2010 Kia Soul Owner Complaints

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11728848

Incident

Feb 4, 2026

Gas tank mounting are rusting and are not the correctly plated

NHTSA ID

11691093

Incident

Oct 2, 2025

Hello, I would like to report that someone attempted to steal my 2010 Kia Soul. The incident occurred on [XXX], in San Jose, CA 95111. As a result of the attempted theft, there is damage to the car’s steering wheel and ignition. Please let me know if additional information or documentation is needed to assist with this report. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11630982

Incident

Dec 14, 2024

Scanner can not communicate with the ecm/tcm U0101 code shifting issues starting issues

NHTSA ID

11570456

Incident

Feb 3, 2024

I bought car being financed in sac,ca. August 8, 2023. Took back referred to mechanic round corner. Brake rotor issues fixed front this was August 14 noise still exist took back turned back rotors scraping noise pulling to left took to other automotive repairs ,inspections shocks original 2010 208,000 miles , brakes rotors scratches need replacing , pads, sway bar crack or been welded, sway bar link needs replacing crack control arms bushings cracked,windshield wipers needed replacing, check engine light I replaced coils and spark plugs, valve cover gasket leak ,front tires worn . Brakes sway bar axle issues could have have tragic accidents rollover cause injury to self passengers pedestrians and other vehicles. Even though car sold as is there's safety issues that should had been addressed before sold to anyone . I been to midas, Les Schwab, AAA inspection jiffy lube, orange Grove automotive, sales person said I need to take to another mechanic they use in elk Grove sine the mechanic they been using not fixing properly or in denial what's wrong, he said they aren't mechanics it's illegal that I brought car back to lot . I left it there feel unsafe after finding out what all wrong when mechanic said stop noise and salesmen said help me if I take to their people .I don't want car cause what else been overlooked it's about moneys I've spent rentals wage losses Safety first neglected . I feel they need to make deal right another car comparable in performance safety what this car suppose to be or give me $1500 back quash deal cause I don't like disrespect they have given me to be professional defrauding me not concerned my safety just$$$. Then say I illegally left car in lot but not that they illegally sold me an unsafe vehicle. I got full coverage insurance before taking car.

NHTSA ID

11555882

Incident

Aug 8, 2023

I was driving down the interstate on my way to work when my check engine light turned on and began flashing rapidly. I then began to get over to the shoulder and into safety when I heard what sounded like a loud dropping sound come from the engine and smoke started coming out of the hood. When I got pulled over to the shoulder, I ran and popped my hood and saw that the whole battery was on fire, within minutes the whole car was engulfed and I was told to get back for my safety by someone that stopped.

NHTSA ID

11551804

Incident

Oct 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2010 Kia Soul. The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 172,470.

NHTSA ID

11526618

Incident

Jun 9, 2023

Mileage

172,470 mi

The airbag light is on, and the passenger airbag light is off. Kia dealership performed the electronic scan, and is obtaining message with defect in OCS sensor defect and electrical voltage. Kia said needs Kia part #95910-2K000 that Kia has discontinued. There is no way to fix the air bag issue as Kia has discontinued the part, and no dealer has the part in the United States. The vehicle is available for inspection. Dealer has confirmed the problem, but can't repair because the Kia part has been DISCONTINUED. The part that has been discontinued is the Control Module, Module Assembly Air Bag.

NHTSA ID

11470926

Incident

Jun 4, 2022

The contact owned a 2010 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH when she crashed into the rear passenger side of another vehicle due to an illegal turn damaging both vehicles. The contact stated the air bags did not deploy nor did the seatbelt retract. The contact stated when the paramedics helped out the vehicle the air bag fell out of the steering wheel. The contact was taken to the hospital for back pain. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

NHTSA ID

11470315

Incident

Mar 12, 2019

The contact owns a 2010 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, a semi-truck entered her lane of traffic which forced her vehicle onto the shoulder of the highway. The contact stated that the truck did not hit her vehicle; however, the vehicle shut off with the check engine, ABS, and brake warning lights illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle but the vehicle failed to restart after multiple attempts. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to her residence and then to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 280,000.

NHTSA ID

11467850

Incident

Feb 14, 2022

Mileage

280,000 mi

---COMPONENT OR SYSTEM ISSUE-- Not sure yet. Based on google, it's possibly either a "faulty fuel pump relay" or "defective ignition switch". ---SAFETY ISSUE-- Potential for grave injury if a child or someone got in the car and put it in drive There were many young children AND teenagers in attendance. --REPRODUCED? or CONFIRMED? NOT OFFICIALLY-- Only that it has happened twice now. 1st occurrence--First week of July 2021 Heard the car running hours after the car was parked and the key removed. Unlocked the driver door, put the key in and turned it forward, then back and car turned off. Double-checked it by starting car and then turning off and sitting a few minutes. Nothing else happened at that point. ---2nd occurrence-Sunday, July 25th, 2021 On camping trip...at campsite Someone in the group heard a car running. It was the 2010 Kia Soul I went to get the key and returned to the (unlocked) car and turned the car off. ---INSPECTED? Not yet ---WARNINGS? None that I noticed. Though, shortly following the incident, while driving (first 5 minutes of starting car), the OD light came on. I pulled over, turned off car, and the light did not come on again.

NHTSA ID

11426984

Incident

Jul 25, 2021

Started my 2010 kia soul ➕, it had a loud ruff idle to it & felt like it was choking each time i hit gas pedal. AutoZone scanner gave codes of c1513 brake lite switch implausible & code c1503 esc switch input low. Pls help me. Ive had a family emergency & need my vehicle to get my dying family memeber

NHTSA ID

11424514

Incident

Jul 9, 2021

Car was being driven on a neighborhood street at 25 mph a block and a half from home. The car just stopped. The electric system still worked but there was no engine activity whatsoever. There were no warning lamps or sounds prior to this event. The oil had been changed a week prior to this happening. Evidently from reading various reports online of the same type of events happening to other owners, it seems this is a known engine issue for multiple models of Kia cars. The car had to be towed to a garage where it was inspected and diagnostics were run. Dianostics determined: "found metal beneath valve cover and camshaft damaged due to apparent lack of oiling - no compression present." This car had approximately 150k miles on it and was a 2010 Kia Soul ! 4.2 0L 1975CC FI GAS N 2 model. The repair fix is a complete engine replacement at a cost of 5-6 THOUSAND dollars. Insane.

NHTSA ID

11417762

Incident

May 12, 2021

1. STATIONARY - A PIECE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE OFF. MY HUSBAND WENT TO CHECK WHAT WEIRD NOISE THE CAR WAS MAKING WHEN HE TURNED THE WHEEL FULLY AS WE WERE TRYING TO EXIT OUR PARALLELED PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF OUR HOME. WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD, HE LOOKED AROUND AND ASKED ME TO TURN THE WHEEL FROM SO HE COULD HEAR EXACTLY WHERE THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM. WHEN HE HEARD IT WAS ABOVE THE RIGHT WHEEL AREA, HE LOOKED DEEP, REACHED IN AND ENDED UP FINDING A PORTION OF THE SPRING. A DAY OR TWO LATER, BOTH SIDES ARE MAKING THAT NOISE, THOUGH NO DISLODGED PORTION FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS BEEN FOUND YET. 2. STATIONARY WHEN DISCOVERED - TIRE BEGAN LOSING AIR AT A RATE WHICH TOOK 1 FULL DAY. HAD THE TIRE CHECKED FOR HOLES, FOUND 1 AND REPAIRED IT. NEXT-DAY HOWEVER, SAME PROBLEM. CHECKED AGAIN, NO HOLES. NEXT DAY THE SAME. FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO TIRE SALES SHOP WE ALWAYS USE. IT WAS THOROUGHLY EXAMINED AND A CRACK WAS FOUND ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE WHEEL, WHICH MEANS IT WAS NOT FROM BRUSHING AGAINST THE CURB ONE TOO MANY TIMES. 3. HORN HAS ONLY EVER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID

11407751

Incident

Apr 7, 2021

Mileage

89,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY TYPICAL ROUTE TO WORK AND MID TURN, WITH MY CAR ON, ON A CITY ROAD, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I HAD TO STOP MY CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART IT TO GET IT TO UNLOCK. VERY SCARY THING TO HAPPEN, VERY WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN A MORE DANGEROUS PLACE, LIKE THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11390546

Incident

Jan 26, 2021

Mileage

199,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON; DIAGNOSED AS CANISTER PURGE VALVE.

NHTSA ID

11364516

Incident

Oct 8, 2020

Mileage

72,500 mi

I EXPORTED MY KIA SOUL 2010 TO GERMANY DUE TO MILITARY MOVEMENT ORDER. AS THE CAR IS NOW REGISTERED IN GERMANY; I DID NOT GET ANY NOTIFICATIONS FROM KIA US ABOUT THE RECALL SC098AM REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, RATED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY GERMAN CAR DEALER IS TRYING TO HELP ME GET THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CHANGED, BUT IS UNABLE TO GET THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FROM KIA. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY TO ASSIST ME IN GETTING THE NECESSARY WORK FROM A SAFETY RECALL DONE IN GERMANY? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP

NHTSA ID

11342468

Incident

Jul 22, 2020

Mileage

27,000 mi

I NEED TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM BECAUSE IT'S LOOSE, AND WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED 1,000 MILES AGO.

NHTSA ID

11317358

Incident

Mar 7, 2020

Mileage

101,000 mi

PROBLEM STARTED AFTER HAVING CLUTCH REPLACED IN APRIL 2019. WHEN IN 2ND GEAR, CAR HESITATES AND BEHAVES AS IF IT ISN'T GETTING GAS; IE: DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING GAS. I TAKE FOOT OFF OF GAS AND THEN PUT BACK ON THE PEDAL OR HAVE TO CHANGE GEARS BEFORE CAR ACCELERATES.

NHTSA ID

11311076

Incident

Apr 20, 2019

Mileage

145,000 mi

I WAS PLAYING THE RADIO, WHEN THE SOUND WENT OUT. NOW WHENEVER I TURN THE RADIO ON, I SOMETIMES HEAR A POPPING SOUND AS IF IT IS GOING TO TURN ON BUT THEN IT GOES SILENT AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS EITHER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11308045

Incident

Sep 17, 2019

Mileage

74,500 mi

A LOUD POPPING SOUND GOES OFF AND THE RADIO SYSTEM AND SPEAKERS ALL GO OUT WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO CAUSING RANDOM LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE CAR TO TURN OFF THE PANEL ONES. I CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOTED ON CARS.COM THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. MY FEAR IS THAT A FIRE MAY HAPPEN DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11302443

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE RADIO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BILL DODGE KIA DEALER (877-583-6175, LOCATED AT 3 SAUNDERS WAY, WESTBROOK, ME 04092) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11301110

Incident

Jan 10, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE BRAKES ARE NOT BRAKING THE WAY THEY SHOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND THEN STALLED TO STOP I WAS ON I-285 GOING HOME TO JASPER GA ALSO I'VE NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER CAN GO INTO ANOTHER GEAR W OUT BRAKE ON

NHTSA ID

11269830

Incident

Oct 20, 2019

Mileage

158,000 mi

CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK, AND CANNOT BE STARTED DUE TO SAFETY FEATURE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO START CAR IN GEAR. TEMPORARY FIX WAS DISCOVERED TO BE SHIFT ALL THE WAY TO 2ND GEAR, THEN BACK TO PARK. TAKING TO KIA DEALER TOMORROW TO HAVE 'SWITCH' CHECKED FOR POSSIBLE SHORT. CAR WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED. PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE. ONCE IN CARPORT THE NEXT MORNING (10/9). THEN IN PARKING LOT AFTER RETURNING FROM SHOPPING IN GROCERY STORE (10/12).

NHTSA ID

11268222

Incident

Oct 12, 2019

Mileage

136,649 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CAR WAS HIT TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND. A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT AND COULD NOT AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE. TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT WAY ON CITY STREET. INSURANCE HAVE TOTALED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11208079

Incident

May 5, 2019

Mileage

191,284 mi