RoadVitals

2011 Kia Soul Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Dec 2, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 193 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Kia Soul submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesFuel systemVisibility
Filed Dec 2, 2023

When you press the break the car stalls, when you fuel up the car it will not start. Autos unlimited in Rolla, Mo sold it as inspected with "" nothing "" on the inspection sheet. This dealer is claiming they will "fix: this issue. It cost me 480.00 to fix it. --- evap canister purge vent- evap leak- fuel malfunction- canister solenoid.

NHTSA ID
11558072
Incident
Nov 28, 2023
Visibility
Filed Nov 24, 2019

HAD JUST STARTED DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET, HADN'T EVEN SHIFTED INTO 4 TH GEAR, AND THE REAR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. NO INTENSE HEAT OR COLD, NO FLYING DEBRIS.

NHTSA ID
11282072
Incident
Nov 24, 2019
Mileage
96,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 15, 2015

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. TEMPERATURE HAD BEEN AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING OVERNIGHT. WHEN DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE AND SHUT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARD FROM THE CENTER OF THE WINDOW DOWN TO THE POINT OF THE REAR WIPER. OUTSIDE EDGES OF WINDOW ALSO SHATTERED/DISINTEGRATED ALONG THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE SEAL.

NHTSA ID
10810472
Incident
Dec 15, 2015
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Oct 16, 2015

3 PROBLEMS :#1 THE WHEEL PRESSURE LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN IDLE AND WHEN I'M DRIVING IT BUT, MY TIRES ARE AT THE SAME PSI. MAKES ME KEEP THINKING SOMETHING IS WRONG. #2 IN THE WINTER TIME THE RUBBER MOLDING AROUND DOORS STICKS BAD AND STARTS TO PULL ITSELF AWAY FROM THE GLUE KEEPING IT ON. #3 DURING THE WINTER MY WINDSHIELD KEEPS ICING UP REALLY BAD (ON THE INSIDE !). I CAN ACTUALLY USE MY ICE SCRAPER ON IT. I EXPECT THIS ON THE OUTSIDE OF A CAR BUT, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS ON THE INSIDE, DID THEY FORGET TO SEAL IT CORRECTLY?

NHTSA ID
10782866
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Visibility
Filed Feb 2, 2015

THE REAR WINDOW ON MY 2011 KIA SOUL SHATTERED AFTER CLOSING THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR WAS NOT SLAMMED OR CLOSED WITH ANY FORCE AND THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF AT THE TIME. IT WAS LIGHTLY SNOWING AND AROUND 20 DEGREES F WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE WINDOW WAS BROKEN FROM THE CENTER, BUT THE GLASS BOWED OUTWARD AND THE EDGES OF THE WINDOW HAD CRUMBLED AND FALLEN OUT AS WELL. THE GLASS IS VERY THIN AND LOOKS TO BE OF POOR QUALITY AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY CAR WINDOWS BREAKING EVERY TIME I EXIT THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680481
Incident
Feb 1, 2015
Mileage
67,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Mar 30, 2014

I WAS DRIVING AND A PEBBLE HIT MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CHIP WHICH TURNED INTO A CRACK. I GOT IT FILLED AT SAFE LITE. 3 DAYS LATER ANOTHER PEBBLE HIT MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CRACK. IN THE PAST 3 YEARS MY WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN HIT & CRACKED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING 18 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CHIP OR CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD.OBVIOUSLY KIA SOUL WINDSHIELDS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET THE COST OF A NEW WINDSHIELD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10575713
Incident
Sep 12, 2011
Mileage
3,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 29, 2013

THE INSIDE OF MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS FULL OF WATER. I ONLY HAD THE CAR SINCE AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554134
Incident
Nov 29, 2013
Mileage
34,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Apr 15, 2013

MY HUSBAND WENT OUT TO OUR 2011 KIA SOUL AND OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR AND GOT SOMETHING OUT OF THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR NORMALLY, NO FORCE WAS INVOLVED. WHEN HE DID THE REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW SHATTERED ALL THE WAY ACROSS CRUMBLING AND IT BLEW A HOLE IN THE GLASS. WE WENT TO OUR LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP THAT WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND IT WAS A SATURDAY SO ONLY THE SALES STAFF WAS THERE. WE WERE TOLD TO COME BACK ON MONDAY WHICH WAS TODAY AND MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO GET THEM TO REPLACE THE WINDOW AS A WINDOW SHOULDN'T JUST SHATTER WHEN YOU CLOSE ONE OF THE DOORS UNLESS THERE IS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE WINDOW SO HE FOLLOWED UP WITH THE KIA CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LINE AS HE WAS INSTRUCTED AND THEY ALSO SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED WE COULD FILE IT WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. WE HAVE A DEDUCTIBLE OF $500 SO WE ARE OUT OF POCKET $320 FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THEY AREN'T STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. WE DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND THERE ARE SIMILAR STORIES TO OURS REGARDING KIA SOUL WINDSHIELDS. THE GENTLEMAN THAT HELPED MY HUSBAND AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE EXACT THING HAPPENED WITH ANOTHER CUSTOMER'S KIA SOUL APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO AND THE SAME DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THAT WINDSHIELD AS WELL. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND WE ARE NERVOUS HAVING OUR CHILDREN IN A CAR THAT THE WINDOWS ARE GOING TO SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTER IN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508343
Incident
Apr 13, 2013
Mileage
47,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 1, 2013

1. MY KIA SOUL WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY A ROCK WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. MY WINDSHIELD NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH WILL COST ME $250.00 INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE .COULD THIS HAVE BEEN DUE TO CHEAP KIA GLASS OR POOR BOXY DESIGN AS I READ FROM OTHER KIA SOUL OWNERS ON THE KIA FORUM? IF SO, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS MY OFFICIAL COMPLAINT. 2. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO STATE MY COMPLAINT THAT THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AS IT HAS THE ABSOLUTE WORST BLIND SPOTS OF ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN AND I AM ALWAYS AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN CHANGING LANES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10500995
Incident
Feb 28, 2013
Mileage
34,300 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 4, 2012

GOT IN CAR 7:30 AM, WHEN I CLOSED DRIVER DOOR, HEARD GLASS FALLING. REAR HATCH WINDOW WAS SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. CAR WAS PARKED UNDER A CARPORT, NO INDICATION FOUND OF ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAVE HIT THE WINDOW. CAR IS PARKED QUITE A DISTANCE FROM THE STREET. REAR DRIVER DOOR WINDOW WAS OPEN ABOUT 1", SO NO PRESSURE BUILDUP. NO GRASS CUTTING IN THE AREA, TEMPERATURE 70'S - 80'S. *TR

NHTSA ID
10473745
Incident
Sep 3, 2012
Mileage
26,450 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2012

SAFETY ISSUE - PASSENGER FRONT SIDE GLASS BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS A GLASS DEFECT THAT WOULD OF HAD GREATER CONSEQUENCES IF THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. KIA (CASE NUMBER [XXX]) REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM AND INSURANCE STEPPED IN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10470890
Incident
Aug 15, 2012
Mileage
12,916 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 16, 2012

I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 18 MONTHS, AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS WAY TOO EASILY. I'VE OWNED 23 CARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ONE BEFORE. THIS KIA IS GETTING ITS 2ND WINDSHIELD TODAY. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING ACTUALLY HIT IT, BUT HAVE HEARD A 'POP' SOUND EACH TIME, AND THE WINDSHIELD SPLITS ACROSS. BOTH TIMES IT HAS ORIGINATED ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RH SIDE. THERE ARE CHIPS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CRACK LIKE A ROCK *MAY* HAVE IMPACTED THERE, BUT IT SEEMS TO CRACK WAY TOO EASILY AND NEEDS TO BE THICKER OR STRONGER IN MY OPINION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10451903
Incident
Nov 11, 2011
Mileage
14,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 22, 2011

I HAVE A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD THAT IS GETTING BIGGER- DO NOT RECALL A ROCK HITTING IT... *TR

NHTSA ID
10426753
Incident
Sep 22, 2011
Mileage
8,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 1, 2011

2011 KIA SOUL WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES HAD PEBBLE HIT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW AND CHIPPED IT IN SEVERAL SPOTS. AT 6,000 MILES, PEBBLE HITS WINDSHEILD THAT CHIPS AND CRACKS WINDSHEILD. SAFETYLITE COULD NOT REPAIR AND CRACK IS GROWING. ALSO, FRONT AND SIDES OF CAR PAINT IS CHIPPING AT AN ALARMING RATE. PAINT CHIPING IS A GROSS QUALITY ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE SUBSTANDARD GLASS IS A REALLY GROSS SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN RESULT IN INJURY AND OR DEATH. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF THESE DEFECTS AND SHOULD BE THROUGHLY INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10422940
Incident
May 15, 2011
Mileage
100 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 6, 2011

TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY 35 THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. NO APPARENT FOREIGN OBJECT APPEARS TO HAVE HIT THE GLASS, IT JUST EXPLODED INTO A THOUSAND PIECES.

NHTSA ID
10418823
Incident
Jul 5, 2011
Mileage
10,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 6, 2011

THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK LAST WEEK, ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. TODAY WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, SAME THING. I WAS NOT TAILGATING, I WAS NOT FOLLOWING ANY BIG TRUCKS...NOTHING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 13 YEARS AND HAVE NOT HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME BEFORE. COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT. I THINK THERE IS A DEFAULT WITH THE GLASS. I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT AND DRIVING AS I ALWAYS DO, AND TWICE IN A WEEK? UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID
10411309
Incident
Jul 6, 2011
Mileage
1,100 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 6, 2011

PARKED IN FRONT OF COFFEE SHOP ABOUT 3PM. WINDY BUT WARM (NOT HOT OR COLD WEATHER). CAME OUT TO FIND BACK WINDOW SHATTERED. INSURANCE CO. CALLED, WILL REPLACE WINDOW W/ $250 DEDUCTIBLE FEE. NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY INVOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10394418
Incident
Apr 2, 2011
Mileage
2,800 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .