2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,598 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.

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problem #20

Sep 212023

Soul

  • miles
Got their recall letter, parked the car. It came up for inspection last December 2023. No inspection station would inspect it due to the fire hazard. It has sat since, not on the road. It runs and drives fine in my driveway. Now I've had no vehicle since December. I'd like it fixed. Or have them just buy it back off me.

- Pittsburgh , PA, USA

problem #19

Jan 242024

Soul

  • miles
Even though Kia recalled my vehicle because of possible fire risk, they do not arrange the remedy in a timely manner. The recall is open since September and I have to park my car outside, and have to drive it with fire risk. My complaint is for -??delay of remedy-??

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #18

May 142023

Soul

  • miles
Brake lamps and park light issues. Wiring harness seems to be overheating causing lamps to keep blowing. No park lights working at all so it seems to be a electrical issue.

- Harrells, NC, USA

problem #17

Apr 142023

Soul

  • miles
After getting fuel, the car stalls immediately. I have to push the gas petal and give it several pushes to get it to go. Sometimes it stalls while driving. It will turn off randomly especially after pressing the break pedal. It turns off, and all the warning lights turn on. Then it totally turns off all sources of power to it. Bluetooth microphone has not worked since I got it with 30 miles on it. Now it has 136,000.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #16

Aug 282020

Soul

  • 0 miles
Car was idle for only 3 days battery was only 12 30 days old car wont start not matter light were on, radio would play air would come on. Car could blow horn and all, car just would get gas or anything at all. Call my tow he jump her and boom she start right away. Went to johnson automative on calder and he did her run she was fine said was battery but I did not have anything on in vechil all she was in my driveway per hurricane laura no filter noithing showed up at all but battery but she only just bought battery last year so hmm

- Beaumont, TX, USA

problem #15

Apr 212019

Soul

  • 177,000 miles
I was driving down the road and it just cut off on me. No warning signs, no lights on the dash, all guages were fine. I towed it home and the next day I examined it to see why it did that. I noticed the water pump leaking so I changed that with the timing belt and thermostat but it kept over heating. I had a pressure check and air pocket check and everything came back fine. I had a diagnostic test done and nothing is showing up. What if I was on the interstate and it did this?

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #14

May 012018

Soul

  • 60,000 miles
My horn intermittently works - this is a safety issue. On blogs many others report the same issue.

- Huntingtown, MD, USA

problem #13

Mar 052019

Soul

  • 94,000 miles
So I parked my vehicle in my garage shut my car off. I got out of my vehicle and shut my garage door. I took garbage bags out to my shed and returned to the garage sat down on chair to take off my boots and I heard loud glass shatter sound. I looked around and noticed my rear window was blown out! I couldn't believe it. No cause other then possible rear defrost issue. Which I had them on prior to parking.

- Elton, PA, USA

problem #12

Mar 272019

Soul

  • 160,000 miles
Intermittent horn. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. in doing research, I have noticed a lot of complaints for the same thing. Why has this not been recalled? this is clearly a safety issue! doesn't matter if the car is sitting, driving, turning, anything. The horn only seems to work when it feels like it. Very dangerous!

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #11

Feb 212019

Soul

  • 110,850 miles
I was driving my car on the Florida turnpike at about 70 miles an hour she. It started making a loud clanking noise. Then the oil light came on, the car immediacy made a loud pop, like a gun shot and then the engine shut off while driving. I coasted to the side of the road where I was stranded for awhile. I did get a tow to a mechanic who looked at the car and said the motor was blown. I was not able to get my car fixed in Florida so I brought it back to Georgia where I reside. A mechanic in vwrgia currently has the car and agrees the motor is blown. He removed the oil pan and the car does have oil. Belief is that the oil pump failed causing catastrophic engine failure. Vehicle has had no mechanical problems at all and I have been the only owner of this car since purchase in 2011. Awfully strange that the 2012 models are under recall with the same engine size but not the 2011. This incident occurred on February 21. 2019.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #10

Jan 012015

Soul

  • 151,000 miles
A couple years ago, the driver side door had issues opening after being unlocked. This was frustrating, but not a safety issue. In the past several months, the door has opened while driving a couple times. This same issue was recalled in the Kia sorento at the end of 2017 for the same reported issue and the same part replacement. Kia has told me that there is nothing they can do to fix the issue as my car was not included in the sorento recall, even though it is the same exact issue. This was not a major issue until the door started openeing while driving. This is something that needs to be recalled by Kia and fixed in all affected vehicles.

- Ravenna, OH, USA

problem #9

Jul 072016

Soul

  • 50,000 miles
Sunroof is not usable as it comes off of the tracks. Unable to close tight enough due to damage which promotes leaking.

- Hanover, PA, USA

problem #8

Jan 052018

Soul

  • 112,000 miles
I was checking my VIN and it says it has been recalled but we have no information from the Kia dealer about it we have this car for over 2 years now and still we have no news about this recall from Kia dealer

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #7

Dec 082017

Soul

  • miles
The car won't start after putting gas in several times. After 3 tries and around 10-14 minutes it will start. There are several forums online regarding this haooenedijf to Kia Souls.

- Round Lake Heights, IL, USA

problem #6

Mar 042017

Soul

  • 33,000 miles
Help! the horn in my Kia Soul doesn't work, but it is intermittent. Sometimes it works and some times it doesn't. I noticed the problem just recently, but I think its been a problem for longer. When I use the keyless entry fob to lock the vehicle, the first click locks it, and the 2nd click sounds the horn. Sometimes the 2nd click doesn't cause the horn to beep and this is when I've noticed the horn not working when I use it manually in the vehicle. But over time, it starts working again. Its making me nervous that the horn could not work when I need it the most. I've talked to the dealership and they said they've not heard of this problem, but if one googles the internet there are all sorts of forums and videos of Kia owners with the same problem. This should be investigated.

- Cayce, SC, USA

problem #5

Sep 292016

Soul

  • 40,000 miles
I was driving my 2011 Kia Soul on a city street at approximately 25 mph when, at about 8:30 am, the sunroof suddenly shattered. I heard what sounded like a gun shot and felt and saw glass coming down on and around me. I was able to pull over immediately. I felt very startled and shaky, but was physically unharmed. I got out to see what had happened and found that sunroof bowed upward at the crack. Nothing struck my vehicle, on the sunroof, or anywhere else. Driving and road conditions were good. It was a clear and mild morning with a temperature of 56 degrees. Upon researching online, I found numerous other similar incidents documented from other drivers of Kia Souls, other Kia models, and other carmakers with spontaneously "exploding sunroofs."

- Asheville, NC, USA

problem #4

Oct 012011

Soul

  • 58,000 miles
When it rains the floorboards fill with water (literal puddle) front and back, mainly on the drivers side. I purchased this vehicle new and have been the only owner, I did not notice the issue until after the mileage warranty had slightly expired. I contacted the dealer once I noticed the issue and they of course wanted $$$ to even look into the issue. In researching for a resolution on the internet this appears to be a very common issue with these vehicles. The main concern is health safety and possible electrical issues that can result from so much interior wetting. I had contacted the dealer again (bill byrd Kia panama city fl) to ask if there was any new information concerning this issue and spoke with and allan and a chris at the site and was hung up on by both individuals.

- Chipley, FL, USA

problem #3

Sep 122015

Soul

  • 36,000 miles
A bad bearing, caused air pressure in left tire to inflate to a dangerous psi, that could blow tire, causing an accident at high speed and death. The vehicle was being used to drive 525 miles, from dallas to Kansas City, mo. Driving conditions were dry, with 85 deg outside temp. After driving 200 miles, the left tire heated up to a dangerous 45psi, causing the tire indicator light came on. We stopped to check tire and air pressure, found dangerous psi and released air to safe 32psi. After 150 miles, the left tire again re-inflated to dangerous 44psi again. We immediately pulled into walmart, replaced two front tires, thinking it was a worn left tire, but tire was graded at a #4, half wear. Both new tires were at proper inflation. After 175 miles, light came on again, driving on turnpike, at 65mph. Air psi was 46psi on the left tire, again. We removed 14 pds of air and drove 50 miles home. After taking it to a certified Kia service garage, they said it was the bearing and replaced the left bearing, at no charge, saying it was under warranty. The vehicle was not in an accident nor was the bearing damaged in any service repair process, indicating only reason for failure of bearing as poor manufacturing and/or installation. Bearing is either made with inferior material or not properly lubed/packed.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #2

May 022012

Soul

  • 10,100 miles
Speed control - the speed control did not disengage on numerous occaisions, when the brake was gently applied or tapped, speed control did not disengage and the speed actually increased. The vehicle is currently with the dealer. We were able to demonstrate replicate the problem with the service technician driving the vehicle. Horn - does not activate seems to occur when vehicle warmed up. Was able to demonstrate to dealer stability control light activates and does not turn off intermittently

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #1

May 102011

Soul

  • miles
Since purchasing my Kia Soul on Feb.28, 2011 I have replaced the windshield twice! yes, it was hit but small stones both times, but one would think the windshield should withstand such impact. Any minor thing that hits the windshield appears to be leaving big paths out of the windshield and causing damage. To me, this is a safety issue and needs to be addressed.

- Haverhill, MA, USA