2011 Kia SOUL

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Kia SOUL has 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: pulled into parking space, car accelerated and brakes went to floor went over the parking curb on to walkway, the corner of the store stopped me no damage to the wall, damage to the my car. kia soul, 2011 *tt. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 26 crash reports 29 injuries

270

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

45 complaints

17%

• PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE, CAR ACCELERATED AND BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR WENT OVER THE PARKING CURB ON TO WALKWAY, THE CORNER OF THE STORE STOPPED ME NO DAMAGE TO THE WALL, DAMAGE TO THE MY CAR. KIA SOUL, 2011 *TT
• WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED & NEED TO SUDDENLY STOP, THE VEHICLE BRAKES LOCK UP & DO NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME. BASICALLY, THE TIRES LOCK UP & THE CAR CONTINUES TO SKID & SCREECH. THIS IS ESPECIALLY AGGRAVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE DRIVES OVER A POTHOLE OR OTHER DEFECT IN THE ROADWAY WHILE BRAKING OR IN
• SECOND INCIDENT OF BRAKE (DEALER SAYS EMERGENCY BRAKE) CAUSING VEHICLE VIBRATION. THIS EXITING PARKING LOT. ON HARD SURFACE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EXPERIENCE VIBRATION WHICH RAMPS UP IN FREQUENCY THEN RAMPS DOWN. HAVE REPLACED EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOE. DEALER SAYS BRAKE PAD WAS DELAMINATING AND PIECE OF SHOE

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

“PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE, CAR ACCELERATED AND BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR WENT OVER THE PARKING CURB ON TO WALKWAY, THE CORNER OF THE STORE STOPPED ME NO DAMAGE TO THE WALL, DAMAGE TO THE MY CAR. KIA SOUL, 2011 *TT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

32 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HORN WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE FAILURE BUT NONE WERE SUCCESSFUL.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, HIS KNEE SLIGHTLY BUMPED INTO THE IGNITION KEY. AS A RESULT, THE KEY TURNED INTO THE OFF POSITION AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION WHE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO WARM, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOR THE

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HORN WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE FAILURE BUT NONE WERE SUCCESSFUL.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

28 complaints

10%

• THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE WIND SHIELD EXPLODED. EVERYTHING MELTED DOWN AND CAR IS TOTALED. THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY AN INTERIOR MALFUNCTION WITH THE CAR. WOULD LIKE KIA TO REPLACE THIS CAR WITH A NEW CAR BECAUSE THIS WAS A NEW CAR THAT I PURCHASED THROUGH KIA. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTER IN THE ENGINE CAUSED A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A DEFECT WITHIN THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE POORLY. TH
• AIR CONDITIONER I ACTUALLY FOUND THIS OUT BY ACCIDENT. I BOUGHT A PORTABLE EXPLOSIVE GAS DETECTOR FROM MENARDS (MODEL NUMBER: 240PGD) MAINLY FOR MY SISTER WHO LIVES IN A TRAILER PARK AND HAS BECOME SEVERELY ILL FROM A SEWER GAS SMELL IN THE COURT. JUST BEFORE I LEFT FOR MY SISTER'S PLACE, I THOUGHT

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

“THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE WIND SHIELD EXPLODED. EVERYTHING MELTED DOWN AND CAR IS TOTALED. THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY AN INTERIOR MALFUNCTION WITH THE CAR. WOULD LIKE KIA TO REPLACE THIS CAR WITH A NEW CAR BECAUSE THIS WAS A NEW CAR THAT I PURCHASED THROUGH KIA. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

25 complaints

• ON THE ABOVE DATE THE REFERENCED KIA SOUL WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN A FORD 350 PICK UP TRUCK RAN INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AREA. THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE COLLISION CAVED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR'S EXTERIOR SKIN AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR SKIN WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE
• MYSELF AND 13 YOA DAUGHTER WERE ON CR0151 WHEN WE WERE STRUCK BY A 1996 CHEVY S-10 ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR 2011 SOUL HITTING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER DOORS AND PILLAR BETWEEN THE RIGHT SIDE DOORS. NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF WITH THIS IMPACT AND WITH ALL THE AIR BAGS WHY DIDN'T ANY GO OFF? ...UPD
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER IMPACTING THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CONTUSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 22 crashes

“ON THE ABOVE DATE THE REFERENCED KIA SOUL WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN A FORD 350 PICK UP TRUCK RAN INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AREA. THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE COLLISION CAVED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR'S EXTERIOR SKIN AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR SKIN WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

• 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 CAUSIN
• 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 CAUSIN
• 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 TEC

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

“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 CAUSIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 270 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE, CAR ACCELERATED AND BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR WENT OVER THE PARKING CURB ON TO WALKWAY, THE CORNER OF THE STORE STOPPED ME NO DAMAGE TO THE WALL, DAMAGE TO THE MY CAR. KIA SOUL, 2011 *TT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HORN WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE FAILURE BUT NONE WERE SUCCESSFUL.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE WIND SHIELD EXPLODED. EVERYTHING MELTED DOWN AND CAR IS TOTALED. THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY AN INTERIOR MALFUNCTION WITH THE CAR. WOULD LIKE KIA TO REPLACE THIS CAR WITH A NEW CAR BECAUSE THIS WAS A NEW CAR THAT I PURCHASED THROUGH KIA. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: ON THE ABOVE DATE THE REFERENCED KIA SOUL WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN A FORD 350 PICK UP TRUCK RAN INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AREA. THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE COLLISION CAVED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR'S EXTERIOR SKIN AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR SKIN WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)