2011 Kia SOUL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
194 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
52,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 132 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 194 complaints (16.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 58 | 29.9% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 4.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 3.6% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 |
| Electrical System | 28 |
| Air Bags | 25 |
| Engine | 24 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Service Brakes | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 32; Electrical System: 28; Air Bags: 25; Engine: 24; Unknown Or Other: 21; Service Brakes: 13; Power Train: 12; Exterior Lighting: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 40 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 40; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 17
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 62 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2011: 17; 2012: 14; 2013: 12; 2014: 16; 2015: 17; 2016: 10; 2017: 11; 2018: 11; 2019: 14; 2020: 10; 2021: 6; 2022: 1; 2023: 15; 2024: 37; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 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 10381451 · 2011-02-10 (February 10, 2011)
TL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL WITH NEXXEN TIRES, SIZE 225/45 R18. THE DOT WAS NOT AVTHE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACT PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TREAD ON THE TIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER GAVE THE CONTACT THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED TO THE CONTACT TO SEND PICTURE OF THE TIRES TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS. THE CONTACT SENT THE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381451 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10402498 · 2011-05-24 (May 24, 2011)
DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN THE BRAKES INITIATED FOR NO REASON AND NO GAS SEEMED TO BE GOING TO THE THROTTLE. THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT OFF BUT THERE WAS STILL NO CHANGE. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR AND STALLED OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES BECAUSE LACK OF GAS GOING TO THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN A CONGESTED AREA AND WAS ONLY TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HAD I BEEN ON A HIGHWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10404388 · 2011-06-03 (June 3, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HORN WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE FAILURE BUT NONE WERE SUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITH THE HORN WHEN THE USING THE AUTO LOCK FEATURE ON THE REMOTE. THE HORN ONLY CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465904 · 2012-07-16 (July 16, 2012)
ON JULY 2, 2012 WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED RESULTING IN THE FRONT WHEEL GOING UNDER THE CAR. THIS RESULTED IN THE ENTIRE COLLAPSE OF THE SUSPENSION, FAILURE OF STEERING CAPABILITIES AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE RESULTING DAMAGE AFFECTED THE BODY AND VEHICLE STRUCTURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10491962 · 2013-01-09 (January 9, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION WAS DISENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE DRAINED AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609442 · 2014-07-09 (July 9, 2014)
THE ESC ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON DRY ROAD BETWEEN 30 AND 55 MPH. TRIED TURNING PUSHING THE ON/OFF ECS SWITCH, BUT LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. WITH VEHICLE STOPPED, SHIFTING TRANSMISSION WHILE PUSHING ON BRAKE PEDAL, ESC LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. TURNED OFF ENGINE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTARTED, LIGHT CAME BACK ON. LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER DRIVING A FEW FEET AND STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT DAMAGE OR PROBLEMS THIS MAY CAUSE TO THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE VEHICLE. IF IT HAPPENS ONE MORE TIME, AS I …
Owner-reported narrative. 26,565 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366851 · 2020-10-28 (October 28, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AT NIGHT TIME, HER NEIGHBOR INFORMED HER THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VAN GRIFFITH KIA (4301 E US HWY 377, GRANBURY, TX 76049; [phone removed]) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 9/16/2020 WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 190,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458560 · 2012-05-15 (May 15, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY LOT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE CRASH, BUT RATHER THE RESULT OF DEFECTIVE WIRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10852156 · 2016-03-29 (March 29, 2016)
WHEN IT RAINS THE FLOORBOARDS FILL WITH WATER (LITERAL PUDDLE) FRONT AND BACK, MAINLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER, I DID NOT NOTICE THE ISSUE UNTIL AFTER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY HAD SLIGHTLY EXPIRED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER ONCE I NOTICED THE ISSUE AND THEY OF COURSE WANTED $$$ TO EVEN LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. IN RESEARCHING FOR A RESOLUTION ON THE INTERNET THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE MAIN CONCERN IS HEALTH SAFETY AND POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT CAN RESULT FROM S…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10852156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10468745 · 2012-08-01 (August 1, 2012)
AIR CONDITIONER I ACTUALLY FOUND THIS OUT BY ACCIDENT. I BOUGHT A PORTABLE EXPLOSIVE GAS DETECTOR FROM MENARDS (MODEL NUMBER: 240PGD) MAINLY FOR MY SISTER WHO LIVES IN A TRAILER PARK AND HAS BECOME SEVERELY ILL FROM A SEWER GAS SMELL IN THE COURT. JUST BEFORE I LEFT FOR MY SISTER'S PLACE, I THOUGHT I WOULD TRY OUT THIS GAS DETECTOR IN THE CABIN OF MY CAR NEAR THE A/C VENT. I LOOKED AT THE SPECS FOR THIS EXPLOSIVE GAS DETECTOR AND THE TEMPERATURES WERE WITHIN TESTING RANGE. THE EXPLOSIVE GAS DETECTOR SHOWED HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF EXPLOSIVE GAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468745 at NHTSA ↗