Kia Soul 2010–2013
1st generation (AM)
NHTSA data through 13 August 20262,002 complaints, 1,198 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
- Reports with mileage
- 1,198
- Median of reported failures
- 80,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Engine (26.2%)
- Recalls
- 5
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 30,000 and 125,822 miles.
Figure 1 · Kia Soul 2010–2013 · 1,198 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 152 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 33 complaints (2.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 5,000
- 25%
- 30,000
- Median
- 79,897
- 75%
- 125,822
- 90%
- 158,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 152 | 12.7% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 81 | 6.8% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 59 | 4.9% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 52 | 4.3% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 44 | 3.7% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 60 | 5.0% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 73 | 6.1% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 78 | 6.5% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 60 | 5.0% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 74 | 6.2% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 60 | 5.0% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 72 | 6.0% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 48 | 4.0% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 65 | 5.4% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 45 | 3.8% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 66 | 5.5% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 25 | 2.1% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 21 | 1.8% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 15 | 1.3% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 15 | 1.3% |
| 200,000+ | 33 | 2.8% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 2,002 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010–2013 Kia Soul, and 1,198 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 30,000 and 125,822 miles. The median is 79,897 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (26.2% of complaints, typically around 117,000 miles), the steering (16.6% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles), the electrical system (8.3% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation. 1 of them carry a severe NHTSA advisory.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2010–2013 Kia Soul last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2010–2013 Kia Soul were filed by 80,000 miles and 90% by 158,000 miles — figures drawn from 1,198 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
33 reports (2.8%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Soul reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2010–2013 Soul: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,198 mileage-tagged complaints, 5 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine / exhaust on 2012–2013 cars. 1.6L Gamma GDI: high exhaust gas temperatures overheat the catalytic converter, causing abnormal combustion that damages pistons and can break a connecting rod, puncturing the block. The escaping oil onto hot exhaust…
- Check steering. Electric power steering assist loss complaints across the generation.
- Check anti-theft. Trims without an engine immobilizer are easily stolen, driving a large theft loss pattern.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 30,000 and 126,000 miles, with a median of 80,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the steering are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The steering in particular shows a median failure mileage of 68,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Kia Soul 2010–2013
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Airbag system80 reports54,00021,000–80,000Airbag system: 80 reports, median 54,000 miles, middle half 21,000 to 80,000 miles.
- Electrical system166 reports65,00020,000–100,000Electrical system: 166 reports, median 65,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Steering332 reports68,00040,000–96,000Steering: 332 reports, median 68,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 96,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise132 reports93,00052,000–144,000Problems owners could not categorise: 132 reports, median 93,000 miles, middle half 52,000 to 144,000 miles.
- Engine524 reports117,00081,000–143,000Engine: 524 reports, median 117,000 miles, middle half 81,000 to 143,000 miles.
- Hydraulic brake circuit136 reports123,00087,000–152,000Hydraulic brake circuit: 136 reports, median 123,000 miles, middle half 87,000 to 152,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system85 reports136,000106,000–159,000Engine and its cooling system: 85 reports, median 136,000 miles, middle half 106,000 to 159,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 524 | 26.2% | 117,000 | 81,000–143,000 |
| Steering | 332 | 16.6% | 68,000 | 40,000–96,000 |
| Electrical system | 166 | 8.3% | 65,000 | 20,000–100,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 136 | 6.8% | 123,000 | 87,000–152,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 132 | 6.6% | 93,000 | 52,000–144,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 85 | 4.2% | 136,000 | 106,000–159,000 |
| Airbag system | 80 | 4.0% | 54,000 | 21,000–80,000 |
| Body structure | 67 | 3.3% | 19,000 | 3,000–66,000 |
| Brakes | 66 | 3.3% | 55,000 | 13,000–78,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 59 | 2.9% | 56,000 | 16,000–100,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Kia Soul 2010–2013 · 1,198 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 37% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 55% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 72% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 97%: the remaining 2.8% of reports (33) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
37% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Steering — middle half 40,000–96,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 20,000–100,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 52,000–144,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 21,000–80,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Engine — middle half 81,000–143,000 mi
- Hydraulic brake circuit — middle half 87,000–152,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 106,000–159,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
55% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Airbag system — median 54,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Engine — middle half 81,000–143,000 mi
- Steering — middle half 40,000–96,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 20,000–100,000 mi
- Hydraulic brake circuit — middle half 87,000–152,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 52,000–144,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 106,000–159,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
72% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Steering — median 68,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 65,000 mi
- Airbag system — median 54,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Engine — middle half 81,000–143,000 mi
- Hydraulic brake circuit — middle half 87,000–152,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 52,000–144,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 106,000–159,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 79,897 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 26.2% of complaints (524 reports, 333 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 117,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 81,000 and 143,000 miles.
A single system taking 26.2% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The steering accounts for 16.6% of complaints (332 reports, 187 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 96,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.3% of complaints (166 reports, 89 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 100,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 6.8% of complaints (136 reports, 41 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 123,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 87,000 and 152,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 6.6% of complaints (132 reports, 58 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 93,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 144,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 4.2% of complaints (85 reports, 68 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 136,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 106,000 and 159,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2013 model year drew the most — 866 complaints — while 2010 drew the fewest at 193. The median year sits at 471.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
1 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 2,002 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 147 (7.3%)
- Fires
- 126
- Injury reports
- 106
- Fatality reports
- 3
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Engine / Exhaust 2012–2013
1.6L Gamma GDI: high exhaust gas temperatures overheat the catalytic converter, causing abnormal combustion that damages pistons and can break a connecting rod, puncturing the block. The escaping oil onto hot exhaust creates a fire risk. Recall 19V-120 (February 2019, ~379,000 vehicles) reflashed the catalytic overheating protection ECU logic and replaced damaged converters and engines.
Steering
Electric power steering assist loss complaints across the generation.
Anti-Theft
Trims without an engine immobilizer are easily stolen, driving a large theft loss pattern.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 193 | 148 |
| 2011 | 270 | 183 |
| 2012 | 673 | 397 |
| 2013 | 866 | 470 |
Recalls (5) — is your car included?
Mar 2024 · 2011–2013 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic park outsideAn engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
What can happen. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Apr 2019 · 2012–2013 · EnginePiston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
What can happen. Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Jan 2015 · 2010–2013 · StructureA detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.
What can happen. A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC112.
Apr 2013 · 2010–2011 · Exterior LightingFailure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could…
The defect. Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The
What can happen. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Sep 2010 · 2010 · Electrical SystemWhen the lights are illuminated under certain conditions, an electrical short may occur that can result in a…
The defect. Kia is recalling certain model year 2010 Soul and model year 2011 sorento vehicles manufactured from september 7, 2009 through july 30, 2010. A limited number of wiring harnesses supplied by jci and used for the lighting in the Kia Soul vehicle's advanced lighting speakers, located in the front door trim panels, and the Kia sorento vehicle's interior accent illumination, located in the front and rear door trim panels, may have been improperly soldered.
What can happen. When the lights are illuminated under certain conditions, an electrical short may occur that can result in a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the wiring harnesses for the lights in the Kia Soul vehicle's advanced lighting speakers, and the wiring harness for the Kia sorento vehicle's interior accent illumination. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on september 13, 2010. Owners may contact Kia consumer assistance center at 1-800-333-4542.
What owners reported
2010 Kia Soul 5 door wagon 2.0 L mt 5 speed transmission the car over revs between shifts and has a soft brake pedal that goes to the floor and as your brake pedal goes down at stops your foot touches the foot feed and causes the car to revs up while stopping. I have made many visits to Kia in lake manawa Kia in…
2010 · 4 miles · Throttle and speed control
the contact owns a 2010 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the engine revs excessively whenever the accelerator pedal is released. The rpms will go from 1,500 to 3,000. The dealer stated that they would investigate the issue. A representative inspected the vehicle and stated that it was not a serious safety issue. The…
2010 · 5 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Within a week of taking delivery on 7/24/09, the interior and most especially the door skins were already acquiring marks and scratches - a slight finger nail scratch required a special product to remove etc. There have been a few intermittent problems. 1. When releasing the clutch pedal there was a noise that sounded…
2010 · 100 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Built from 1,198 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page