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
514 reports, newest first.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 4, 2018, crash
WAS GOING DOWN TEN, KIA CAN'T DETERMINE IF MY POWER STEERING WANT BOUT WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 55, AND THEN HITTING A DEER. THE BODY WORK HAS BEEN FIXED BUT MY VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING IS NOT RESPONDING - MDPS WILL NOT COMMUNICATE WITH VEHICLE. FAILURE IN ELECTRONIC MDPS AT TOP OF STEERING COLUMN. THEY CHECKED ALL CONNECTORS, AND NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO COLUMN ITSELF. FOUND C1503 -ESC/ECS (ESP) ERROR AND C1687 - TIME OUT VSM2 (MDPS) FAILURE. DIAGNOSIS SAYS I NEED A POWER STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY. GEICO REFUSES TO COVER THIS SAYING IT'S A COMMON ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING ISSUE WITH KIA'S. IF THESE ARE MESSING UP ELECTRONICALLY WHILE DRIVING THIS YEAR FOR 2012 SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT FEELS AS IF INSURANCE HAS FOUND A LOOPHOLE TO NOT COVER KIA SOULS WITH POWER STEERING. I ALSO SAW A CORROSION ISSUE RECALL AND MY CAR WAS FROM OHIO WHICH I LIVED THERE YEARS WITH IT BEFORE MOVING TO VIRGINIA. NO ONE AT THE NEWPORT NEWS VIRGINIA KIA EVEN MENTIONED THE RECALL FOR MY VIN #, I FOUND IT WHILE REGISTERING MY KIA ONLINE.
Steering, Nov 30, 2018
2012 KIA SOUL STEERING COUPLER DEFECT, ATTACHED IS MY RECEIPT TO REPAIR A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC STEERING COUPLING THAT RESULTED IN A STEERING HAZARD (SHIMMYING, SHAKING, VIBRATING) WHILE MAKING A ROAD TRIP TO FL. UNFORTUNATELY KIA CORPORATE REFUSES TO ACCEPT THIS AS A DEFECT ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY EXTENDED THEIR KIA OPTIMA WARRANTY ON THIS DEFECT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS GENERATED THROUGH COMPLAINTS. THE SERVICE TECH AT KIA I SPOKE WITH CONFIRMED THEY HAD RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SOUL STEERING COUPLING BUT COULDN'T SAY HOW MANY COMPLAINED OR HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WOULD BE NEEDED TO AFFECT A RECALL SO I HAD TO INCUR A $300+ EXPENSE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. PLEASE CONTACT ME @ [XXX]. MY EMAIL IS [XXX]. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Nov 18, 2018
WHEN CAR IS RUNNING AND IN PARK TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AN INCH OR SO IN EITHER DIRECTION IS VERY LOOSE AT FIRST TILL IT BEGINS TO BECOME FIRM AND YOU HEAR A THUD. THE AMOUNT OF PLAY IS ABOUT AN INCH GOING TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT.
Steering, Nov 9, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN MAKING TURNS, THE STEERING COLUMN MADE AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF SOUTH AUSTIN (LOCATED AT 5306 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX 78745, (512) 444-6635) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLEX COUPLER ON THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Structure, Oct 25, 2018
THE HOOD DISENGAGED WHILE MY 76 YEAR OLD MOTHER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SMASHED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES AND CHARGED HER $3,500 TO FIX IT. IT BROKE LOOSE TWICE AFTER THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING BUT DIDN'T FLY UP AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. SHE TOOK IT IN BOTH TIMES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMERS SERVICE ON 9/12 AND THEY SAID THEY'D CALL ME BACK IN 48 HOURS BUT NEVER DID. I CALLED BACK ON 9/18 AND THEY SAID THEY'D CALL ME BACK IN 48 HOURS BUT NEVER DID. I CALLED BACK ON 10/3 AND THEY SAID THEY'D CALL BACK IN 48 HOURS AND THEN I FINALLY RECEIVED A VOICEMAIL ON 10/15 ASKING TO CALL THEM BACK. I CALLED BACK AND RECEIVED THE PERSON'S VOICEMAIL ON 10/16, 10/22, 10/24 AND 10/25. NO RESPONSE AT ALL. THEY ARE IGNORING ME. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HOODS DISENGAGING ON KIA SOULS. MY MOTHER IS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE HER CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD OBVIOUSLY KILL SOMEONE. YET KIA DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN.
Steering, Oct 22, 2018
THE STEERING IS MAKING A LOUD CLONKING NOISE WHILE TURNING, STATIONARY OR DRIVING, WORST ON THE HIGHWAY. I REPLACED AND BALANCED THE TIRES BUT STILL DOING IT. IT'S SCARY. I SEE THERE ARE MORE REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Oct 22, 2018
BLOWER TO THE AC/HEATER JUST QUIT WORKING.. TURNED CAR OFF AT GAS STATION ,GOT BACK IN STAYED AND BLOWER WOULD NO LONGER WORK.. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 2012 KIA SOUL.
Steering, Sep 16, 2018
TAKATA RECALL I TOOK MY CAR TO FIRESTONE TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE AND CHECK THE BREAKS. I WAS TOLD WHEN I TURN THE CAR LEFT IT MAKES A GOD AWFUL NOISE AND THE WHEEL SHAKES. I HAVE A 75000 MIKE WARRANTY ON IT. THIS BETTER BE COVERED. I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
Steering, Sep 15, 2018
AROUND 60,000 MILES I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT STARTED OUT MINIMAL, ONLY HAPPENING SLIGHTLY WHEN I WOULD TURN THE WHEEL (THIS WAS BOTH WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION). IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOME WORSE AND NOW ON TOP OF THE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING, MY WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN I REACH A SPEED OF 70 MPH.
Engine, Sep 11, 2018
VEHICLE HAS 96000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY BEGAN TO HEAR RATTLING AND PINGING. ATTEMPTED TO MAKE IT TO REST AREA TO PULL OVER AND INSPECT. HEARD LOUD BANG AND ENGINE STALLED. COASTED INTO REST AREA. INSPECTION REVEALED OIL LEAKING FROM HOLE BLOWN IN LOWER ENGINE BLOCK.
Steering, Sep 5, 2018
"TAKATA RECALL" THE STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. KIA SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS. AS TIME GOES ON IT IS GETTING WORSE AND IF ONE DAY SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME YOU WILL HEAR FROM A LAWYER AND MY DAUGHTERS. I GOT A ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS AND IT WILL BE OVER $200.00 . THIS WOULD BE LESS THEN A LAWSUIT.
Steering, Sep 3, 2018
I HAVE A 2012 KIA SOUL+ THAT HAS 80,000 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. I AM INTERESTED TO FIND OUT IF THIS COUPLER IS ALSO BEHIND MY SHAKING STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHER SPEEDS. SHAKING IS NOT DUE TO TIRES, WHEELS, OR ALIGNMENT/PARTS PROBLEMS AS PROBLEM WAS SAME BEFORE I JUST PUT NEW TIRES ON AND HAD BALANCE/ALIGNMENT DONE. ALSO WAS NO DIFFERENT BETWEEN SEVERAL TIRE ROTATIONS OF OLD TIRES. 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, Aug 26, 2018
CAR HAS JUST OVER 60K MILES. KNOCKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THE KNOCKING OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS. IF SITTING IN NEUTRAL WITH ENGINE ON, TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT AND YOU FEEL AND HEAR THE KNOCKING SOUND.
Steering, Aug 16, 2018
STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING.
Steering, Aug 16, 2018
THERE HAS BEEN A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO EITHER SIDE, WHILING DRIVING OR IN STILL MODE. IT SEEMS AS THIS HAS ALSO BEEN AN ISSUE WITH LATER MOTELS AS THEIR WAS A RECALL INVOLVING THE STEERING SYSTEM FOR YEARS 2014 - 2016. FROM RESEARCH, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TALK FROM 2012 KIA SOUL OWNERS HAVING TO HAVE THEIR COUPLER IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN REPLACED DUE TO POSSIBLE SAFELY ISSUES.
Steering, Aug 10, 2018
2012 KIA SOULWITH 15,000 MILES: STEERING MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. EVEN WHEN SITTING STILL. WHEN DRIVING IT ALSO HAS PLAY AND MAKES CLUNKING NOISE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE COUPLER IS BAD, AND THAT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FEE TO FIX IS $200, AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, EVEN THOUGH THE MILEAGE IS SO LOW. OTHER KIA SOULS HAVE RECALLS, THIS YEAR SHOULD AS WELL.
Steering, Aug 5, 2018
MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING THIS CLUNKING NOISE IT HAD 50000 MILE ON IT, TOOK IT TO MY KIA DEALER, THE TOLD ME IT WAS A FLEXIBLE COUPLING AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE TO REPLACE IT THAT MY WARRANTY RAN OUT, I SAID THATS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY SAID ITS NOT, I JUST GOT MY CAR AND WENT HOME.I FOYND OUT THAT ALOT OF KIA MODELS HAD THAT PROBLEM AND THE WERE GIVEN A CALL BACK LETTER. IT MAKE NO SENSE ITS THE EXCAT SAME PART HAS THE ONE CALLED BACK, PLUSS IF IT DOESNT GET FIXED I COULD LOSE MY STERRING THE CAR HAS 52000 MILES ON. HOW CAN THEY RECALL MODEL AFTER 2013 AND NOT 2012.
Steering, Jul 25, 2018
CLICKING IN STEERING WHEN DRIVING OR SITTING STILL.
Engine, Jul 21, 2018
I FIRST NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE WHILE BACKING OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE. I THOUGHT PERHAPS A RECENT BRAKE JOB NEEDED SOME TWEAKING OR MAYBE HAD A DEFECTIVE PART INSTALLED. I DROPPED IT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECKED OUT ON TUESDAY MORNING. WHEN THEY FINALLY LOOKED AT IT ON THURSDAY THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO "CRANK BEARING FAILURE" AND "RING FAILURE." MY ENGINE ONLY HAD 63000 MILES ON IT AND ALL THEY COULD DO WAS SHRUG AND OFFER A USED ENGINE AT THE SAME COST AS THE CURRENT VEHICLE VALUE.
Other or unspecified, Jul 19, 2018, fire
MY 2012 KIA SOUL CAUGHT FIRE JULY 13TH WITH MY SON DRIVING. THERE WAS A TICKING IN THE MOTOR, A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN FLAMES. WE HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT KIA SAYS IT'S AN INSURANCE ISSUE AND THEY CAN'T/WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NOW, NOT ONLY ARE WE WITHOUT A CAR BUT WE'RE STUCK WITH PAYMENTS FOR THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS BECAUSE INSURANCE SAYS IT'S NOT WORTH HALF OR WHAT WE STILL OWE ON IT. THANK GOD MY SON WAS OKAY BUT KIA NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE. *JS
Steering, Jul 10, 2018
MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING THIS CLUNKING NOISE IT HAD 44,507 MILE ON IT,TOOK IT TO MY KIA DEALER,THE TOLD ME IT WAS A FLEXIBLE COUPLING AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE TO REPLACE IT THAT MY WARRANTY RAN OUT, I SAID THATS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY SAID ITS NOT, I JUST GOT MY CAR AND WENT HOME.I FOYND OUT THAT ALOT OF KIA MODELS HAD THAT PROBLEM AND THE WERE GIVEN A CALL BACK LETTER. IT MAKE NO SENSE ITS THE EXCAT SAME PART HAS THE ONE CALLED BACK,PLUSS IF IT DOESNT GET FIXED I COULD LOSE MY STERRING THE CAR HAS 44000 MILES ON IT
Steering, Jul 5, 2018
STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND CLICKING WHILE DRIVING. FELT LOOSE WHILE STATIONERY. LOCAL AUTO SHOP REPLACED MDPS FLEX COUPLING. IT WAS TOTALLY WORN OUT. CAR HAD LESS THAN 39,000 MILES. APPARENTLY 2014 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS. ALSO KIA OPTIMA'S FLEX JOINTS WERE REPLACED FREE AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP. THIS KIA SOUL UNES THE FAME FLEX JOINT.
Steering, Engine, Jun 25, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WEST PALM BEACH KIA (735 S MILITARY TRAIL, WEST PALM BEACH, FL), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ATTRIBUTED TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS, AND DOCUMENTED THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,751. *TT
Engine, Jun 20, 2018
VEHICLE AT 155000 MILES. DRIVING UP HILL ON A A ROAD I DRIVE EVERY DAY TO WORK. 0510, GOING 60 MPH AT 4000 RPMS UP THE HILL. SOUND/FELT ENGINE EXPLODE. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT. OIL HAD LEAKED OUT AND COULD NOT SEE DAMAGE. GOT IT TOW HOME AND FOUND THAT A PISTON ROD HAD BROKE AND GONE THREW THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE PAN.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, May 17, 2018
WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESS WAY BEHIND A SEMI. WHEN THE SEMI GOT OVER IN THE RIGHT LANE I ACCELERATED AND HERD A LOUD BANG AND DARK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM MY ENGINE. IT SMELLED OFTEN AND IMPAIRED MY VISION. SEVERAL OF MY CAUSATION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND I WAS STUCK AT 60 MPH MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND STOPPED WORKING. I GOT OVER IN THE RIGHT LANE SAFELY AND COASTED FOR ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF TO THE NEAREST EXIT. SOMETHING TOLD ME DO NOT PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKES OR YOU WILL BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. AS I GOT OF THE EXIT I STARTED TO BRAKE AND MY CAR STOPPED AND DIED.OIL WAS LEAKING OUT AND NOTHING WAS WORKING. I HAD TO GET PEOPLE TO PUSH ME OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GET A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME I HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. SO MY ENGINE FAILED ME AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I DID RESEARCH AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY KIA'S WITH RECALL AND VERY SIMILAR SITUATIONS AS MINE BUT NOT WITH MY MODEL CAR. I AM SURE THIS IS A MANUFACTURES ERROR AND I PRAY KIA DOES A RECALL TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S LIVES. *JS *JS