2010 Kia SOUL

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Kia SOUL has 193 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (13% of all complaints), specifically: brand new kia soul 2010 - less than 500 miles. electrical fire in the door panel while driving. towed to dealer, who replaced door panel. led light transmitter in speakers shorted and melted plastic inside door. response from kia (advised by dealer) was "don't leave the speaker lights in on posi. ⚠️ 18 fire reports filed.

18 fire reports 24 crash reports 22 injuries

193

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

25 complaints

13%

• BRAND NEW KIA SOUL 2010 - LESS THAN 500 MILES. ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE DOOR PANEL WHILE DRIVING. TOWED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED DOOR PANEL. LED LIGHT TRANSMITTER IN SPEAKERS SHORTED AND MELTED PLASTIC INSIDE DOOR. RESPONSE FROM KIA (ADVISED BY DEALER) WAS "DON'T LEAVE THE SPEAKER LIGHTS IN ON POSI
• I PURCHASED A 2010 KIA SOUL, AND 8 DAYS LATER SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL, DOOR LOCK, AND WINDOW. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE WINDOW MOTOR. THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS UNPLUGGED AND I WAS ALLOWED TO DRIVE IT HOME. THE DEALER
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING AT A LOW SPEED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 9 fire reports

“BRAND NEW KIA SOUL 2010 - LESS THAN 500 MILES. ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE DOOR PANEL WHILE DRIVING. TOWED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED DOOR PANEL. LED LIGHT TRANSMITTER IN SPEAKERS SHORTED AND MELTED PLASTIC INSIDE DOOR. RESPONSE FROM KIA (ADVISED BY DEALER) WAS "DON'T LEAVE THE SPEAKER LIGHTS IN ON POSI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

22 complaints

11%

• I JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2010 KIA SOUL. I AM VERY CAREFUL AND TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CARS, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THE DOOR PANELS ON THIS VEHICLE TEND TO SCRATCH UP WITH THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH OF EVEN A FINGER NAIL. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE HOW HORRIBLE IT GETS WITH NORMAL WEAR, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF OBSESSIVE
• FACTORY INSTALLED WINDSHIELD CHIPS AND CRACKS FROM THE EDGE EASILY AND OFTEN. I HAD THE FIRST WINDOW REPLACED AT ABOUT 5,000 MILES AND THAT WINDOW WAS A GENUINE KIA WINDOW INSTALLED AND NOW IT HAS TWO SMALL CHIPS AND A CRACK FROM THE EDGE OF THE GLASS AND ONE BIG CHIP AT 8,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT CHAN
• OUR NEW SOUL+ WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2009 NEW. IT WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATE THAT SCRATCHES AND SCUFFS WERE COMING OUT ON THE INTERIOR PANELS. THE SLIGHTEST SCUFF OR EVEN JUST SCRATING WITH A FINGERNAIL WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE A PERMANENT SCRATCH. VERY POOR QUALITY PANELS AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER OWNERS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2010 KIA SOUL. I AM VERY CAREFUL AND TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CARS, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THE DOOR PANELS ON THIS VEHICLE TEND TO SCRATCH UP WITH THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH OF EVEN A FINGER NAIL. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE HOW HORRIBLE IT GETS WITH NORMAL WEAR, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF OBSESSIVE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

20 complaints

10%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE CONTACT HIT A DEER WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO CRUSH INWARD. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4276.
• WE REAR-ENDED A 2004 EXPEDITION IN OUR 2010 KIA SOUL AT 20MPH. MY WIFE SUSTAINED A "TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY" AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS BEING CUT IN HALF (BOTH SIDES) BEFORE THE SENSORS WERE ACTIVATED. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE WIRING HARNESS CUT IN THE ACCIDENT AND THE CAR. MY 39 YEAR OL
• I PURCHASED A 2010 KIA SOUL AND HAD IT ABOUT TWO MONTHS WHEN WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING COLUMN CAME OFF. I TOOK PICTURES, AS I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE WHEELS, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP. I KEPT PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE WAY, THAT WAS WHEN I REALIZE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 15 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE CONTACT HIT A DEER WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO CRUSH INWARD. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4276.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

16 complaints

• I AM THE OWNER OF A 2010 SOUL. THE CAR ROLLED DOWN A HILL IN 1ST GEAR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON TWICE, THE 2ND TIME INTO A RIVER. NOW EVERY TIME IT IS DAMP OR COLD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STICKS [STAYS ON WHEN THE LEVER IS DISENGAGED] AND I END UP DRIVING WITH THE BRAKE ON. THE ENTIRE CAR SHAKES UNTIL
• I AM AN OWNER OF A 2010 KIA SOUL, PURCHASED IN JULY 2009. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED WITH THE SLIGHTEST MOISTURE ON ROAD, CAR COULD BARELY HANDLE AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE TRACTION LIGHT AND LOW AIR PRESSURE LIGHT CONSISTENTLY CAME ON AND OFF. WAS TOLD IT WAS "NOT A PROBLEM" BY DEALER AND WOULD WEAR OFF. MY CA
• THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON IN MY 2010 KIA SOUL AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS THEY CLAIM IT IS DUE TO A FENDER BENDER THAT OCCURRED ON THE REAR RIGHT BUMPER AND REFUSE TO REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON THE COMPUTER ABOUT THE BRAK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I AM THE OWNER OF A 2010 SOUL. THE CAR ROLLED DOWN A HILL IN 1ST GEAR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON TWICE, THE 2ND TIME INTO A RIVER. NOW EVERY TIME IT IS DAMP OR COLD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STICKS [STAYS ON WHEN THE LEVER IS DISENGAGED] AND I END UP DRIVING WITH THE BRAKE ON. THE ENTIRE CAR SHAKES UNTIL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

15 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE FAILURE CONTINUED DURING THE TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER DISPENSING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK; THE FUEL CONTINUOUSLY SPRAYS OUT. A
• 4-8-10 AAA TELLS ME THE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT ENGAGING WHEN THEY CHANGED A FLAT TIRE. I TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT BRAKES AND PATCH TIRE. DEALERSHIP DID NO REPAIRS. 4-26-10 2010 KIA SOUL SE2, BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN CAR AHEAD STOPPED CAUSING MY CAR TO REAR END THAT CAR. SPEED UNDER 15
• TL* THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY RENTED A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY SMALL AND HIGH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DESIGN OF THE PEAL CAUSED DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS BECAUSE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE FAILURE CONTINUED DURING THE TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER DISPENSING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK; THE FUEL CONTINUOUSLY SPRAYS OUT. A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 193 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: BRAND NEW KIA SOUL 2010 - LESS THAN 500 MILES. ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE DOOR PANEL WHILE DRIVING. TOWED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED DOOR PANEL. LED LIGHT TRANSMITTER IN SPEAKERS SHORTED AND MELTED PLASTIC INSIDE DOOR. RESPONSE FROM KIA (ADVISED BY DEALER) WAS "DON'T LEAVE THE SPEAKER LIGHTS IN ON POSI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: I JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2010 KIA SOUL. I AM VERY CAREFUL AND TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CARS, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THE DOOR PANELS ON THIS VEHICLE TEND TO SCRATCH UP WITH THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH OF EVEN A FINGER NAIL. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE HOW HORRIBLE IT GETS WITH NORMAL WEAR, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF OBSESSIVE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE CONTACT HIT A DEER WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO CRUSH INWARD. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4276.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I AM THE OWNER OF A 2010 SOUL. THE CAR ROLLED DOWN A HILL IN 1ST GEAR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON TWICE, THE 2ND TIME INTO A RIVER. NOW EVERY TIME IT IS DAMP OR COLD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STICKS [STAYS ON WHEN THE LEVER IS DISENGAGED] AND I END UP DRIVING WITH THE BRAKE ON. THE ENTIRE CAR SHAKES UNTIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)