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 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,700 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 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2011 Kia Soul Owner Comments

problem #9

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 #8

Nov 012019

Soul

  • 163,000 miles
The contact's mother owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal and parking brake simultaneously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who unplugged the cruise control unit. The contact was unaware of the failure diagnosis or what needed to be repaired. The contact notified bert ogden harlingen Kia (8321 w expy 83, harlingen, tx 78552) and was informed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000.

- Raymondville, TX, USA

problem #7

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 #6

Mar 202017

Soul

  • 160,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the brake lights failed to illuminate. In addition, the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact also stated that the ECM warning light illuminated and the head lights failed to illuminate. The failure occurred after the vehicle was serviced for a stop lamp switch and the under body corrosion recall. The failures were not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #5

Sep 192015

Soul

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. While driving 72 mph, the brake lights would not illuminate, the brakes seized, the front driver and passenger wheels smoked, the brake shifter interlock feature would not take vehicle out of park, and the cruise control would not deactivate even when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was previously remedied under NHTSA campaign number: 13V114000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic); however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

- Cary, SC, USA

problem #4

Jul 302014

Soul

  • 36,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contacted stated that while driving at approximately 10 mph and going over a pot hole, the brakes failed to respond and there was an abnormal noise coming from the brakes. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.

- Urbana , IL, USA

problem #3

Jul 122011

Soul 4-cyl

  • 1,000 miles

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

Driving about 45 mph on straight road when vehicle suddenly pulled out in front of me. Had to brake very hard. Brakes worked but made a horrible grinding-like vibration under the vehicle. The only analogy that comes close to describing it is it sounded as if there were hard rocks/gravel on top of the brake pads. Has happened every time since when engaging brakes for an emergency-like stop.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #2

Feb 032013

Soul 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
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 was probably causing vibration by involving other parts during wheel revolution. Notice parking brake lever seems to exceed top range and slip slightly to left. After first repair noticed loud knocking/rattle from right rear quadrant, verified by passenger. Discovered application of normal brake while moving at slow speed stopped most of rattle/knocking; this 2 days ago, then today's incident began again.

- Washington, IA, USA

problem #1

Jun 152011

Soul 4-cyl

  • 300 miles
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 constant stop-&-go traffic. The vehicle has narrowly missed crashing into other vehicles or structures numerous times. I noticed the problems within a couple of weeks of purchasing the new 2011 car. It feels very dangerous & scary & I'm very uneasy about driving in certain situations because I'm not sure if the car will respond properly in an emergency.

- Floral Park, NY, USA

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