2010 Kia SOUL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
135 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 135 complaints (17.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 26 | 19.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 7.4% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 24 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Steering | 12 |
| Structure | 12 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
Electrical System: 24; Air Bags: 17; Steering: 12; Structure: 12; Service Brakes: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11; Engine: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 58 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 58; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (58). 30 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 35 |
| 2011 | 16 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2009: 9; 2010: 35; 2011: 16; 2012: 12; 2013: 5; 2014: 4; 2015: 7; 2016: 9; 2017: 4; 2018: 4; 2019: 7; 2020: 7; 2021: 5; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10302553 · 2010-01-27 (January 27, 2010)
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 COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA AND KIA OF GRAND ISLAND, NE. I HAVE TALKED TO 2 KIA SERVICE REPS AND THEY SAY THAT?S JUST HOW THE CAR IS AND THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT. I TOOK THEM TO BBB ARBITRATION COURT FOR A VEHICLE BUY BACK AND THEY SAID …
Owner-reported narrative. 4 miles reported. Look up ODI 10302553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315522 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE FAILURE CONTINUED DURING THE TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER DISPENSING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK; THE FUEL CONTINUOUSLY SPRAYS OUT. ALSO, THERE WAS FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10284471 · 2009-09-18 (September 18, 2009)
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 LIKE A CABLE THAT HAS SINCE BECOME MORE CONSISTENT. ON 8/3/09, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CABLE CONNECTED TO THE THROW-OUT BEARING WHICH WAS SAID TO BE NORMAL. HOWEVER, THIS CABLE NOISE HAS NOT BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285861 · 2009-09-30 (September 30, 2009)
ON AUGUST 5, 2009 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2010 KIA SOUL WHEN IT BROKE DOWN. THE ENGINE GOT STUCK IN SECOND AND IT TOOK FOR EVER TO GET TO THIRD DESPITE PUSHING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE IT DID IT WOULD JERK HER AROUND. IT WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 THE SAME ISSUES CAME BACK. ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. ALSO WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN WHILE JERKING YOU FORWARD. IT THEN RELEASES LUNGING THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,486 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346524 · 2010-07-31 (July 31, 2010)
WE REAR-ENDED A 2004 EXPEDITION IN OUR 2010 KIA SOUL AT 20MPH. MY WIFE SUSTAINED A "TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY" AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS BEING CUT IN HALF (BOTH SIDES) BEFORE THE SENSORS WERE ACTIVATED. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE WIRING HARNESS CUT IN THE ACCIDENT AND THE CAR. MY 39 YEAR OLD WIFE WILL NOW SPEND THE REST OF HER LIFE DISABLED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CAR. KIA STATES THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT ACTIVATE AT 20MPH. THIS IS NOT A 5 STAR FRONTAL IMPACT DESIGN. THE FUEL SHUT OFF DID NOT ACTIVATE, 'ALL SAFETY FEATURES FAILED'. I DR…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10349737 · 2010-08-16 (August 16, 2010)
BRAND NEW KIA SOUL 2010 - LESS THAN 500 MILES. ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE DOOR PANEL WHILE DRIVING. TOWED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED DOOR PANEL. LED LIGHT TRANSMITTER IN SPEAKERS SHORTED AND MELTED PLASTIC INSIDE DOOR. RESPONSE FROM KIA (ADVISED BY DEALER) WAS "DON'T LEAVE THE SPEAKER LIGHTS IN ON POSITION. ONLY USE THEM WHEN YOU NEED THEM." THIS WAS THE SECOND SAME INCIDENT THAT THE DEALER HAD THAT WEEK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285894 · 2009-10-01 (October 1, 2009)
I JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2010 KIA SOUL. I AM VERY CAREFUL AND TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CARS, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THE DOOR PANELS ON THIS VEHICLE TEND TO SCRATCH UP WITH THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH OF EVEN A FINGER NAIL. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE HOW HORRIBLE IT GETS WITH NORMAL WEAR, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF OBSESSIVELY CAREFUL WITH MY CARS AND ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO NOT SCRATCH THESE PANELS. HORRIBLE WORKMANSHIP TO THE POINT THAT IT MUST BE SOME SORT OF DEFECT. HAS ANYONE ELSE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ? MY PURCHASE DATE WAS 9/18/09 AND MY INTERIOR DOOR PANELS …
Owner-reported narrative. 275 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346872 · 2010-08-02 (August 2, 2010)
I PURCHASED A 2010 KIA SOUL AND HAD IT ABOUT TWO MONTHS WHEN WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING COLUMN CAME OFF. I TOOK PICTURES, AS I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE WHEELS, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP. I KEPT PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE WAY, THAT WAS WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN. I CONTACTED KIA 24 HOUR ROADSIDE, THEY TRANSPORTED MY VEHICLE TO UNION CITY KIA, WHERE I FOUND OUT FROM TONY IN THE SERVICE CENTER THAT MY AIRBAG NEEDS TO ALSO BE REPLACED IN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE IT WAS NON FUNCTIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372288 · 2010-12-23 (December 23, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN THE TURNING POSITION AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE WOULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD WORK SOMETHING OUT AS LONG AS THE CONTACT DOES NOT INVOLVE A LAWYER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10695313 · 2015-03-19 (March 19, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE WHEELS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED AFTER ONE YEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY ONLY OFFERED TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY. A DAY LATER, THE BATTERY FAILED. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY AND THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V388000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10695313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10381435 · 2011-02-10 (February 10, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH A PIECE OF METAL ON THE ROAD HIT THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE STOPPED AT A GASOLINE STATION HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL WAS SPILLING BACK OUT AND ASSUMED THAT THE METAL FRACTURED THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND ADVISED HIM THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381435 at NHTSA ↗