2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,913 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Kia Soul:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #14

Jan 302023

Soul

  • miles
My car stalls and the engine light frequently stays on, my car is driving sluggish every since I got the recall adjustment my car has declined in performance and the engine light started coming on more frequently up until now, it's loud at and experiencing a great lost of power, the computer is giving the code PO420 reading as bank 1 oxygen sensor, I had intended changing out both sensors, but wasn't sure if it's a damaged engine effecting the Cadillac converter from the 2019 recall, # 19V120000 giving a false reading.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #13

Apr 032022

Soul

  • miles
I've had recalls on antiknock sensor and catalytic problems with vehicle I've had them repaired at kia dealerships to no avail I've had catalytic converter replaced with my own money because the solutions did not fix problems..still having severe issues.vehicles engine light blinks three times and goes into limp mode which prevents engine from accelerating past 45 mph

- Dahloneega, GA, USA

problem #12

Feb 232022

Soul

  • miles
The fuel tank is made in two parts a top and a bottom and assembled together along with mounting brackets. The joining seam leaks fuel when the fuel level is greater than half fuel. The fuel leakage is very close to the exhaust system creating a potentially dangerous Fire and Safety hazard. The design is flawed because the mounting brackets continually stress the joint which separates to cause fuel leakage.

- Punta Gorda, FL, USA

problem #11

Jan 282021

Soul

  • 92,680 miles
Within ten minutes of driving the car, it stalls when stopped at lights, stop signs, etc., geared in drive and low idle under normal driving conditions. When restarted it proceeds at a slow crawl and will not accelerate or will accelerate normally in 15 to 30 seconds. Had oil, oil filter and engine air filter replaced but did not correct the problem. Engine light comes on when it stalls. After six times of dying and not accelerating, it is now parked in driveway and fear it is too dangerous to drive. These incidents happened within one week with no prior operation issues. I have read countless complaints on this issue from other Kia Soul owners but no resolves, just astronomical repair bills with no fixes and no help from Kia, dealerships or the government.

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #10

Jan 272021

Soul

  • miles
In 2018 I known my 2012 Soul 1.6L consume too much engine oil about 1qt for 1,000 miles. I told it the Kia engineer. But the engineer said, it is caused by mileage over 140,000. I had added engine oil pretty often. I visited the Kia a couple of months later for engine stalling and and extra oil consuming. I asked for recall 19V120000. But they said it is not for my car. They told other repair about $ 400 instead.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #9

Apr 032020

Soul

  • miles
My car is stalling a lot I change the fuel injectors and it keeps stalling out.

- St. Cloud, FL, USA

problem #8

Jun 152020

Soul 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
I have been having my car stall at stoplight since the middle of May. I complained on here because there are no recalls on my car but on the same make and model some in the same year as mine does have recalls. Then it started to stall while driving. Then I took video on my phone of having to restart it and the rpms did not work at all. I took the advice from one of the phone numbers on here and they told me to take it to a Kia dealer.the Kia dealer said there is nothing wrong and no codes, and no lights on the dash. Today it died 3 times the third time was turning left onto a 55 mph road. Thank god the driver coming saw me and my hazards. Yesterday I had a friend drive it and it did the same thing died at lights and while driving at 40 mph. Today I called the Kia number and she said to keep taking it in to the dealer but I cannot afford a 90$ service charge every time. I know others were recalled. So I will keep complaining until my car gets on that list or I end up in an accident and have to get a lawyer.

- Umatilla, FL, USA

problem #7

Dec 012013

Soul

  • 10,000 miles
Please note NHTSA campaign id: 19V120000 originally this was restricted to the 1.6L Kia Soul 2012, but I have noted that my car has had an exhaust leak and gets hot, even if open a front window, get a nice whiff of exhaust, when the only car in the vicinity. And is stated as : what you should do: 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. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176. Summary: 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.

- Burbank, IL, USA

problem #6

Jun 252019

Soul

  • 120,000 miles
No engine warning lights on. At random, engine will lose power, but does not quit. No matter how much you try to accelerate, car only reaches approximately 30 mph. Observed to happen after turning ignition key and nothing happens. However, occurrence is random, and no engine warning code is given. Mechanics find nothing wrong, due to no warning code.

- Monroe, OH, USA

problem #5

May 182019

Soul

  • 107,000 miles
Occasionally, the check engine light would turn on and then turn off. For only a day or two, I could hear a rattling sound upon acceleration. While driving on the highway, the noise became much louder, the engine failed and began smoking. The car became inoperable. I had the car towed to an auto shop where they showed me that a piston rod had punctured the car's engine block. I learned that the car had been recalled under NHTSA recall number 19V120. I followed recall instructions and brought the car to a local dealer. The dealer refused to repair the car. They stated that there is no proof that the engine malfunction was related to the recall.

- Coconut Creek, FL, USA

problem #4

Apr 102019

Soul

  • 134,000 miles
First 2 times car didn't start on initial try, car started, tach dial wasn't functioning and car didn't want to go more than 25 mph. Car taken to Kia where they said car was fine but needed fuel inhectors cleaned and a serpentine belt. 2 weeks later car stalls at stop light, tach dial not functioning and car doesn't want to accelerate past 25 mph. Called Kia they were closing and would call back, never did. 1 week later at stop light again and car stalls, restart, tach dial not functioning, car doesn't want to accelerate again. Taken to Kia where scanner was put on and stated all was fine, even though the tach still was not functioning. Shut car off and restarted and all was fine.....

- Amityville, NY, USA

problem #3

Jan 012019

Soul

  • 155,000 miles
Engine leaking and cat catalytic converter doesn't seam right

- Paige, TX, USA

problem #2

Feb 272012

Soul

  • 100 miles
My Kia Soul 2012 has a noise at cold start that last 15 to 20 second, it feel like some thing loose. Dealer at sahara, las vegas Nevada had it for three times and 4 days each time and the first time they said was the timing tensioner and they replaced, but noise still there so they have two times more and at the end the said the noise is the oil pump, os if it was the oil pump why they replace the timing tensioner ? the noise still every day in the morning, plus smelling gas by the motor and infest the whole garage, so I took it to dealer at henderson, Nevada cause I found oil leaking by ocv ( oil control valve, so they replace two ocv and still leak oil, so I realized looking deeply that first two injectors are leaking gas, mixing with oil. They asked if oil got on the garage floor and when I said : no yet, so they said can not do any thing. So, the services manager there just put all this information to see if a person from manufacture or some one higher than then can look it up. I think when they replace timing tensioner they did not put right the liquid gasket, cause I see the leaking from that place. I have those problem since I bough the car and I waste my time three times 4 or 5 days each without my car, cause they don't rent cars or even give you one to move.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #1

Jul 012012

Soul

  • 0 miles
Faulty wiring harness. Car was 3 weeks old.

- Washington, DC, USA