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN. IT APPEARED TO WORK FINE AFTERWARDS .
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 6, 2012, crash
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW KIA SOUL IN NOV OF 2011. WITHIN 200 MILES OF OWNERSHIP, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTION AND FALSELY ACTIVATED. THE ESC NOT ONLY FALSELY ACTIVATED BUT REMAINED ACTIVATED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND COULD ONLY BE TURNED IF CONSIDERABLE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO IT. I CAREFULLY PULLED OVER THE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE THEN STARTED IT BACK UP HOPING THE ESC WOULD TURN OFF. IT DID NOT. I ENDED UP HAVING TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY DEALER. THE KIA DEALER SERVICE SHOP ULTIMATELY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND ATTEMPTED TO DO A LANE CHANGE. AGAIN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL FALSELY ACTIVATED AND CAUSED ME TO COLLIDE WITH THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN THE ESC ACTIVATED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND CAUSED A SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN THE ACCIDENT. THESE ARE JUST 2 OF MANY INCIDENTS I HAVE EXPERIENCED. *TR