2012 Kia Soul problems and complaints
Owners have filed 516 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Soul. The most-reported areas: Engine (210), Steering (167), Service Brakes (46).
Key takeaways
- 516 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 25 involve a crash, 23 a fire, 25 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 210 | 41% |
| Steering | 167 | 32% |
| Service Brakes | 46 | 9% |
| Unknown Or Other | 39 | 8% |
| Electrical System | 38 | 7% |
| Hydraulic | 34 | 7% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 32 | 6% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 21 | 4% |
| Power Train | 21 | 4% |
| Structure | 18 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 17 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2012 Kia Soul
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Kia Soul SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Steering - filed 2026-10-28
I own a 2012 Kia Soul with approximately 99,000 miles. The vehicle has never been involved in an accident. During a recent inspection at an authorized Kia dealership, the technician discovered that the welds securing the steering-column mounting support to the cross-car structural support appear to have failed. The t...
Engine - filed 2026-10-22
2012 Kia Soul 1.6L GDI (VIN: [XXX]). Case #[XXX]. Safety Hazard Description: The vehicle experienced a sudden engine stalling event at highway speeds and repeatedly dropped into a restricted "Limp Mode" due to a recurring P1326 diagnostic code. This code is explicitly tied to Kia's Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) ...
Service Brakes - filed 2026-07-24
I purchased Dorman part #74015 Brake Pedal Stopper from AutoZone Altamonte after an employee recommended it for my 2012 Kia Soul without checking system compatibility. I installed it that night. On, while driving on a busy road in Orlando, FL, my brake pedal locked completely solid and could not be depressed. I had c...
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More for the 2012 Kia Soul
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.