2011 Kia SOUL: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

PARKED IN FRONT OF COFFEE SHOP ABOUT 3PM. WINDY BUT WARM (NOT HOT OR COLD WEATHER). CAME OUT TO FIND BACK WINDOW SHATTERED. INSURANCE CO. CALLED, WILL REPLACE WINDOW W/ $250 DEDUCTIBLE FEE. NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY INVOLVED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394418 at NHTSA ↗

VIOLENT SHUTTER VIBRATION, FELT LIKE BLOWN PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AFTER 30 MILES(DROVE OFF LOT) PULLED OVER TO INSPECT TIRES EVERYTHING LOOKED OK AND DROVE OFF WITH NO SHUTTER OR VIBRATION VEHICLE HAS DONE IT 4 TIMES NOW AT 1,000 MILES, HAS DONE IT AT 40 MPH-70 MPH, AT HIGHER SPEEDS VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395955 at NHTSA ↗

WE PURCHASED A MOLTEN 2011 KIA SOUL. 3 MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE CAR WE NOTICED MULTIPLE PAINT CHIPS ALL OVER THE CAR AND WINDSHIELD CHIPS. I HAVE LESS THAN 4500 MILES AND I DO NOT DRIVE ON GRAVEL OR FOLLOW SALT TRUCKS. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR IT. ALSO, A SPEAKER RUMBLES, IT DID NOT START ONE TIME (ONLY HAD IT FOR A FEW DAYS), AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN SMELL ANTIFREEZE. THE DEALERSHIP IS STILL DECIDING IF THEY WILL HELP ME IN REGARDS TO THE PAINT AND WINDSHIELD. THEY HAVE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT SPEAKER. THEY SA…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,489 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396032 at NHTSA ↗

SINCE PURCHASING MY KIA SOUL ON FEB.28, 2011 I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD TWICE! YES, IT WAS HIT BUT SMALL STONES BOTH TIMES, BUT ONE WOULD THINK THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD WITHSTAND SUCH IMPACT. ANY MINOR THING THAT HITS THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE LEAVING BIG PATHS OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING DAMAGE. TO ME, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10399758 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, HIS KNEE SLIGHTLY BUMPED INTO THE IGNITION KEY. AS A RESULT, THE KEY TURNED INTO THE OFF POSITION AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 725.

Owner-reported narrative. 725 miles reported. Look up ODI 10410987 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)

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 total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2014-12-29 (December 29, 2014)

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.

Consequence: A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2023-09-25 (September 25, 2023)

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.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.