KnownCarProblems2010 Kia Soul Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 135 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Kia Soul, most often about the electrical (18% of complaints, typically around 64,000 miles). It is 12th of 16 Soul model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2010 Kia Soul problems
Electrical
24 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Soul. On two occasions, the wheels locked and the vehicle stalled. The contact also mentioned that the battery failed after one year. When the vehicle was taken to the dealer, they only offered to recharge the battery. A day later, the battery failed. The authorized dealer did not replace…
Wiring connector connected to the radiator fan assembly melted. I had replaced the radiator fan assembly a year earlier to its failure. Upon the repair shop I took my car to calling the dealer, it was mentioned this is a common problem by the dealer. The melting of this connector caused the engine to start over…
Body and structure
21 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 3,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
2010 Kia Soul special edition number one: all 4 passenger doors have multiple nicks and scratches on their interior, especially the front doors. The seatbelts scratch the doors. The plastic inner doors are too soft and mar too easily.
I purchased a 2010 Kia Soul ! On 12/31/2009 and within 2 months I noticed 10 -12 paint chips on the front and hood of the car. I drive in a city that only see some snow and some salted. Salted roads should of not caused this much paint chipping. I added a paint protection film to the front of the car at a cost of $587…
Air bags
21 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
We rear-ended a 2004 expedition in our 2010 Kia Soul at 20mph. My wife sustained a "traumatic brain injury" as a result of the air bag wiring harness being cut in half (both sides) before the sensors were activated. I have photos of the wiring harness cut in the accident and the car. My 39 year old wife will now spend…
As I was driving north on I-95 it had started to rain. I was in the left lane of a two lane highway going 60 MPH in a 70 MPH zone when an 18 wheeler went by me going 85 MPH or more. It pushed water on the road over into my lane and I felt my wheels begin to move. I let off the gas and gripped the wheel. My ESC light…
Brakes
15 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: pedals and linkages.
As I was driving north on I-95 it had started to rain. I was in the left lane of a two lane highway going 60 MPH in a 70 MPH zone when an 18 wheeler went by me going 85 MPH or more. It pushed water on the road over into my lane and I felt my wheels begin to move. I let off the gas and gripped the wheel. My ESC light…
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the middle rear seat belt retractor failed and the brakes made a noise when depressed, causing the brakes not to engage at a normal stopping distance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failures however, the dealer did nor perform a…
Engine
14 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles.
I own a pre-owned 2010 Kia Soul! With approximately 47k miles, clear title and no accidents. On sunday 12/29/13 my car experienced sua (sudden unintended acceleration). I was driving approximately 35 MPH, approaching a rotary, when my car suddenly accelerated on its own. The rpms spiked up to 4000-5000 and my car…
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Soul. On two occasions, the wheels locked and the vehicle stalled. The contact also mentioned that the battery failed after one year. When the vehicle was taken to the dealer, they only offered to recharge the battery. A day later, the battery failed. The authorized dealer did not replace…
Visibility and wipers
14 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 3,500 miles. Parts named most often: windshield.
I was returning from a trip when I got a small rock chip. I had it filled and everything seemed fine. This morning, when I drove to work, my windshield was fine, but this afternoon, there was an l shaped crack in the bottom middle of my windshield. I am finding that this windshield cracks and chips with great ease. At…
I have had my Kia Soul since may 2009. I have experienced chips in the glass and paint as well as scratches to the glass from a plastic ice scraper ai have used on 3 other vehicles without issue. I do not use ice scrapers often here in texas, but this is the first time I have had windows scratched by a plastic utensil…
Steering
12 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 4,000 miles.
I purchased a 2010 Kia Soul and had it about two months when while driving the steering column came off. I took pictures, as I had no control over the wheels, I didn't realize it until my car wouldn't stop. I kept pushing down on the brakes and there was something in the way, that was when I realized it was the…
Tl contact owns a 2010 Kia Soul. While driving approximately 5 MPH the steering wheel became stuck in the turning position and the vehicle stalled. The contact turned the vehicle back on and was able to drive normally. The failure would continue to occur intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the…
Transmission
11 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
My wife and I just purchased a used 2010 Kia Soul on 01/21/2012. She was driving it to the car was and as she was trying to make her way to the entrance she was pulled up too closely. She backed up then shifted into first gear and as she began to drive the vehicle thought it was still in reverse and began to move…
When putting the vehicle into reverse and releasing the clutch out to start moving the vehicle makes a loud metallic moaning sound. The transmission has been replaced twice and getting ready to more than likely be replaced a third time. The entire transmission has been replaced each time and the problem keeps…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2010 Kia Soul recalls
Body and structure: roof and pillars
Risk: A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin february 2, 2015. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc112.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 kia soul vehicles manufactured january 8, 2009, to october 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.
Lights: switch
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'on' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in may 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is sc098.
Full defect summary
Kia motors corporation (kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 rondo, model year 2007-2011 sedona, sorento and sportage, model year 2010-2011 soul, model year 2008-2011 optima, model year 2010 forte, model year 2007-2009 amanti, and model year 2009 borrego vehicles. Originally, in april 2013, kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 rondo and sportage, model year 2007-2011 sorento, model year 2007 sedona, model year 2010-2011 soul, and model year 2011 optima vehicles. In september 2013, kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressi
Electrical: wiring
Risk: When the lights are illuminated under certain conditions, an electrical short may occur that can result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiring harnesses for the lights in the kia soul vehicle's advanced lighting speakers, and the wiring harness for the kia sorento vehicle's interior accent illumination. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on september 13, 2010. Owners may contact kia consumer assistance center at 1-800-333-4542.
Full defect summary
Kia is recalling certain model year 2010 soul and model year 2011 sorento vehicles manufactured from september 7, 2009 through july 30, 2010. A limited number of wiring harnesses supplied by jci and used for the lighting in the kia soul vehicle's advanced lighting speakers, located in the front door trim panels, and the kia sorento vehicle's interior accent illumination, located in the front and rear door trim panels, may have been improperly soldered.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Non-crash vehicle fires
Summary
During this preliminary evaluation (pe), the office of defects investigation (odi) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (my) 2011-2014 kia optima, my 2011-2014 kia sorento and my 2010-2015 kia soul vehicles equipped with theta II, gamma, nu and lambda II engines (approximately 1.7 million vehicles). Odi also reviewed field and other data on other kia vehicles (approximately 3.6 million additional vehicles) equipped with the same engines used in the above-mentioned vehicles.as a result of this pe, kia has issued NHTSA recalls 20v-750 and 2
Non-crash vehicle fires
Summary
In a letter dated june 11, 2018, the center for auto safety (cas) petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (my) 2011-2014 kia optima and sorento, and hyundai sonata and santa fe vehicles. In a letter dated july 24, 2018, cas requested that my 2010-2015 kia soul vehicles be added to the petition. Cas stated that there is a higher number of complaints to NHTSA regarding non-crash fires on these vehicles compared to other similar vehicles. The office of defects investigation (odi) had already opened recall queries (rq17-003 and rq17-004) on all kia and hyundai vehicles equipped
Steering shaft separation
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) is aware of a single complaint on the subject vehicles that alleges the hand wheel became mechanically de-coupled from the road wheels when the intermediate steering shaft universal joint separated from the upper steering column.it appears that the intermediate steering shaft in the complaint vehicle was disassembled and then improperly re-assembled with the universal joint not fully engaged with the upper steering column's splined shaft and the pinch bolt was not secured in the retaining groove when fastened.the component supplier has added additional fool-proofing measures to the assembly process to further reduce the likelihood of improper assembl
Questions about the 2010 Kia Soul
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Kia Soul?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (24 complaints, typically around 64,000 miles); body and structure (21 complaints, typically around 3,000 miles); air bags (21 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2010 Kia Soul have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 29, 2014 (body and structure). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2010 a bad year for the Kia Soul?
- It is 12th of 16 Soul model years by number of complaints, with 135 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.