KnownCarProblems2011 Kia Soul Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 194 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Soul, most often about the brakes (23% of complaints, typically around 114,000 miles). It is 10th of 16 Soul model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2011 Kia Soul problems
Brakes
45 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 114,000 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.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that…
Electrical
30 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: horn.
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.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the horn became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
Engine
28 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 107,000 miles.
When turning car on it the engine makes a knocking sound. Car is losing acceleration on roads especially expressway. Also, the engine pings or knocks when turning the car off. I have even heard the engine knock while in motion. The front windshield molding garnish lh located on the driver side flew off while driving…
Head-gaskets and/or thermostats failing under normal driving conditions and low miles. I am on 2nd head-gasket and 4th thermostat and only at 109000 mi. Twice this has happened while driving on freeway and twice while around town. Fluid levels were good and other maintenance done regularly. I have talked with multiple…
Air bags
26 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
I was involved in a front end collision at about 40 MPH and the airbags did not deploy. A car failed to yield came across the intersection and I impacted the passager side of her vehicle.
Airbag did not deploy in serious frontal impact - a truck pulled out in front of me and I hit it at approximately 45-50 MPH, 5 lane business hwy
Other or unspecified
21 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
When it rains the floorboards fill with water (literal puddle) front and back, mainly on the drivers side. I purchased this vehicle new and have been the only owner, I did not notice the issue until after the mileage warranty had slightly expired. I contacted the dealer once I noticed the issue and they of course…
I was driving my 2011 Kia Soul on a city street at approximately 25 MPH when, at about 8:30 am, the sunroof suddenly shattered. I heard what sounded like a gun shot and felt and saw glass coming down on and around me. I was able to pull over immediately. I felt very startled and shaky, but was physically unharmed. I…
Visibility and wipers
17 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, glass, side/rear.
I have owned this vehicle for 18 months, and the windshield cracks way too easily. I've owned 23 cars and never had to replace one before. This Kia is getting its 2nd windshield today. I've never seen anything actually hit it, but have heard a 'pop' sound each time, and the windshield splits across. Both times it has…
Safety issue - passenger front side glass blew out for no apparent reason while parked in driveway. This was a glass defect that would of had greater consequences if this happen while driving and a passenger was in the front passenger seat. Kia (case number []) refused to take responsibility for the problem and…
Transmission
13 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: driveline.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle began to loose power. The vehicle resumed normal operation once the cruise control function was disengaged. The failure recurred with the illumination of the check engine light. The vehicle was…
A bad bearing, caused air pressure in left tire to inflate to a dangerous psi, that could blow tire, causing an accident at high speed and death. The vehicle was being used to drive 525 miles, from dallas to kansas city, mo. Driving conditions were dry, with 85 deg outside temp. After driving 200 miles, the left tire…
Lights
13 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 106,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, brake lights.
1. The electronic stability control warning light comes on and goes off intermittently and unpredictably. 2. I replaced the map light. It just stopped working and I replaced it with a new one I ordered myself. A local garage did the work, not a dealer.
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.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Kia Soul recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the hecu fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed november 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed march 29, 2024 through june 18, 2024. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc284.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 borrego, 2014-2016 cadenza, 2010-2013 forte, forte koup, sportage, 2015-2018 k900, 2011-2015 optima, 2011-2013 optima hybrid, soul, 2012-2017 rio, 2011-2014 sorento, and 2010-2011 rondo vehicles. The hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
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
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
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
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
Questions about the 2011 Kia Soul
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Soul?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (45 complaints, typically around 114,000 miles); electrical (30 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); engine (28 complaints, typically around 107,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Kia Soul have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 25, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Kia Soul?
- It is 10th of 16 Soul model years by number of complaints, with 194 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.