CarComplaints.com Notes: Look past the horrible hamster advertising campaign and you'll find a vehicle that is comfortable to drive, roomy and reliable. Just don't expect to set any MPG records on the highway (a side effect of driving a car shaped like a lunchbox).

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,374 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Kia Soul electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 Kia Soul Owner Comments

problem #18

May 142023

Soul

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brake lamps and park light issues. Wiring harness seems to be overheating causing lamps to keep blowing. No park lights working at all so it seems to be a electrical issue.

- Harrells, NC, USA

problem #17

Apr 142023

Soul

  • miles
After getting fuel, the car stalls immediately. I have to push the gas petal and give it several pushes to get it to go. Sometimes it stalls while driving. It will turn off randomly especially after pressing the break pedal. It turns off, and all the warning lights turn on. Then it totally turns off all sources of power to it. Bluetooth microphone has not worked since I got it with 30 miles on it. Now it has 136,000.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #16

Mar 132017

Soul

  • miles
Theres something really wrong with my engine and other mechanical issue. I've been to Kia dealership and they wont fix it because theres no recalls that have been announced. The sensor lights keep turning on and once I check it it says nothing is wrong, but the light is still on and it will turn off whenever it feels like it, also the smell of the engine smells like its burning and the car get really hot as if the heater was on.

- Lakewood, CA, USA

problem #15

Aug 282020

Soul

  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car was idle for only 3 days battery was only 12 30 days old car wont start not matter light were on, radio would play air would come on. Car could blow horn and all, car just would get gas or anything at all. Call my tow he jump her and boom she start right away. Went to johnson automative on calder and he did her run she was fine said was battery but I did not have anything on in vechil all she was in my driveway per hurricane laura no filter noithing showed up at all but battery but she only just bought battery last year so hmm

- Beaumont, TX, USA

problem #14

Aug 202020

Soul

  • 118,000 miles
Brake light will not illuminate when depressed. Break light switch not functioning properly. ESC/stability control light stays on continuous while car is in motion or stopped. Tail lights burn out every 6-12 month, as well as head lamps burning out often.

- Upper Arlington, OH, USA

problem #13

Nov 042015

Soul

  • 75,000 miles
The horn only works when it wants to, I can not find a reason for this. Does not mater if car is running or not, weither it is turning or not. It is very dangerous, since there have been times that I wish it would have worked in some serious driving situations and it did not.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #12

Mar 272019

Soul

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Intermittent horn. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. in doing research, I have noticed a lot of complaints for the same thing. Why has this not been recalled? this is clearly a safety issue! doesn't matter if the car is sitting, driving, turning, anything. The horn only seems to work when it feels like it. Very dangerous!

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #11

Jan 012015

Soul

  • 151,000 miles
A couple years ago, the driver side door had issues opening after being unlocked. This was frustrating, but not a safety issue. In the past several months, the door has opened while driving a couple times. This same issue was recalled in the Kia sorento at the end of 2017 for the same reported issue and the same part replacement. Kia has told me that there is nothing they can do to fix the issue as my car was not included in the sorento recall, even though it is the same exact issue. This was not a major issue until the door started openeing while driving. This is something that needs to be recalled by Kia and fixed in all affected vehicles.

- Ravenna, OH, USA

problem #10

Sep 012018

Soul

  • 107,000 miles
107000 miles on the car. Started car in the morning and it made a whining noise. Didn't think much of it because it was colder than it had been. After warming up a few minutes drove down my road about a mile and the battery light came on. Turned around at went back home. Popped the hood and smelled strong burning smell. Problem was found to be the alernator. When I pulled it to replace it noticed that the windings inside the alternator were burt and chared/melted.

- Apalachin, NY, USA

problem #9

Mar 282018

Soul

  • miles
I was unaware that my car was under a recall. I am active duty air force and did not receive an email stating my car needed to be fixed. I found out through my pcs website.

- Apo, AP, USA

problem #8

Jan 012015

Soul

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Bad wire in steering wheel, which makes horn malfunction frequently(if I repeatedly turn wheel, horn will work). This started three years ago. Car has been well maintained, and I see no recall for this issue. I also have a bad sensor under the passenger seat, which allows airbag to be on or off when passenger is in seat(doesn't seem to work).

- Bingham, ME, USA

problem #7

Dec 022016

Soul

  • 94,000 miles
Brake lights quits working, cruse doesn't work, radio is affected

- Morrison, OK, USA

problem #6

Dec 182015

Soul 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the horn failed to operate intermittently without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000. Updated 03/30/16. Updated 04/14/16.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #5

Mar 102015

Soul

  • 83,000 miles
Ocassionaly the horn will not work.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #4

Oct 102012

Soul 4-cyl

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the horn malfunctioned sporadically and without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 40,000.

- St Louis, MO, USA

problem #3

Apr 042012

Soul

  • 5,000 miles
The contact owned a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the driver was driving 5 mph when she crashed into another vehicle. The driver exited the vehicle and the vehicle engulfed in flames. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an insurance company lot. The insurance company determined that the fire was not a result of the crash, but rather the result of defective wiring. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 5,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- West Haven, CT, USA

problem #2

Nov 272011

Soul

  • 9,000 miles
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 failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and the current mileages were approximately 9,000.

- Eagle River, AK, USA

problem #1

Jul 012011

Soul

  • 725 miles
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 when making a turn. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 725.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

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