What 193 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Soul

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 manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11555983

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.

NHTSA ODI 11521952

After getting fuel, the car stalls immediately. I have to push the gas petal and give it several pushes to get it to go. Sometimes it stalls while driving. It will turn off randomly especially after pressing the break pedal. It turns off, and all the warning lights turn on. Then it totally turns off all sources of power to it. Bluetooth microphone has not worked since I got it with 30 miles on it. Now it has 136,000.

NHTSA ODI 11517163

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer however, the vehicle had not been repaired. Shortly after the electronic stability control, ABS, and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle began to emit an abnormal smoke odor from inside near the engine compartment. The contact called the dealer who confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and that the HECU had failed and needed to be repaired. The contact was advised by the dealer to turn off and not drive the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11514364

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the cruise control was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the driver's side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

NHTSA ODI 11468146

On November 18th, 2021, at 7.20 AM while driving at posted speed limit of 45mph, the hood on my 2011 Kia Soul suddenly flew open, hitting the window, causing me to slow down and stop on the side of the road. After inspecting the destroyed hood, hinges and severally damaged roof, I proceeded to secure the hood so I can get back to my home and begin the process of working this out. To my knowledge, there have been no recalls or complainants on the hood latch mechanism that should have prevented this. I was the only occupant at the time and could have resulted in serious injury or even death, if there were more cars at the time who knows what the outcome would have been. Unknow about reproducing the issue. The vehicle has now been estimated 2 times by the insurance company and still ongoing. No warning lamps of any kind were given. As of today I am still dealing with the Insurance company as they are not wanting to pay what the estimate is, leaving me stranded. Kia needs to make this right and step in.

NHTSA ODI 11443904

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, the cruise control failed to operate as designed. The contact stated that the ESC warning light was illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V114000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the Vin was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the Vin was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 270,000.

NHTSA ODI 11420911

TL* 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.

NHTSA ODI 11405345

MY 2011 KIA SOUL I BOUGHT OFF OF A FRIEND. IT DROVE GREAT ONLY HAD 80000 MILES. HOWEVER WHEN I GOT IT 3RD GEAR WOULD SOMETIMES BE HARD TO GET IN GEAR AND GRIND. I JUST REACHED 100000 MILES AND I GOT UP FOR WORK TODAY AND IT WONT GO INTO GEAR IN FIRST OR REVERSE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND SEEMS ITS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS. IM HOPING ITS NOT MY TRANSMISSION BUT IM GOING TO SHOP IN AN HOUR. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR THIS VEHICLE. EVEN THE MILES ON MY CAR A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED. THIS STARTED ON A INTERSTATE SHIFTING COMING OFF OF THE RAMP 5TH GEAR I COULDNT GET IT IN I HAD TO FORCE IT.

NHTSA ODI 11389985

MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF AND ONE NO PROBLEM DRIVING THE PROBLEM IS WHEN I PUT GAS IN CAR THE CAR WANT START UNTIL I GIVE IT GAS A LITTLE. I DON'T HAVE PROBLEM TO CRANK CAR. AND AFTER I CRANK MY CAR AFTER I PUMP THE GAS TO START IT. THERE IS NO PROBLEM ONLY WHEN I GET GAS. IT GOES OFF MAYBE AFTER A LONG WHILE BUT THEN COME BACK ON WHEN GAS GET TO LOW AND THEN PROBLEM STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. I HAVE ASK KIA DEALER ABOUT RECALLS ALL THE TIME THEY SAY ALL RECALLS ON VEHICLE ARE DONE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT FUEL PROBLEM OR PIPE THAT CAUSE FIRES ON VECHICLE. I READ AS RECENT AS JAN 18 THERE WAS RECALL IN ANOTHER COUNTRY ON THIS .THE LIGHT WENT OFF JAN 15 BUT CAME BACK ON JAN18

NHTSA ODI 11388785

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT CONSTANTLY REVERSE LOCKS. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND THE SEAT BELT OFTEN RESERVE LOCKS WITHOUT A JERK OR SUDDEN STOP INCIDENT. IT USUALLY IS DISCOVERED WHEN TRYING TO PUT A SEATBELT ON.

NHTSA ODI 11386666

IN THE 9 YEARS SINCE PURCHASE I'VE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHTS 13 TIMES. THEY GENERALLY BURN OUT WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER SO NOW I JUST REPLACE BOTH WHEN ONE GOES OUT. I HAVE TO KEEP SPARES IN THE GLOVE BOX BECAUSE ON ONE OCCASION THEY BOTH WENT OUT ON THE SAME DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11376647

THERES SOMETHING REALLY WRONG WITH MY ENGINE AND OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUE. I'VE BEEN TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WONT FIX IT BECAUSE THERES NO RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED. THE SENSOR LIGHTS KEEP TURNING ON AND ONCE I CHECK IT IT SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG, BUT THE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND IT WILL TURN OFF WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT, ALSO THE SMELL OF THE ENGINE SMELLS LIKE ITS BURNING AND THE CAR GET REALLY HOT AS IF THE HEATER WAS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11376761

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.

NHTSA ODI 11372791

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AT NIGHT TIME, HER NEIGHBOR INFORMED HER THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VAN GRIFFITH KIA (4301 E US HWY 377, GRANBURY, TX 76049; (817) 573-0400) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 9/16/2020 WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. *LN*JB

NHTSA ODI 11366851

CAR WAS IDLE FOR ONLY 3 DAYS BATTERY WAS ONLY 12 30 DAYS OLD CAR WONT START NOT MATTER LIGHT WERE ON, RADIO WOULD PLAY AIR WOULD COME ON. CAR COULD BLOW HORN AND ALL, CAR JUST WOULD GET GAS OR ANYTHING AT ALL. CALL MY TOW HE JUMP HER AND BOOM SHE START RIGHT AWAY. WENT TO JOHNSON AUTOMATIVE ON CALDER AND HE DID HER RUN SHE WAS FINE SAID WAS BATTERY BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING ON IN VECHIL ALL SHE WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY PER HURRICANE LAURA NO FILTER NOITHING SHOWED UP AT ALL BUT BATTERY BUT SHE ONLY JUST BOUGHT BATTERY LAST YEAR SO HMM

NHTSA ODI 11352683

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11352274

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.

NHTSA ODI 11351882

KIS CONSUMING OIL, THE OIL INDICATOR DOESN'T TURN ON UNTIL AFTER THE OIL STICK SHOWS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AND THEN IT ONLY BLINKS OCCASIONALLY.

NHTSA ODI 11318654

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON AZ SR 95 AT 45 MPH. OTHER VEHICLE WAS NORTH BOUND AND MADE A "U" TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I COULD NOT AVOID HITTING HIM BROADSIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE.

NHTSA ODI 11309755

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.

NHTSA ODI 11298308

HAD JUST STARTED DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET, HADN'T EVEN SHIFTED INTO 4 TH GEAR, AND THE REAR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. NO INTENSE HEAT OR COLD, NO FLYING DEBRIS.

NHTSA ODI 11282072

ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019, I WAS DRIVING FROM KATY, TX TO NEW ORLEANS, LA TRAVELING WITH MY 2-YEAR-OLD SON ON I-10. APPROXIMATELY 51 MILES OUTSIDE OF LAFAYETTE, 2011 KIA SOUL LOSES ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE PASSING LANE. RPM AND MPH GOES TO 0 AND ALL LIGHTS APPEAR ON DASHBOARD. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IN CAR. THANKFULLY NO ACCIDENT. COASTS ONTO SHOULD AND TURNS CAR OFF. RESTARTS CAR AND IT STARTS FINE. CAR CONTINUES WITH THIS ISSUE PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE AND HAPPENING MORE OFTEN WITH AT ONE POINT STATE TROOPERS WERE CALLED OUT. AFTER SEEING A TOTAL OF 3 DEALERSHIPS, ONE OF WHICH I WENT TO FOR A SECOND TIME, AND ONE FIRESTONE (MIKE AT FIRESTONE ACTUALLY SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD) IT'S DETERMINED TO BE BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2019...NO WORD ON WHAT ELSE IS AT ISSUE AS IT'S A LETS SEE IF THE PROBLEM IS FIXED GAME WITH KIA...IT'S NOW WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9 AND AFTER REPLACING ONE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 7...I AM TOLD THAT THE SECOND IS BAD TWO DAYS LATER. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ODI 11267527

MY PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, AND THEY ARE CONSTANTLY ON WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11232831

GAS PEDAL STICKS. WHEN I GO TO ACCELERATE IT DOESN'T GO I HAVE TO PRESS DOWN HARDER ON THE PEDAL BUT PULLS OFF FASTER THEN IT'S SUPPOSE TO .

NHTSA ODI 11221491