10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,325 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.

2012 Kia Soul miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2012 Kia Soul Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

Jan 152019

Soul

  • 119,300 miles

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

Had to replace engine

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #13

Apr 071999

Soul

  • 157,000 miles
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

- Pattonsburg, MO, USA

problem #12

Nov 052019

Soul

  • 92,000 miles
I was on the freeway, and all the lights lining the freeway were out. It was pitch black, and a cow had made its way into the middle of the freeway. It was struck by another vehicle and sent into the air, and flew right into my car. It is my understanding that one of adot's fences were down that was containing cattle. I was in a severe accident because of this, along with multiple other vehicles. I filed a police report and have that case number as well. I have photo and video evidence proof.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #11

Jun 172019

Soul

  • 11,000 miles

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

When put in reverse it makes a popping noise and sometimes as well in other gears contacted the dealship where I got it from in 6/19 and he said it should be fine, I contacted before my 30 day warranty expired as well but it is still doing it. I noticed it doing it a few days after I got it. The noise appears after the auto lock,

- Princeton, WV, USA

problem #10

Jun 182019

Soul

  • 56,000 miles
This problem is strange. I purchased a used 2012 Kia Soul this year. I took it to have the 60K maintenance done. The service agent at 2 different places verified and entered our VIN. It doesn't exist in their system. After searching for months for some type of help we found that the car was sold in guam. It is an american standard vehicle. It was verified by both service associates. Now this vehicle may be subject to a recall that has killed people. I can't have the work done because it doesn't exist in Kia's system. So now we don't know what to do. No one at Kia knows what to do. I have been given different numbers in multiple countries to call. I can't call any of them. It's not available on my carrier or any of the other carriers I've tried. The Kia service department staff have failed to provide any meaningful help. We are worried that the car will catch fire at some random point. Our engine light has come on multiple times.

- Golden, CO, USA

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problem #9

Mar 082019

Soul

  • 207,465 miles
My 2012 Kia Soul (base) with the 1.6L gdi recently had a problem on I-80 traveling between des moines, ia and denver, co. (there had been no prior symptoms) after reaching around 65 mph, the engine began misfiring emmiting obd error code 0336 indication a bad crankshaft position sensor. I stopped at the nearest autozone, bought a appropriate replacement, and installed the part in the parking lot. Upon ignition, the car immidiately began misfiring and died. On the second attempt, the car started and misfired; but it sent the same 0336 code then the tachometer died. Although the techometer died, the engine continued to idle (and run) without further misfires. Upon seeing this, I figured it was the cam shaft position sensors (as the symptoms are very similiar). I found, and replaced both engine mounted cam shaft position sensors, but no new symptoms untill I test drove the vehicle. During the test drive, the vehicle emmited 3 obd codes, and didnt start misfiring until the tachometer went over 3500 RPM. By then, I was doing a highway test on I-80 outside Lincoln, ne, and the car just died at around 55-65 mph. It emmited code 0336 for a bad crankshaft position sensor, 0565 for cruise control on signal malfunction (I have the base model, so there is no cruise control), and 0517 for battery temperature circuit malfunction. I managed to get the vehicle off the interstate, and back home where the problem changed again. Now it misfires untill the tachometer hits 3500, then the tachometer dies and the vehicle appear to run normal (dispite the reoccuring odb2 codes 0366, 0517, and 0565) it appears the engine heated up enough to burn out a brand new crankshaft position sensor, and cause problems with the battery. (and possibly the ECU as it now reports my non-existant cruise control is malfunctioning)

- Laurens, IA, USA

problem #8

Oct 182018

Soul

  • 100,000 miles

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

Blower to the ac/heater just quit working.. turned car off at gas station, got back in stayed and blower would no longer work.. seems to be a common problem in the 2012 Kia Soul.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #7

Jul 132018

Soul 4-cyl

  • 111,000 miles
My 2012 Kia Soul caught fire July 13th with my son driving. There was a ticking in the motor, a loud noise, and then flames. We have the extended warranty but Kia says it's an insurance issue and they can't/won't do anything about it. Now, not only are we without a car but we're stuck with payments for the next 2-3 years because insurance says it's not worth half or what we still owe on it. Thank god my son was okay but Kia needs to be accountable.

- Powhatan, VA, USA

problem #6

May 102018

Soul

  • miles
Car would not start, it was found that the wire covers and wires were disinigrated. It was taken to shop and repaired. Then two weeks later happened again, then again on 5/10/18 the car would not start again. Vehicle was towed to shop and mechanic had advised that it was the same issue but different location, this time was worse and was told that if the vehicle would have started that it would have possibly caught on fire and endangering the safety to myself and other occupants. Was also informed that Kia uses a soy based peanut oil coating for the wires. He informed that this would attract animals. I have spent over $900 for these repairs. The mechanic advised that Kia is aware of this and there are no recalls as far as he is aware of.

- Pasadena, MD, USA

problem #5

Jan 062018

Soul

  • 55,000 miles
Backup camera stopped working just out of warranty.

- Middleton, WI, USA

problem #4

Aug 022017

Soul

  • 80,400 miles

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

Driving my car about 65 mph down a long stretch highway in the woods heard this loud noise saw black in the right upper side of my wind shield. Thought I hit a black bird safely pulled over got out saw no blood on the car or feathers. Looked closer a black plastic mold had come off and caused the loud noisy got in my car went back down the road and located it was broke up pretty good. Come home did some research it is called a pillar. It was the passenger side. This could cause a serious accident. Please look into this. Their was no reason the pillar should have become detached. When I did my research I noticed this has happened to other people not just me.

- Palm City, FL, USA

problem #3

Apr 192017

Soul

  • miles
Rear camera disabled when washed

- Lynchburg, VA, USA

problem #2

Nov 232016

Soul

  • 50,000 miles
This is a standard 6 speed vehicle. Reverse is in the same location as 1st gear. The only difference is that one must pull on a slider control in the shift handle to get into first. Historically, reverse was always the gear farthest away from the driver. I have on multiple occasions thought I was in first but was accidently in reverse. I caught the mistake before there was any accident. As a suggestion, reverse should be in the same location for all cars in America. Actually, the entire gear pattern should be the same for all standard cars in America to prevent an accident.

- Slidell, LA, USA

problem #1

Sep 272011

Soul 4-cyl

  • miles
Vehicle suffered sudden loss of performance, would only accelerate sluggish, RPM would not go beyond 2500 RPM, had to get vehicle towed to dealership, lost driveability.

- Lubbock, TX, USA

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