2012 Kia Soul: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 663 complaints
663
Total Complaints
90,000mi
Median Mileage
Engine
Top Issue
41
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

53,937 25th Percentile
90,000 Median Mileage
130,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Engine
207
Steering
162
Unknown Or Other
39
Electrical System
37
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
33
Engine And Engine Cooling
23
Power Train
21
Fuel/Propulsion System
21
Air Bags
17
Body
15

Severity Assessment

41
Crashes
31
Fires
40
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE SLUGGISH, RPM WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 2500 RPM, HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, LOST DRIVEABILITY. *TT"
"VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE SLUGGISH, RPM WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 2500 RPM, HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, LOST DRIVEABILITY. *TT"
"THE 2012 KIA SOUL DOES NOT COME WITH A SPARE TIRE, INSTEAD IT COMES WITH A CAN OF FIX- A- FLAT AND A AIR PUMP. THERE IS NO JACK EITHER. THE FLAT MAY BE FIXED IF THE DAMAGE IS ON THE TREAD AND THE HOLE IS UNDER 1/4 INCH IN DIAMETER. IF THE DAMAGE IS ON THE SIDEWALL OR GREATER THAN 1/4 INCH, THE VEHIC..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Engine 207 complaints
25th: 84,500 mi Median: 119,150 mi 75th: 147,312 mi
Steering 162 complaints
25th: 40,000 mi Median: 68,000 mi 75th: 88,282 mi
Unknown Or Other 39 complaints
25th: 68,200 mi Median: 92,680 mi 75th: 134,757 mi
Electrical System 37 complaints
25th: 36,221 mi Median: 68,000 mi 75th: 112,000 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 33 complaints
25th: 88,000 mi Median: 122,746 mi 75th: 150,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

FL: 104 TX: 60 CA: 47 NC: 37 OH: 32 GA: 30 AZ: 23 TN: 21 MO: 20 VA: 20

Who Files Complaints?

0.3%
Original Owners
99.7%
Second+ Owners

Kia Soul — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

YearComplaintsCrashes
201019231
201127043
201385032
2014120352
2015119659
2016110334
201733821
201826819
201918020
202045812
202125724
20221124
2023819
2024320

Active Recalls (3)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Engine
Campaign 19V120000 | 22/02/2019
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.
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 ma
Roof And Pillars
Campaign 14V822000 | 29/12/2014
A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
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.
Control Unit/Module
Campaign 23V652000 | 25/09/2023
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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, 2

Extend Your Engine Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

  • Change oil on schedule — this is the single most important thing you can do
  • Use the manufacturer-recommended oil weight and type
  • Replace the air filter every 15,000-30,000 miles
  • Don't ignore the check engine light — small issues become expensive fast
  • Let the engine warm up for 30 seconds before driving hard in cold weather
  • Address coolant leaks immediately to prevent overheating damage

Vehicle Rankings

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28