Kia Soul 2010–2013 problems by year and mileage
1st generation (AM)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20261,505 complaints, 910 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2010 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 20,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 135
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2010
- Electrical system24 reports
- Airbag system21 reports
- Body structure21 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2010: Structure — body; Exterior lighting — brake lights; Electrical system — wiring. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2011 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 52,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 194
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2011
- Hydraulic brake circuit32 reports
- Electrical system30 reports
- Airbag system26 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2011: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Structure — body; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2012 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 87,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 514
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2012 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2012
- Engine209 reports · median 119,000 mi
- Steering166 reports · median 68,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise39 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2012: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Engine; Structure — body. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2013 Kia Soul
Close- Median failure report
- 90,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 662
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2013 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2013
- Engine283 reports · median 117,000 mi
- Steering151 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Electrical system71 reports · median 61,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2013: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Engine; Structure — body. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2013 reports latest and the 2010 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2010 has had 3 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2010–2013 Kia Soul reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 77,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 156,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 910
- Recalls
- 5
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported
- Engine34.9% of complaints · median 117,000 mi
- Steering22.1% of complaints · median 68,000 mi
- Electrical system10.8% of complaints · median 66,000 mi
Owners filed 1,505 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010–2013 Kia Soul; the engine leads with 34.9% of them, and half of the 910 that record an odometer reading came by 77,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 30,000 and 123,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2010–2013 Kia Soul last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2010–2013 Kia Soul, half of the 910 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 77,000 miles and 90% by 156,000 miles.
122 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 21 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Soul reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Kia Soul 2010–2013 · 910 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 = 119 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 21 complaints (2.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 5,000
- 25%
- 30,000
- Median
- 77,349
- 75%
- 122,746
- 90%
- 156,310
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 119 | 13.1% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 57 | 6.3% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 45 | 4.9% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 42 | 4.6% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 38 | 4.2% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 51 | 5.6% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 54 | 5.9% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 64 | 7.0% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 48 | 5.3% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 51 | 5.6% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 51 | 5.6% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 51 | 5.6% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 40 | 4.4% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 45 | 4.9% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 32 | 3.5% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 44 | 4.8% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 19 | 2.1% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 16 | 1.8% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 11 | 1.2% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 11 | 1.2% |
| 200,000+ | 21 | 2.3% |
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.
Common Soul problems, and when they happen
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 system82 reports55,00021,000–81,000Airbag system: 82 reports, median 55,000 miles, middle half 21,000 to 81,000 miles.
- Electrical system163 reports66,00020,000–107,000Electrical system: 163 reports, median 66,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 107,000 miles.
- Steering333 reports68,00040,000–98,000Steering: 333 reports, median 68,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 98,000 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.
- Engine525 reports117,00081,000–143,000Engine: 525 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 reports136,000106,000–157,000Engine and its cooling system: 85 reports, median 136,000 miles, middle half 106,000 to 157,000 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.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 525 | 34.9% | 117,000 | 81,000–143,000 |
| Steering | 333 | 22.1% | 68,000 | 40,000–98,000 |
| Electrical system | 163 | 10.8% | 66,000 | 20,000–107,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 136 | 9.0% | 123,000 | 87,000–152,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 132 | 8.8% | 93,000 | 52,000–144,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 85 | 5.6% | 136,000 | 106,000–157,000 |
| Airbag system | 82 | 5.4% | 55,000 | 21,000–81,000 |
| Brakes | 66 | 4.4% | 55,000 | 13,000–78,000 |
| Body structure | 66 | 4.4% | 20,000 | 3,000–66,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 59 | 3.9% | 56,000 | 16,000–100,000 |
System by system, in words
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 77,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 34.9% of complaints (525 reports, 334 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 34.9% 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 22.1% of complaints (333 reports, 188 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 98,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 10.8% of complaints (163 reports, 86 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 107,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 9.0% 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 8.8% 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 5.6% of complaints (85 reports, 69 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 157,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2010–2013 Soul
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.
Before you buy a 2010–2013 Soul: the 3-minute check
Generated from 910 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 123,000 miles, with a median of 77,000. 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.
Soul problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi39% below | At 90k mi57% below | At 120k mi74% below | At 150k mi87% below | At 200k mi98% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 81,000–143,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Steering | 40,000–98,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 20,000–107,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 87,000–152,000 | later | in window | in window | in window | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 52,000–144,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 106,000–157,000 | later | later | in window | in window | earlier |
| Airbag system | 21,000–81,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Kia Soul 2010–2013 · 910 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 — 39% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 57% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 74% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 87% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 98%: the remaining 2.3% of reports (21) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2010–2013 Kia Soul recalls (5)
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.
Sep 2023 · 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…
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…
Feb 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…
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…
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…
Dec 2014 · 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…
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…
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…
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…
Aug 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…
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…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,505 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 97 (6.4%)
- Fires
- 88
- Injury reports
- 73
- Fatality reports
- 2
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.
Soul problems by model year
The 2013 drew the most complaints of this generation, 662, most of them about the engine, and the 2010 the fewest, 135. A typical year drew about 354.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 135 | 105 | 20,000 | Electrical system (24) | 3 |
| 2011 | 194 | 132 | 52,000 | Hydraulic brake circuit (32) | 3 |
| 2012 | 514 | 309 | 87,000† | Engine (209) | 3 |
| 2013 | 662 | 364 | 90,000† | Engine (283) | 3 |
What Soul owners reported
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while making a turn, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the steering column. The contact stated that while driving, the steering wheel was moving freely. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering…
2013 · 102,000 miles · Steering
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) and 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was…
2013 · 127,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the airbag warning light was illuminated, indicating that the airbag system was inoperative. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the clock spring needed replacement. The vehicle was repaired. A certified letter was sent to the…
2011 · 167,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and attempting to start the vehicle, there was a popping and knocking sound coming from the steering wheel. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic…
2013 · 80,000 miles · Steering
Built from 910 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Soul generations
- Soul 2014–2019 1,761 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Soul 2020–2025 257 reports with mileage, most about the engine