Should I buy a 2011 Kia Soul with documented lighting problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented lighting issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2011 Kia Soul lighting problems

moderate Owners of the 2011 Kia Soul have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 130,000 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →

Failure mileage

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$250

lighting complaints on the Kia Soul, by model year
Model year	lighting complaints
2010 Soul	3
2011 Soul (this page)	12
2012 Soul	7
2013 Soul	5
2014 Soul	87
2015 Soul	24

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 13V114000 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

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.

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 may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.

Service Bulletin TSB_BOD055_R1 Sep 2021

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin TSB_ELE148 Jan 2020

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on some 2010MY~ vehicles listed on the table below, which may exhibit a bulb connector concern. To correct this concern, replace the connector with a new and improved part.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin PS382 Mar 2015

PITSTOP: STOP LAMP SWITCH IDENTIFICATION MATRIX (SC098) - KMA HAS RECEIVED A NUMBER OF INCORRECT WARRANTY RETURN PARTS RELATED TO CAMPAIGN SC098 AND HAS DETERMINED THAT AT TIMES DEALER STAFF MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY IN QUICKLY AND EASILY IDENTIFYING THE CORRECT SWITCHES WHILE ORDERING PARTS, PREPARING TO PERFORM THE STOP LAMP REPLACEMENT OR WHILE PREPARING TO RETURN REPLACED SWITCHES TO KMA (IN CASE OF AN EXISTING MANDATORY PART RETURN (MPR) REQUEST). TO FACILITATE FASTER AND EASIER IDENTIFICATION OF THE CORRECT PARTS, A PICTURE GUIDE AS SHOWN ON PAGE 2 IS PROVIDED. THE GUIDES CONTENT WAS PURPOSELY FORMATTED TO FIT ON ONE PAGE SO IT CAN BE EASILY PRINTED AND KEPT ON OR NEAR A WORKSTATION, PARTS

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

Brake light failure is the dominant complaint. Multiple owners report brake lights that won't illuminate when the pedal is pressed, with some failures recurring after Kia's 2013 recall (Campaign 13V114000) addressed the stop lamp switch. One owner's brake lights stayed on constantly even with the vehicle off. The recall didn't cover all affected VINs—at least two owners claim their vehicle has the identical problem but wasn't included.

Headlight durability is severe. One owner replaced bulbs 13 times in 9 years, often both failing together. He tried cheap bulbs, expensive bulbs, and dealer bulbs—none lasted. When he inspected the socket, it was brown from overheating. He replaced the sockets and installed Kia bulbs; that bought 6 months before they failed again. Another owner reports both headlights going out simultaneously, which he calls dangerous.

Fog lights malfunction through the turn signal knob—they come on and off unpredictably when signaling. One owner simply disabled them. Rear lights on at least one vehicle lack adequate brightness for reversing; the dealer refused to alter the design. An ESC warning light flickers on and off erratically in at least one complaint.

These are consumer allegations, unverified by Kia, but the pattern points to chronic electrical issues in the lighting and related systems.

Same Kia Soul lighting reports on nearby years: 2014

Failure modes owners describe

Brake lights inoperative or intermittent

Brake lights fail to illuminate when brake pedal is depressed. Multiple complaints describe complete failure; one describes lights that remain on constantly even when vehicle is off. Related to stop lamp switch malfunction.

When: 55,000 to 200,000 miles; one complaint at 160,000 miles after stop lamp switch service

Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights do not illuminate when pedal depressed; Brake lights remain on constantly even with vehicle off; Failure recurred after NHTSA recall 13V114000 repair

Repairs/costs cited: Stop lamp switch replacement; prior repairs under recall 13V114000 did not prevent recurrence in some cases

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V114000 issued for stop lamp switch; some owners report VINs not included in recall despite same problem

Headlights burning out prematurely

Headlights fail repeatedly in short cycles, often both bulbs burning out simultaneously. Owner replaced bulbs 13 times in 9 years. Inspection revealed overheated sockets.

When: Throughout ownership; bulbs burn out every 3 months to monthly

Symptoms owners cite: Headlights dim; Both headlights burn out simultaneously; Bulbs fail regardless of manufacturer or cost; Headlight sockets show brown discoloration indicating overheating

Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of headlight sockets; problem recurred after socket replacement and Kia-branded bulb installation

Fog light switch malfunction

Fog lights fail to operate reliably, coming on and off unpredictably when turn signal is engaged. Switch problem in light/turn signal knob.

When: Just after warranty expiration

Symptoms owners cite: Fog lights turn on and off at unintended times; Fog lights quit working; Intermittent operation with turn signal use

Rear lighting dim or insufficient

Rear lights do not provide adequate brightness for visibility when reversing. Dealer confirmed vehicle meets design standards and declined to repair.

When: 32,500 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Rear lights not bright enough for reversing visibility

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated vehicle working to standards, design cannot be altered

Electronic Stability Control warning light intermittent

ESC warning light illuminates and extinguishes unpredictably. One complaint linked to brake light failure cascade; another complaint describes independent intermittent activation.

When: 270,000 miles (in one complaint); mileage unknown in another

Symptoms owners cite: ESC warning light comes on and off intermittently and unpredictably

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In one case, VIN confirmed not under recall 13V114000

Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had lighting trouble with your 2011 Kia Soul? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.

Common questions

How serious is the lighting problem on the 2011 Kia Soul?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?

Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 37,000 and 190,000 miles, with the median around 130,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 37,000; a quarter make it past 190,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to lighting?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover lighting issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Kia/Soul. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.