Home · 2012 Kia Soul · Complaints

What 512 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Soul

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (512)Crash / fire / injury (46)Engine (208)Steering (166)Brakes (45)Electrical system (38)Engine & cooling (31)Fuel system (23)Transmission & drivetrain (21)Body & structure (18)Airbags (17)Lights (10)

10 of 512 complaints match · Lights · clear filters

Jun 18, 2026SteeringLights

When I turn my steering wheel left or right there is a very large margin before the tires turn it rattles back and forth back and forth as I'm driving down the street no control for at least three degrees and either direction, also my front of the vehicle turn signals pop out and fall out to the road and I would drive with no turn signals on the front of my vehicle?

NHTSA ODI 11744927

Jul 12, 2021LightsFire

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated there was an abnormal fuel odor inside of the vehicle. Additionally, the brake lights were inoperable prior to replacing the rear taillight housings. After replacing the brake lamp housings, the contact became aware that the brake lamps remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the abs module failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was warned that the vehicle was at risk of catching on fire. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle was smoking, and the wires were melting. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not covered by recall or warranty. The approximate failure mileage 109,000.

NHTSA ODI 11424409

May 4, 2018SteeringLights

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

Apr 19, 2017Lights

REAR VIEW CAMERA IS INOPERATIVE AFTER SPRY WASH.

NHTSA ODI 10979193

Mar 25, 2015SteeringElectrical systemLights

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER AND EVERY SO OFTEN THE GAUGES AND THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH WILL NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. I HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE, I THEN TOOK IT TO THEIR REPAIR SHOP. THE GENTLEMAN (MECHANIC) WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND REQUESTED ANOTHER VEHICLE, OF COURSE THEY REFUSED. IN A MATTER OF DAYS, THE DASH MATERIALS BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY, 20 DAYS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. NONE OF THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES IN THE DASH WORK, AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE. I AM SIMPLY UNHAPPY WITH THE MATTER, BECAUSE THEY ARE CHARGING ME NEARLY $20,000. FOR THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10701551

Mar 28, 2013Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER PENETRATED THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SID HEADLIGHT AND CAUSED CONDENSATION, OBSTRUCTING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 10504854

Aug 3, 2012Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, CONDENSATION WAS FOUND IN THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,300.

NHTSA ODI 10469078

Mar 18, 2012Lights

I POSTED A COMPLAINT EARLIER WITH THE BLINKER AND HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER 3/17/12 IT WAS A LOOSE GROUND THEY FIXED IT AND I THANK GOD IT WAS SOMETHING SIMPLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10452134

Mar 14, 2012Lights

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TURNED RIGHT BLINKER ON TO MAKE TURN AND NOTICED THE BLINKER ARROW IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STAYED ON.WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE LIGHTS AND BLINKER AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE THE HEADLIGHT AND BLINKER WERE NOT WORKING .I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK AT IT .I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 24 HOURS I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS .I AM PRAYING IT IS JUST SOMETHING SIMPLE . *TR

NHTSA ODI 10451710

Jan 11, 2012Lights

NOT SURE IF MODEL IS 2012 OR 2011. A KIA SOUL WAS IN FRONT OF ME AT A STOP LIGHT. THE STOP LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE SO BRIGHT AS TO ALMOST BLIND ME. IS THERE A NATIONAL STANDARD THAT LIMITS THE MAXIMUM LIGHT ON BRAKE TAILLIGHTS? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10443440

Working with the data? Download all 512 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Kia Soul verdict →