What 512 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Soul

Popping in steering when turning back and forth. Cruise and radio quit working.

NHTSA ODI 11477031

Steering coupler. I have paid for replacement 2 different times and has broke yet again. Worried with wife driving car that she will lose control

NHTSA ODI 11462972

The steering coupling is going out. it makes a clunking noise when you turn the steering wheel either direction constantly.

NHTSA ODI 11461851

Steering wheel couplen is going out and every kia soul 2011 2013 are recall some 2012 why isn't mine thats a sad situation kias are having major recalls kia needs to fix my steering

NHTSA ODI 11453086

My 2012 Kia Soul+ is having the same steering wheel "clunking" issue as other years/models which have been issued a recall notice but my year/model/VIN is not included in the recall and I would like for it to be included so I can get the safety issue fixed. https://www.vehiclehistory.com/articles/2012-kia-soul-steering-recalls-your-questions-answered - below are statements from other owners with same issue: "I have a 2012 Kia Soul and the steering coupler is messed up. Premature Wear of the Flex Steering Coupler, it states that previous years and later years have this problem. But the 2012 does not have a recall although it has the same coupler." "Why is the 2012 Kia Sould not recalled for steering coupler? All other years prior and after were." "I have a 2012 Kia soul and the steering wheel coupler is messed up all other Kia have recall but my year model does not but yet same issue same part "

NHTSA ODI 11450643

Steering coupler failing. Steering wheel currently clicks and feels loose when turning. Afraid it will break at any moment and needs immediate repair... Recall has been offered for other years of Kia Souls for this part but not 2012. This should be a recall for 2012 too!

NHTSA ODI 11449285

Vibration of tires while driving and clicking noise when turning steering wheel

NHTSA ODI 11444813

popping sound in steering column when turning. it is available for inspection. problem identified by Firestone technician.

NHTSA ODI 11441518

kia used a cheap plastic part as the central junction of the entire steering system. This causes a "clunk" noise when the plastic starts breaking down, and can eventually lead to complete steering failure. This should be a MFG recall, but instead it is a $500 repair.

NHTSA ODI 11436431

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 55-65 mph, the steering wheel vibrated and made a knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the steering column was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.

NHTSA ODI 11425963

Knocking in the steering column lead to steering coupling being damaged. Steering failed when driving over speeds of 65. Almost died. No warning. Auto body shop explained noise

NHTSA ODI 11419425

Steering column is loose.

NHTSA ODI 11418506

THE ENGINE IS MAKING A TICKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS CLICKING WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO HAD 3 OPEN RECALLS. TOOK IT TO ALL STAR KIA IN SAN BERNARDINO FOR 3 RECALLS AND THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT COMFORTABLE WORKING ON THE CAR, THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE TICKING SOUND WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT DUE TO CATALYTIC COVERTER OVERHEATING IT COULD CAUSE ROD KNOCK. I EVEN TOLD THEM THE RECALL WAS SC176.

NHTSA ODI 11415032

STEERING WHEEL INITIALLY STARTING STICKING WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE LANES OR TURN. NOW THE WHEEL CLICKS WHEN TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION

NHTSA ODI 11403715

MY 2012 KIA SOUL HAS STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. ON TOP OF THIS THE STEERING HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE WHEN DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING THE WIND BLEW AT THE CAR AND THE STEERING BEING SO LOOSE CAUSED ME TO ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. LUCKY FOR ME THERE WASN'T ANOTHER CAR AROUND OR IT WOULD HAVE HIT ME HEAD ON. IT'S HARD TO CONTROL IT ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON ALSO NOW. I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT IS HAPPENING. I HOPE IT WORKS IN CASE THIS STEERING ISSUE CAUSES ME TO WRECK. I NEED THE CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK AND DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY DEALERSHIP TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HAS BECOME VERY NERVE-WRACKING DUE TO STEERING BEING SO LOOSE. I HAVE READ THAT EVERYO E WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11397213

CLUNKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN TURNING RIGHT AND LEFT. FEELS LOOSE. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11389881

MY 2012 KIA SOUL POWER STEERING IS ALMOST LOCK IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN

NHTSA ODI 11373603

CLUNKING WHEN TURNING, NOW THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE

NHTSA ODI 11352082

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVE AND WHEN MAKING TURNS AND GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

NHTSA ODI 11342929

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF OF THE ROADWAY AND THE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.

NHTSA ODI 11326127

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE DETECTED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ODI 11323481

CLUNKING AND CLICKING IN STEERING. SAME AS SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11316913

2012 KIA SOUL NOW MAKING A CLUNKING, CLICKING OR POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT WITH SLIGHT PLAY IN THE WHEEL. UPON RESEARCHING ONLINE WHAT IT COULD BE I HAVE DISCOVERED COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB OF THE SAME ISSUE. PEOPLE BEING TOLD BY MECHANICS IF NOT FIXED IT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO STEERING FAILURE, BUT THAT KIA REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR RECALL THESE VEHICLES DESPITE BEING AWARE OF THE ISSUE FOR YEARS NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11302369

THE STEERING WHEEL IS SHAKING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11299673

I OWN A 2012 KIA SOUL + WITH 39,000 MILES ON IT. I RECENTLY HEARD A CLUNKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING. RESEARCH SHOWS IT TO BE THE STEERING COUPLER. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS COUPLER IN OTHER KIA MODELS BUT NOT THE 2012 KIA SOUL. THE DANGERS OF LOOSING STEERING BECAUSE OF THIS COUPLER ARE THE SAME NO MATTER WHAT VEHICLE YOU ARE DRIVING I THEREFORE CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THE 2012 KIA SOUL AS WELL AS ANY MODELS WITH THIS SAME COUPLER. SEEMS TO ME KIA IS GETTING OFF THE HOOK FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND I HOPE YOU WILL SEE THAT THE DANGERS INVOLVING THE FAILURE OF THIS PART IS SAFETY MATTER THAT DESERVES A RECALL FOR THE 2012 MODEL AS IT HAS FOR OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME COUPLER.

NHTSA ODI 11298991