Kia Soul Complaints (2012)
516 consumer complaints on file.
- #11324301May 12, 2020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,668
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11323481May 6, 2020STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE DETECTED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11320642April 9, 2020ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CONNECTING ROD FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WILLIAMS KIA OF ELMIRA LOCATED AT (951 COUNTY RD 64, ELMIRA, NY 64903), AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,341.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11319301March 26, 2020ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR APROX. 45 MIN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH UPON EXITING THE FREE WAY THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT, AT THAT TIME THE 2012 KIA SOUL WOULD NOT START. A FEW HOURS LATER I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A VERY BAD BANGING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT A SHORT DISTANCE TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE TO TEST THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THERE WAS A CODE FOR P0420 "CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD". I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A KIA SERVICE (WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS). THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT IT DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 - KIA RECALL # SC176 THIS RECALL SEEMS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11318796March 20, 2020ENGINE
MY 15 YR OLD SON (PERMITTED DRIVER), MY HUSBAND, AND I WERE DRIVING WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO JERK, AND THEN STALLED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC! LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT TOWED TO A KIA SERVICE CENTER. I HAVE AN OPEN RECALL SC176. THE DIAGNOSIS FROM KIA FELL UNDER ALL OF THE CRITERIA & SYMPTOMS WITH THE RECALL. THEY FIRST DIAGNOSED IT AS A TIMING VALVE, SENT A QUOTE ORDERED PARTS,THEN CALLED 2 HOURS BEFORE I AM SUPPOSED TO PICK IT UP, AND SAID MY ENGINE NOW NEEDS REPLACED. IT WON'T BE WARRANTED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE A "CODE" DID NOT APPEAR. MIND YOU THEY FOUND ALL OF THIS OUT AFTER THEY DID THE ECU UPGRADE WITH THE RECALL. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT A CODE, BUT FIRST IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED, THEN NOW I NEED A NEW ENGINE, AND THE RECALL IS STILL OPEN FOR MY VIN. NO ENGINE COMPRESSION TEST WAS DONE, AND IT TOOK ME CALLING KIA HEADQUARTERS FOR THEM TO OWN A TECH LINE CASE. I WAS TOLD BY HEADQUARTERS THEY CAN ONLY REQUEST INFO VIA EMAIL, THEN GET A VOICEMAIL SAYING THAT THEY "CALLED" THEM, AND THEY SAID THEY CANNOT GET THE CODE. NOT BUYING IT, AND THIS WAS A SAFETY OCCURRENCE THAT HAPPENED WITH MY SON DRIVING. WAITING ON THE DIAGNOSIS NOW FROM KIA AFTER THE 4TH REQUEST TO THEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11316913March 8, 2020STEERING
CLUNKING AND CLICKING IN STEERING. SAME AS SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11310638February 21, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR IS IN P AS RK. CAR IS NOT MOVING. CAR IS NOT ALREADY STARTED. OFTEN THE CAR WON'T START. INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON WHEN KEY IS PLACED IN IGNITION, BUT WONT TURN OVER. YOU HAVE TO WIGGLE THE SHIFTER OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WILL EVENTUALLY START. CAR GURUS HAS OVER 150 IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS. IT APPEARS IT'S A COIL OF SOME TYPE. MULTIPLE VEHICLES VARIOUS YEARS. HE DEALERSHIPS OFTEN JUST RECOMMEND REPLACING STARTER OR BATTERY. BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS. IT'S A PRODUCT DEFECT. SHOULD BE A RECALL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11302369January 27, 2020STEERING
2012 KIA SOUL NOW MAKING A CLUNKING, CLICKING OR POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT WITH SLIGHT PLAY IN THE WHEEL. UPON RESEARCHING ONLINE WHAT IT COULD BE I HAVE DISCOVERED COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB OF THE SAME ISSUE. PEOPLE BEING TOLD BY MECHANICS IF NOT FIXED IT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO STEERING FAILURE, BUT THAT KIA REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR RECALL THESE VEHICLES DESPITE BEING AWARE OF THE ISSUE FOR YEARS NOW.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11301769January 25, 2020ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11299673January 16, 2020STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL IS SHAKING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11298991January 13, 2020STEERING
I OWN A 2012 KIA SOUL + WITH 39,000 MILES ON IT. I RECENTLY HEARD A CLUNKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING. RESEARCH SHOWS IT TO BE THE STEERING COUPLER. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS COUPLER IN OTHER KIA MODELS BUT NOT THE 2012 KIA SOUL. THE DANGERS OF LOOSING STEERING BECAUSE OF THIS COUPLER ARE THE SAME NO MATTER WHAT VEHICLE YOU ARE DRIVING I THEREFORE CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THE 2012 KIA SOUL AS WELL AS ANY MODELS WITH THIS SAME COUPLER. SEEMS TO ME KIA IS GETTING OFF THE HOOK FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND I HOPE YOU WILL SEE THAT THE DANGERS INVOLVING THE FAILURE OF THIS PART IS SAFETY MATTER THAT DESERVES A RECALL FOR THE 2012 MODEL AS IT HAS FOR OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME COUPLER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11297671January 7, 2020ENGINE
ON 2-2-17 I WAS DRIVING ON STATE HIGHWAY EE, WHICH IS A 2 LANE BLACKTOP WHEN MY KIA ENGINE DIED, I COASTED TO A NEARBY DRIVEWAY AND GOT OFF OF THE ROADWAY THE BEST I COULD, A TOW TRUCK HAD TO BE CALLED, AS THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CATALYSTIC CONVERTER HAD BLOWN APART AND WAS CLOGGING THE EXHAUST.. IN DOING RESEARCH, I SEE THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1.6 ENGINES, BUT MINE IS A 2.0, WHY ARE THERE NO RECALLS ON THE 2.0 ?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11297674January 7, 2020UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY UVO RADIO IS FINE 1 DAY AND THE NEXT DAY IT NO LONGER HAS SOUND AND THE CLOCK DOESN'T WORK, I HAVE DONE A HARD RESET WITH NO RESULTS. WHEN RESEARCHING HOW TO FIX, I FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SOULS, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR SO ,ANY COMPLAINTS ? I JUST GOT IN IT 1 DAY TO LEAVE HOME AND IT NO LONGER WILL WORK.. THE BACK UP CAMERA HASN'T WORKED FOREVER AND I BOUGHT THIS KIA BRAND NEW AND IN 2019 WHEN I WAS WASHING THE KIA AT THE CAR WASH THE COVER OF THE BACKUP CAMERA FELL OFF AND THEIR IS CORROSION ALL OVER IT, I WOULD THINK FROM A FAULTY SEAL
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11296973January 3, 2020STEERING
CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN. FAILURE OF STEERING COUPLING
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11297013January 3, 2020ENGINE
I WAS ON THE WAY OUT OF TOWN WITH MY FAMILY, I WAS TRAVELING ON A DARK COUNTY ROAD AT NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING 70 MILES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A PIECE FLEW UNDER THE CAR AND OIL STARTED SPRAYING OUT AND MY CAR STARTED SMOKING AND WHEN I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN GO IN NEUTRAL SO THAT I COULD MOVE IT TO THE GRASS. I WAS STRANDED IN A SMALL TOWN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH FAST MOVING VEHICLES AND 18- WHEELERS WITH MY 2 KIDS. IT WAS VERY SCARY IT TOOK THE POLICE 15 MINUTES TO COME OUT. VERY UNSAFE WAITING ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IN THE DARK. THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE SO I HAD TO LEAVE IT ON SIDE OF THE ROAD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11296741January 2, 2020ENGINE
CAR LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. HAD CAR TOWED TO GERALD KIA NORTH AURORA TO HAVE THEM EVALUATE CAR TO SEE IF IT WAS A RESULT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RECALL. IN 9/ 2017 DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT WITH A STORED ERROR CODE OF P0420. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RUSH TO REPLACE THE CONVERTER SINCE IT WAS RELATED TO EMISSIONS. I WAS QUOTED A REPAIR FEE OF $1630. REPLACED CONVERTER IN 4/2018 AND AGAIN IN 3/2019 AT REPUTABLE SHOP. DEALERSHIP IS STATING THE CAR IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL SINCE I AM "OUT OF WARRANTY". CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH P3301 AND P3303 FAILURE. ACCORDING TO RECALL I HAVE A STORED P0420 CODE AND ACTIVE P300X CODES. THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE SHORT BLOCK ACCORDING TO THE RECALL DOCUMENTS. DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO ISSUE A TECH LINE AND HONOR RECALL. NOHERE ON THE PAPERWORK DOES IT STATE THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE IN "WARRANTY"- IF THAT WAS THE CASE WHY DID THEY INFORM ME IN 9/2019 THERE WAS A RECALL AND MY COMPUTER SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED.- I WOULD BE OUT OF "WARRANTY" NOWHERE ON THE RECALL PAPERWORK KIA FILED DOES IT STATE THAT ONLY KIA CAN REPLACE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. VERY FRUSTRATING THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT CONSUMER DRIVEN. I HAVE ESCALATED THIS TO KIA CORPORATE AND AM WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSE TO SEE IF THEY WILL HONOR THEIR RECALL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11290603December 21, 2019ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
PLEASE NOTE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 19V120000 ORIGINALLY THIS WAS RESTRICTED TO THE 1.6L KIA SOUL 2012, BUT I HAVE NOTED THAT MY CAR HAS HAD AN EXHAUST LEAK AND GETS HOT, EVEN IF OPEN A FRONT WINDOW, GET A NICE WHIFF OF EXHAUST, WHEN THE ONLY CAR IN THE VICINITY. AND IS STATED AS : WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE CATALYTIC OVERHEATING PROTECTION ENGINE CONTROL UNIT LOGIC TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IN ADDITION, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL ALSO BE REPLACED IF IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED. DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF ANY DAMAGE, THE ENGINE MAY ALSO BE REPLACED, FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-333-4542. KIA'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS SC176. SUMMARY: KIA MOTORS AMERICA (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2012-2016 KIA SOUL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.6L GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION (GDI) ENGINES. HIGH EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURES MAY DAMAGE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN ABNORMAL ENGINE COMBUSTION AND DAMAGE TO ONE OR MORE OF THE ENGINE'S PISTONS AND POSSIBLE PISTON CONNECTING ROD FAILURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11290264December 20, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WHILE CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL, THE OWNER NOTICED THE OIL LEVELS WERE VERY LOW WEEKS AFTER REPLACING THE OIL, AND THE OIL APPEARED TO BE DARK. ALSO A VALVE NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICART KIA (4255 S. HAMILTON RD, GROVE, OH), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13409487. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11290085December 19, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WHILE CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL, THE OWNER NOTICED THE OIL LEVELS WERE VERY LOW WEEKS AFTER REPLACING THE OIL AND THE OIL APPEARED TO BE DARK. ALSO, A VALVE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICART KIA (4255 S. HAMILTON RD, GROVE, OH), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13409487. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11289279December 16, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PALMEN KIA OF KENOSHA (5301 75TH ST, KENOSHA, WI 53142, (262) 671-1877) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED ADDITIONAL REPAIRS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0