10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 2
Average Mileage:
43,615 miles

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problem #138

Jul 012023

Soul

  • miles
Power steering making clicking noise and loose steering

- Seaford , NY, USA

problem #137

May 152023

Soul

  • miles
Steering column rattles and makes cracking noise

- Seaford , NY, USA

problem #136

Jul 102023

Soul

  • miles
The vehicles steering wheel makes a clunking sound and there is a lot of play in it. It makes noise from left to right and vibrates at higher speeds. I have to drive with both hands gripping the wheel to hold it steady. I drive on the freeway at least once a week to visit my son and grandkids and now to nervous to drive it as it-??s an hour drive. I am a senior and cannot afford to pay out of pocket. I-??ve had my 2012 Kia Soul since 2013. I bought it used with 22,000 miles on it. I now have reached the 100,000 mile mark. I paid $20,000 for this vehicle over time and now I need Kia to step up and pay for this defect. Since it-??s happening in almost all their cars it must be their fault. I don-??t understand why they are not fixing the 2012-??s but all other years are covered. That is a mistake that will kill someone soon and then they will have a lot more problems than they are facing now. They recently offered me a steering wheel lock so that my car can-??t be stolen, that-??s funny cause I don-??t think that it would be worth stealing cause the steering is already compromised. Please get them to step up and take care of all their customers as it-??s their fault. The part is a little rubber star thing that costs $8 but labor is 400 dollars and up. Thank you for listening.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #135

Aug 252023

Soul

  • miles
2012 KIA SOUL - Steering Column makes horrible clicking / shaking noise when turning wheel. Car only has 36k miles on it. KIA has identified this repair nationally already and offered to extend warranty to 10 years / unlimited miles due to a failed MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING (MDPS) FLEXIBLE COUPLING. Turns out mine conveniently failed right outside of this 10 year mark and they allegedly mailed a letter in 2019 to a home address that I moved from 5 years ago, even though I have been to the KIA dealership many times since, was never told of this and they had my updated address for sure. I firmly believe this is a safety issue and life or death situation as this is causing my car to shake on the roads / highway and for the steering handling to be extremely frightening to me when driving. KIA HQ was called by me today on this and refuses to step up. They simply told me no exception and this is a customer paid repair. This repair is likely $ 500 and I am certainly not going to accept this when this should be a recall as it impacts steering !!!

- North Bellmore, NY, USA

problem #134

Jun 012023

Soul

  • miles
Beginning of June 2023 started noticing a problem with steering wheel, rattles and feels loose when turning left or right. Kia dealership said its the flex coupling needs to be replaced can get worse to the point can't steer car. This should be a recall on this car. I've never had a car that had problem with steering, can be pretty serious if it can cause an accident. Im getting it inspected, will cost approximately $400 to replace.

- San Tan Valley, AZ, USA

problem #133

May 012023

Soul

  • 99,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while making a turn, there was an abnormal clicking and grinding sound coming from the vehicle. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel drifted from one side to the next out of the hand of the contact. The steering wheel turned partially in one direction and aggressively before returning to center. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

problem #132

Jul 102003

Soul

  • miles
In our 2012 Kia soul, the steering wheel is giving out and sticking resulting in the wheel, not being able to be controlled by the driver as it-??s being yanked out of their hands. This is especially dangerous on the highway where there was almost an accident when my daughter was driving, the car and the car wheel stuck, and then abruptly yanked out of her hand. The Kia souls 2014 through 2016 have recalls on their steering wheel and the same issue is happening with our 2012 Kia soul. When we contacted Kia dealership and Kia customer service they told us that they would not help us, because it was not recalled and there was no current warranty for it past 98,000 miles but online it says 100,000 miles. Even though we are the third owner of the car we have received the car from her grandparents and have fold all recall information and then keeping tabs on keeping the car up-to-date to make sure that is mechanically sound, and always in good condition. We are scared for the dangerous situation that the steering wheel is putting us in to the point where we are not comfortable driving the vehicle. The Kia dealerships reached out to you about the safety concerns not only told us that they would charge us an obscene amount of money to bring it in for a diagnostic, but that they would not cover the cost to repair it, even if they found that it was related to the recall of the 2014 2016. The 2012s have the same steering an engine as the 2014 and 2016. We fear for the safety of our family, and Kia will not even look at it without charging us, and said that even if it was related to the same problem that they would not allowed to be covered under warranty, because there is not a specific warranty on the 2012 Kia soul model. I am reaching out to report that the same problem is happening with the 2012 version of the Kia soul in terms of the steering problems from recall on the 2014 and 2016 Kia souls. This is extremely dangerous and could weren-??t a lawsuit if an accident happens

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

problem #131

Jun 022012

Soul

  • miles
Steering column lock. I took the vehicle back complaining about the steering wheel having a rough spot in it they act like they could not find nothing while under warranty. Over the years it's progressively getting worse now the steering wheel will not lock when you pull the key out. While driving the car you can notice a click in the wheel in both directions where the key lock is trying to lock back in the position while driving. I called Kia and complained they said the vehicle was out of warranty how many other people has had this problem. When driving down the road I can feel in the wheel every time I move it right or left. My problem is what do you do if a steering wheel locks up running 60 70 mph down the road is other Kia owners having this problem has anybody been killed or because KEA is ignoring the problem with steering columns. The lock hasn't worked in two or three years now it is getting to the point that it has a real noticeable click and kink in the steering wheel. I think the government should check in on a KEA and make sure it's not an ongoing problem with other KEA's.

- Flatwoods , KY, USA

problem #130

Jul 272023

Soul

  • miles
Clicking and knocking when turning or just parked turning the steering wheel. I hear it-??s a steering coupler issue with lots of Kias and Hyundai-??s that can be dangerous. Did I miss a recall, how do I get this taken care of?

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #129

Jun 192023

Soul

  • miles
My 2012 Kia Soul has a problem with steering wheel make a clunking sound when move left to right and also when driving at speeds around 65mph steering wheel vibration we need a full recall on steering coupler.

- Cape Coral , FL, USA

problem #128

May 102023

Soul

  • miles
There is a loud knocking noise coming from the steering motor/mechanism underneath the dash. The steering feels unstable when I am driving and when the vehicle is not in motion, there is a loud thud noise and feel, when I turn the steering wheel.

- Placerville, CA, USA

problem #127

Jan 042023

Soul

  • miles
My steering column, when slightly turning it left and right is clicking hard. This is causing an issue while driving to and from work. As I commute one hour each way 5 days a week. If I hit a bump it jerks the wheel. If I try to drive a little past 65mph it clicks hard and fast. It is getting worse. I have not taken this in to a dealership yet, but I will be soon.

- Brooksville , KY, USA

problem #126

May 012023

Soul

  • miles
The steering wheel developed a looseness whether the car was on or off, and a clicking noise became apparent when turning the steering. When driving over 60mph the steering wheel began to shake uncontrollably. The problem has been confirmed by my mechanic to be the steering flexible coupler. According to online sources, i should have received an extended warranty on this part but did not. Though, it would not have helped due to the fact that the part failed 2 months after the extended warranty expired.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #125

Apr 132023

Soul

  • miles
Steering wheel jerks and moves suddenly when driving

- Chino Hills, CA, USA

problem #124

Apr 012022

Soul

  • 39,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle a clicking noise was present coming from the steering column while turning the steering wheel in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering coupler was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact noticed that after retrieving the vehicle that the noise had become louder and more pronounced when turning the steering wheel. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,000.

- Oxford, MS, USA

problem #123

Jan 042022

Soul

  • miles
Something is wrong with my steering wheel/column. when driving, the steering wheel has unusual movement, such as jerking and popping with the slight movement made by driving or sitting still while car is cranked up and if the road is not smooth, any slight bump, something in the steering column is popping. i am afraid for my life and others on the road if i lose control of steering. my mechanic has told me the problem is the "Coupler" that is a plastic ring. How can that be" this is dangerous. i only have 43K on my Kia and had to park it recently due to it getting worse due to being dangerous to drive. i see many complaints of this same problem. Why has it not been recalled" I love my Kia Soul. Please fix this problem.Thanks

- Elizabethtown, NC, USA

problem #122

Dec 092022

Soul

  • miles
My steering wheel clicks while I drive, hit bumps, turn it, it also locks sometimes when I turn it.this scares me to death I'm afraid I won't be able to control it it's going to snap off

- Trenton , GA, USA

problem #121

Feb 202023

Soul

  • miles
Clicking in the steering. Seems to be the flex coupler

- Norris, TN, USA

problem #120

Feb 102023

Soul

  • miles
Unknown. Piston rings have blown, oil leaking into muffler.

- Owatonna, MN, USA

problem #119

Jan 252023

Soul

  • miles
Apparently the steering coupler has started to fail in my 2012 Kia Soul. Thousands of reported failures but no recall from Kia" How can this be" When the $5 part fails, the car isn't able to steer. If this happens on the highway you could die.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

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