What 512 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Soul

STEERING WHEEL COUPLER FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL MAKE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION.

NHTSA ODI 11092449

I RECENTLY NOTICED WHEN STOPPED THAT THE STEERS NO WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN STEER NO LEFT TO RIGHT AND BACK AGAIN AND HAS A LITTLE PLAY LIKE IT'S NOT CATCHING. ALSO I RECENTLY HAD BRAKE LIGHTS REPLACED AND IT QUICKLY BURNED OUT ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11091967

AT 58,000 MILES THE SOUL STARTED TO MAKE A CREAKING SOUND WHEN TURNING WHEEL SHARPLY TO RIGHT OR LEFT. I TOOK IT IN TO KIA SERVICE AT KIA WEST IN ORLANDO. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED = $997.09 (INCLUDING THE ALIGNMENT IT NEEDED AFTERWARDS) -- I KNOW THE 2013 KIA SOULS WERE RECALLED FOR SAFETY FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM AND EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS - KIA HAS NOT RECALLED THE 2012 KIA SOUL FOR RACK AND PINION DEFECTS.

NHTSA ODI 11091566

"CLUNKING" PLAY IN STEERING BEGAN RECENTLY WHICH IS REPORTEDLY FAILURE OF THE STEERING COUPLER.. KIA RECALLED 2014-26 TWICE AND THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR REPLACEMENT OF OPTION 11-14 OPTIMA'S .. NOTHING FOR 2012 SOUL EXCEPT WEB PAGES OF COMPLAINTS OF SAME PROBLEM. CROSS REFERENCING THE PART NUMBERS SHOWS THAT ALL THESE VEHICLES, INCLUDING MODELS OUTSIDE THEIR RECALL, USE THE SAME PART YET KIA IS TELLING 2012 OWNERS TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET.. THIS SAFETY HAZARD AND A FAILURE BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI 11084600

WHEN STOPPED THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MOVE FROM RIGHT TO LEFT AND BACK.. WHILE DRIVING HAS A BACK AND FORTH CLUNKING MOVEMENT FELLING AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVE OVER A ROAD LACED WITH SMALL BUMPS IN IT. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE MDPS FLEX COUPLING HAS DETERIORATED AND PRESENTS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE 2014 KIA SOUL WAS RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM.THIS IS A MAJOR LIFE THREATENING ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11084356

FLEXIBLE COUPLING IS DAMAGED, STEERING WHEEL NOISY, RATTLING NOISE, WORRY ABOUT SAFETY STEERING MIGHT NOT WORK AND CAUSE ACCIDENT OR DEATH DUE TO MALFUNCTION. WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $200.00 AND IT IS LIKELY THAT IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH KIA VEHICLES , DEFINITELY WOULD NEVER BUY A KIA VEHICLE AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11083763

MY VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING/CLICKING SOUND FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT. THE NOISE/SOUND QUICKLY STARTED GETTING LOUDER IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME/MILEAGE. THE STEERING ALSO STARTED GETTING LOOSER AS THE SOUND INCREASED. THIS OCCURRED BOTH WHILE SETTING STILL OR WHILE IN MOTION. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD TO REPLACE A FAULTY STEERING COUPLER (56315-2KOOOFFF) FOR ABOUT $225.00. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT THE SOUND/NOISE AND LOOSENESS ARE GONE.

NHTSA ODI 11083771

STEERING NOISE CAUSED BE A BAD PIECE IN STEERING LINKAGE. PLASTIC PIECE WHICH MAKES STEERING LOOSE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERING. KIA ADMITTED TO ME IT'S A PROBLEM WHICH IS COMMON. BUT NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AFTER 50.00 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY ARE AWARE OF IT. IT DEMANDS A RECALL FOR SAFETY REASONS. IT ALSO IS ON HYUNDI PRODUCTS. SAFETY ISSUE! FACTORY AWARE OF DANGER! RECALL MANDATED!

NHTSA ODI 11080614

KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. I WAS TOLD IT IS A BAD COUPLER WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT WILL PROBABLY BECOME A RECALL BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MANY CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11076859

STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND CLICKING WHILE DRIVING. FELT LOOSE WHILE STATIONERY. LOCAL AUTO SHOP REPLACED MDPS FLEX COUPLING. IT WAS TOTALLY WORN OUT. CAR HAD LESS THAN 37,000 MILES. APPARENTLY 2014 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11074987

I AM SHY OF HITTING 80K MILES ON MY SOUL 79795 TO BE EXACT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN 'CLICKING' WHETHER IN A STATIONARY POSITION OR IN MOTION. HOW IS THERE NO RECALL OR TSB ON THIS AS I HAVE BEEN DOING MY RESEARCH AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE! THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!! I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT TO TOP IT OFF THE WARRANTY IS OUT. LOCAL MECHANICS WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO TOUCH IT! SOMEONE PLEASE START A RECALL OR A TSB!

NHTSA ODI 11073940

UPON DRIVING THERE IS A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL ADVISE BY MECHANIC THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THIS NOISE AND THAT TO CONTACT KIA AS THERE WAS A RECALL LOOKED UP AND ADVISED BY KIA NO. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR AS IT SOUNDS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS GOING TO COME OFF

NHTSA ODI 11072353

STEERING IS LOOSE AND MAKES CLUNK SOUND. CALLED KIA AND SAID NO RECALLS????? OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11067305

MY STEERING IS CLUNKY AND HAS A LOT OF MOVEMENT-PLAY I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND HE TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE PARTS FOR MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT WITH AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I WOULD ASSUME THAT KIA WOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS AS IT IS A DANGEROUS FUNCTION TO GO WRONG

NHTSA ODI 11066020

2012 KIA SOUL WITH 20,000 MILES: STEERING MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. EVEN WHEN SITTING STILL, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND HAS TOO MUCH PLAY. WHEN DRIVING IT ALSO HAS PLAY AND MAKES CLUNKING NOISE. OTHER KIA SOULS HAVE RECALLS, THIS YEAR SHOULD ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11064342

ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, WHILE SITTING IN THE CAR LETTING IT WARM UP AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS I HEARD A CLUNCKING SOUND IN THE STERERING COLUMN WHEN TURING LEFT AND RIGHT AND THE SOUND IS PRESENT CURRENTLY. I AM AFRAID THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP OR COME OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING!

NHTSA ODI 11054264

THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE WITH MUCH "PLAY" IN STEERING AND A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING LOCK. THIS HAPPENS BOTH STATIONARY WITH THE CAR ON IN PARK AND WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN BRAKING. I DO NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. WHEN I BRAKE AT SPEEDS OVER ABOUT 30MPH. I HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT DONE AND SUSPENSION CHECKED AND IT IS NOT APPARENTLY THE ISSUE. I NOW HAVE A LOUD RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CLICKING AND LOOSENESS AND RUBBING NOISE IS PRESENT WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE OR BEING DRIVEN IN CITY OR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11048547

DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD CAR TOWED TO KIA OF BOWIE MD., WHO DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND REPLACED ELECTRICAL PANEL WHICH COST ESTIMATED $200.00 DOLLARS INCLUDING DIAGNOSTIC. KIA OF BOWIE NEVER CALLED AND WHEN I FINALLY CONTACTED SOMEONE A WEEK LATER, THEY STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS OUT AND WOULD COST APPROXIMATE $2000.00 AND THAT'S THE PART. CAR HAS ONLY 70.000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11048716

THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE WITH MUCH "PLAY" IN STEERING AND A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING LOCK. THIS HAPPENS BOTH STATIONARY WITH THE CAR ON IN PARK AND WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT AND SUSPENSION CHECKED AND IT IS NOT APPARENTLY THE ISSUE. APPARENTLY THE STEERING SHAFT BECOMES LOOSE WHERE IT IS COUPLED WITH THE STEERING GEAR/RACK. THIS LOOSE STEERING IS VERY DANGEROUS AS WHEN STEERING AROUND CURVES THE CAR STEERING ACTUALLY PULLS ON THE ROAD SO I NOW GO MUCH SLOWER AROUND CURVES THAN IS POSTED ON SPEED SIGNS TO AVOID LOOSING CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. WHEN I GO OVER UNEVEN ROADS OR BUMPS THE CAR ALSO SHIFTS AND PULLS AS I DO NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. WHEN I BRAKE AT SPEEDS OVER ABOUT 40MPH I NOTICE THAT THERE IS ALSO THIS SAME PLAY IN THE STEERING SO I MAKE SURE I AM CONSIDERABLY A FAR DISTANCE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP SLOWLY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 KIA SOUL AND HAVE NOTICED UPON RESEARCHING ONLINE THAT THE KIA OPTIMA HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY RECALLED FOR REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AS WELL AS MY KIA DEALER WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MY CAR WAS OVER THE WARRANTY MILES THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO REGARDING REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 11047541

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROWN KIA (5500 34TH ST N, ST PETERSBURG, FL 33714 (727) 525-5785). THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS WAITING TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11046992

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE. I NOTICED THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ISSUED FOR THE STEERING BUT NOT YET FOR THE 2012. DON'T YOU THINK THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM? I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE IT LIKE THIS. THE NOISE HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND ON AND ALSO WHEN DRIVING, AND HAS A LOT OF "PLAY" IN THE WHEEL WHEN MOVING! PLEASE HELP!!

NHTSA ODI 11044718

STEERING COLUMN MAKING POPPING SOUND. HAS SOME PLAY. IS SAME DESCRIPTION AS THOSE FILE FOR THE 2013VTO 2015 MODEL YEAR WHERE THE YOKE NUT IS LOOSE ALLOWING THE RACK AND PINION TO SEPERATE. HAPPENS BOTH DURING STATIONARY AND MOTION MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI 11040988

MY STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE, AND YOU CAN FEEL IT. I AM TAKING IT TO BE FIXED, BUT I NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY MODEL YEAR. SHOULD IT THOUGH?

NHTSA ODI 11039893

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL FAILURES THAT PROGRESSED SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE RADIO SHORTED OUT AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER (SOUTHSIDE KIA, 9401 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225, (904) 400-6650). ALSO, THE ODOMETER DISPLAYED AN IMPROPER READING AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT, MAKING ABNORMAL NOISES. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES, BUT THE RADIO FAILED AGAIN AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS FOR SERVICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE A FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NO SOLUTION YET FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 11021114

THE STEERING COLUMN "CLUNKS" WHEN TURNED AND WHEN DRIVEN ON UNEVEN ROADS. IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS BUT I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER CV JOINT MOUNT.

NHTSA ODI 11003700