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.
Air bags, Dec 2, 2013, crash
MY WIFE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND FLIPPED HER KIA SOUL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT KIA'S ARE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Wheels, Nov 21, 2013
PRIOR TO PREVIOUS SERVICE, I NOTICED LUG NUTS WERE BEGINNING TO RUST. SUMMIT PLACE KIA HAD ONE FOR THIS MODEL AND REPLACED THE WORST ONE AND WAS TO ORDER A NEW SET FOR ALL WHEELS AS A WARRANTY ITEM. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO CALL ME WHEN THESE CAME IN. NEVER RECEIVED A PHONE CALL. I ASKED ABOUT THIS UPON NEXT SERVICING AND THEY FOUND THAT NOBODY HAD EVER ORDERED THE REMAINING LUG NUTS. I DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT THIS BETWEEN SERVICE APPTS. SINCE IT APPEARED TO ONLY BE SURFACE RUST AT THIS POINT...NO THREAT OF DANGER, YET. THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ORDERED THE PARTS WHILE I WAS STANDING THERE SO WE KNEW THEY'D GOTTEN ORDERED AND ARE TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE WEEK. I'VE HAD 10-12 CARS IN MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A LUG NUT RUST ON A VEHICLE WHICH IS 2 MODEL YEARS OLD...ESPECIALLY ON A GARAGE-KEPT VEHICLE. HOPEFULLY THIS NEXT SET DOES NOT FOLLOW SUIT OR I'LL BE HEADED OVER TO THE PARTS STORE AND WILL REPLACE THEM MYSELF. *TR
Power train, Engine, Oct 11, 2013
8-31-13 IS THE FIRST TIME I WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CAR ACCELERATING WHEN I WOULD FIRST START THE CAR UP IN THE GARAGE AND THEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT WOULD JERK INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THEY RESET THE ADAPTIVE LEARNING SYSTEM. 10-9-13, IS THE 2ND TIME I WENT TO DEALERSHIP WITH THE SIMILAR SITUATION, BUT THE CAR WOULD SEEM LIKE IT WAS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND WHILE I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING. THEY CHECKED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVELS AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS LOW (THEY TOLD ME THIS IS NONSERVICEABLE AREA AND THEY HAD TO ACCESS THE COVER WHICH IS BOLTED). THEY FILLED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SAID TO WATCH AND CHECK NEXT TIME I HAVE AN OIL CHANGE. 10-11-13, ON WAY TO WORK, CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN TO WORK (30-45 MPH, CITY DRIVING) WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS HOLDING ITS BREATH,,,SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED ON IT'S OWN. GOT TO OFFICE. WHEN LEAVING FOR THE DAY, CAR WAS JERKING AS IT WAS SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO 2ND AND SEEMED TO NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 40 MPH. THEN NOTICED THE EQUIVALENT OF A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. CALLED DEALERSHIP BEFORE I GOT HOME AND ASKED IF I COULD COME IN FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALERSHIP IN MORNING. THIS IS SIMILAR SITUATION THAT SOMEONE ELSE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO THIS SITE ON 8-10-13 FOR KIA SOUL 2012. *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
Visibility/wiper, Aug 26, 2013
SAT. 8-24-13, AROUND 3:20 PM, I WENT OUT TO MY 2012 KIA SOUL PARKED ON THE STREET, IN PART-SHADE, IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA OF CENTERVILLE, OH. THE WINDOWS WERE CRACKED, AND THE TEMP OUTSIDE WAS IN THE MID-80'S. I OPENED MY FRONT DOOR & PUT IN MY BEACH BAG. I THEN OPENED THE BACK DOOR, AND CLOSED THE FRONT DOOR, WHEN I HEARD A 'BOOM'. THE BACK GLASS ON THE HATCH BACK EXPLODED FROM THE MIDDLE & LACED EVERYWHERE ELSE, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE ABOUT 2 FEET WIDE. EVERYONE AT THE SCENE STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A WINDOW BREAK IN THAT WAY, FROM HEAT OR WHATEVER, AND IT WAS THEIR FEELING THAT IT HAD TO BE A 'DEFECT' IN THE GLASS. I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT TO DO, SO I CALLED 411 INFORMATION & ASKED FOR THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN CENTERVILLE. THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO THE DEALERSHIP IN HUBER HEIGHTS. I SPOKE TO THE GM, WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE & I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. KIA HAS A 60,000 MILE, BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, THAT IS BOASTED ABOUT AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY. I FIGURED WITH IT BEING A FLUKE, AND NOT LIKE BRAKES OR TIRES THAT HAD NORMAL WEAR & TEAR, THAT IT WOULD OF COURSE BE COVERED. THE GM PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT IT WASN'T, AND THAT THEY COULDN'T HELP ME BUT THAT I COULD BRING IT IN ON MONDAY, AS THE SERVICE CENTER WAS CLOSED AT THIS TIME. I ASKED IF HE COULD GIVE ME THE NUMBER TO THE CENTERVILLE DEALERSHIP, AS THEY GAVE ME THE WRONG NUMBER. HE STATED THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE THEIR NUMBER & THAT IT WASN'T CONVENIENT FOR HIM TO GET IT EITHER. I STATED THAT IT WAS LESS CONVENIENT FOR ME, AS I WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE STILL REFUSED TO HELP ME IN ANY WAY GET THE NUMBER TO THE OTHER DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. THE BACK WINDOW WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $265 - $440 TO REPLACE. WOW !! *TR
Power train, Aug 10, 2013
VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS EXPERIENCING A VIOLENT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR UNDER GENTLE ACCELERATION AND A LAG IN THE SHIFT WHERE THE ENGINE RACES FROM 2ND TO 3RD AS IF IT WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN GEARS. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT MAINLY SEEMS TO OCCUR UNDER GENTLE ACCELERATION IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 28, 2013
FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. CAR WAS 3 WEEKS OLD.
Electrical system, Jul 18, 2013
THE RADIO FROZE AND I COULDN'T CHANGE THE STATION, PROGRAM, OR USE THE CD. NEXT THE BACKUP CAMERA WOULDN'T WORK. AFTER DRIVING FURTHER, THE SIGNALS AND LIGHTS ON THE DASH CEASED TO FUNCTION. I DIDN'T DRIVE MORE THAN 8 MILES GOING TO AND FROM WORK AND TO THE STORE. IT HAS RESET ITSELF SO FAR AFTER THE CAR SAT FOR 3-9 HOURS. THE KIA TOLL FREE NUMBER REFERRED ME TO THE DEALER IN RICHMOND, CA WHERE I BOUGHT THE USED CAR, BUT WAS TOLD IT CANNOT BE FIXED UNTIL THE CAR IS BROUGHT IN WHILE TROUBLE OCCURS. IT HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES SINCE JUNE 26, 2013. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Service brakes, Jul 16, 2013, crash
I WAS SLOWING APPROACHING PARKING SPOT. VEHICLE STARTED SPEEDING RAPIDLY, I COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK BUILDING. MY SON WAS YELLING TO STOP, I SAID I AM TRYING AND CANNOT. THE AIR BAGS CAME OUT, CAR WAS SMOKING, BADLY DENTED. WINDSHIELD BROKE. WE WERE BRUISED AND SCRATCHED. THERE WAS OVER $9500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AND SPED OUT OF CONTROL. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 5, 2013
MY CAR IS BELIEVED TO BE RECALLED, BECAUSE THE MPG (MILE PER GAS?) IS SUPPOSED TO BE BETWEEN 30 TO 34 MPG WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS BETWEEN 20 TO 25 MPG ALL THE TIMES AND NEVER EXCEED TO 34 MPG OR MORE. THE DETAIL OR GUIDE SHOWED THAT IT CAN EXCEED TO 34 MPG. I THINK MAYBE THEY LIED OR DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT IS RECALLED UNTIL THEY FOUND OUT, BUT HOWEVER THEY MAILED ME A FORM AND WITH THE URL OF THE ONLINE FORM TO FILL OUT FOR THE GIFT CARDS TO BE RECEIVED. I DID, BUT THEY ARE WAITING FOR ME TO PICK UP THE GIFT CARD (ABOUT $120) AND I DID NOT WANT IT. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IS HOW THEY TREATED ME AS A DUMB CUSTOMER AND NOT HAVE THE MPG RECALL TO REPLACE OR REPAIR INSTEAD OF RECEIVING THE GIFT CARD. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO SAVE THE MONEY, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE REPLACE OR REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE. IF THE AUTHORITIES READ THIS, THIS MUST ACT NOW AND HAVE IT REPAIR OR REPLACE. THE GAS CONSUMED A BIT FAST AND WASTED MY MONEY, BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR
Steering, Mar 29, 2013
STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AT SPEED VERY DANGEROUS IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER PENETRATED THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SID HEADLIGHT AND CAUSED CONDENSATION, OBSTRUCTING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Electrical system, Jan 22, 2013
STARTED CAR SUNDAY AT 1:30 PM. NOTICES GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS BELOW EMPTY. BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE, PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE - NO INSTRUMENTATION AT ALL. TACH AT O, TEMP GAUGE AT O, FUEL GAUGE BELOW EMPTY. SHUT OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED ENGINE - STILL NO INSTRUMENTATION DROVE SLOWLY TO NEAREST GAS STATION TO FILL TANK (I DID NOT REMEMBER BUT I NEVER LAT THE TANK GET BELOW 1/4 FULL) TOO 2.6 GALLONS TO FILL. SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETERS NOT WORKING. ONLY DASHBOARD LIGHT WORKING IS TEMP (OUTSIDE) AND THE ECON LIGHT. MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH UNIVERSITY KIA - HUNTSVILLE, AL - LEFT CAR AFTER DESCRIBING PROBLEM. THE CALL MONDAY PM SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND SINCE IT WAS MLK DAY THERE WAS NO TECH SUPPORT AVAILABLE - NEED TO KEEP CAR OVERNIGHT. NO LOANER COULD BE AUTHORIZED. U. KIA CALLED TUESDAY PM AT 1:30 SAID THEY REBOOTED THE COMPUTER AND THE GAUGES APPEAR WORKING BUT THEY PROBABLY WOULD FAIL. KIA TECH SERVICES WERE TO ORDER AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FROM KOREA AS THERE WERE NONE IN THE US. WOULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO OBTAIN AND REPROGRAM. I REQUESTED A LOANER FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER BUT HE COULD NOT AUTHORIZE ONE. I REQUESTED HE ELEVATE THE REQUEST OT THE DEALERSHIP OWNER OR TO KIA MANAGEMENT. HE ([XXX]. KIA SERVICE PERSON) SAID HE WOULD FORWARD MY REQUEST AND CALL ME TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) THIS IS JUST NOT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE. I CANNOT BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS - ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS A MAJOR FAILURE IN A NEW AUTO THAT THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO REPAIR QUICKLY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *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
Air bags, Jan 17, 2013, crash, fire
MY SPOUSE HIT A LARGE MALE DEER HEAD ON AT APPX 55MPH AT ABOUT 5AM THIS MORNING. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE BLAST FROM THE AIRBAG BURNED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE SLEEVES OF HIS JACKET, THROUGH TWO LAYERS OF SHIRTS, AND CAUSED SECOND DEGREE BURNS OF HIS ARMS. HAD HE NOT BEEN WEARING SO MANY LAYERS OF CLOTHING, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE BURNS WOULD HAVE BEEN FULL THICKNESS THIRD DEGREE BURNS. WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE BURNS ON HIS ARMS AND THE BURNED GARMENTS. WHILE WE ARE PLEASED THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THE HEAT GENERATED AND DIRECTED TOWARDS THE DRIVER IS TOO HIGH AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, CAUSING SERIOUS BURNS AND CAUSING CLOTHING TO IGNITE WHICH CAN RESULT IN DEATH. THOUGH HIS CLOTHING WAS BURNED COMPLETELY THROUGH, THE FLAME DID NOT SPREAD IN HIS CASE. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD HAVE IGNITED THE DRIVER'S (MY HUSBAND'S) CLOTHING AND UNNECESSARY KILLED HIM AND BURNED HIM TO DEATH. THE BURNS HE SUFFERED ARE NOT MINOR AND WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE WITHOUT THE LAYERS OF CLOTHING THAT HELPED REDUCE THE INTENSITY. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR SUCH A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IN A FEATURE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT PASSENGERS AND DRIVER. CAUSING SERIOUS BURNS, OR WORSE, SETTING DRIVER/PASSENGER ON FIRE, IS HARMFUL AND POTENTIALLY FATAL. *TR
Service brakes, Jan 9, 2013
THE BRAKES ON ALL FOUR WHEEL ARE "EXTREMELY" SENSITIVE. THIS IS NOT BRAKES GRABBING, IT IS THE THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BRINGS BRAKING SYSTEM ON "HARD". IN A PANIC STOP SITUATION IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE LIGHT TOUCH TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WITHOUT OVER BRAKING. THE DEAL SAID THIS IS NORMAL. I SAY BS, THIS ISN'T MY FIRST NEW CAR. IN A NUT SHELL, THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS TO SENSITIVE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CORRECT STOPPING DISTANCE. *TR
Seat belts, Jan 9, 2013, crash
MY SON WAS SITTING IN THE RIGHT REAR SEAT OF A 2012 KIA SOUL WHEN IT WAS REAR ENDED BY A HONDA CRV GOING 35-40 MPH. THE IMPACT PUSHED THE KIA INTO THE SUBARU IN FRONT OF THEM SETTING OFF BOTH AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT. THE SEAT BELT MY SON WAS WEARING DID NOT LOCK OR RETRACT. HE HIT HIS HEAD ON THE BACK HEADREST WENT FORWARD INTO THE HEADREST ON THE FRONT SEAT AND THEN BACK INTO HIS HEADREST. THE SEAT BELT DID NOTHING TO RESTRAIN HIS MOVEMENT DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE KIA WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
Seat belts, Oct 17, 2012
I WAS TAKING MY AUNT TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE, SHE IS OLDER AND FORGOT TO ATTACH HER SEAT BELT. I HAPPENED TO LOOK OVER AND PULLED OVER SO SHE COULD ATTACH HER BELT. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR BUZZER TO INDICATE THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS NOT ATTACHED. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY WERE AMAZED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING. AFTER CHECKING MY CAR AND ANOTHER KIA OF THE SAME YEAR, I WAS ADVISED THAT NONE OF THE KIA SOULS HAVE A WARNING SYSTEM FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IS THIS A MISTAKE BY KIA OR ARE THEY NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ALARM INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS NOT ENGAGED? THE DRIVER SEAT WARNING DOES WORK PROPERLY. *TR
Tires, Wheels, Oct 15, 2012
THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COME WITH A SPARE TIRE OF ANY KIND. INSTEAD YOU ARE GIVEN A SMALL AIR COMPRESSOR AND A CAN OF TIRE SEALANT. THIS WILL NOT HELP IF YOU HAVE A COMPLETE TIRE BLOW OUT. IN THAT INSTANCE YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AND TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER. IF YOU ARE IN A REMOTE AREA, WITH NO CELL PHONE COVERAGE YOU ARE STRANDED. (IN MY CASE, THE DEALER DID NOT TELL ME THAT THERE WAS NO SPARE. I DISCOVERED IT AFTER I'D HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS.) *TR
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
Suspension, Aug 27, 2012
DRIVING SOUTH ON I65 BETWEEN GARDENDALE, AL AND BIRMINGHAM, AL. AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH - CLEAR DAY, SUNNY APPX 80 DEGREES AT 11:00 AM CST. CONCRETE ROADWAY WITH EXPANSION JOINTS. EXPERIENCED VIOLENT GYRATIONS - CAR LITERALLY BOUNCING OFF ROADWAY. SLOWED TO 50 MPH AND MOVED VEHICLE TO FAR LEFT LANE - ROADWAY WAS SMOOTHER AND CAR RETURNED TO A STABLE CONDITION. THE ORIGINAL LANE WAS ROUGHER. BUT THE CAR BECAME VERY UNSTABLE TO THE POINT OF FEARING THAT I WOULD LOSE CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL FREEWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENTS. NO APPARENT DAMAGE BUT I WILL HAVE THE SUSPENSION CHECKED BY THE DEALER. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 3, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, CONDENSATION WAS FOUND IN THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,300.
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 .
Electrical system, Jul 5, 2012
2012 KIA SOUL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COULD NOT BE SEEN. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED KIA NEEDS TO CHANGE THE BACKGROUND COLOR OF ITS INSTRUMENTS TO WHITE LETTERS OVER A BLUE BACKGROUND. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS HARD TO SEE, THE RED NEEDLES ON A BLACK BACKGROUND. *JB
Tires, Jul 5, 2012
FLAT TIRE. KIA SERVICE CLAIMED A METAL SHARD. PROBLEM IS SAME THING OCCURRED AGAIN 06/06/2012. FLAT TIRE. KIA SERVICE CLAIMED A METAL SHARD. THIS IS OCCURRING IN REGULAR TRAFFIC, NOT CONSTRUCTION ETC. CONCLUSION: TIRES AREN'T SAFE. *TR