kia Soul problems
0 safety recalls. 509 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
I saw a puff of smoke then the engine started knocking while I was driving, I had the car brought home and I called Joey Griffen dealership and they told me it will be a four month wait that I would have to come out of pocket $7000 to have it fixed, that's when I found out about…
My car died while driving it down the highway. And I couldn't get it drive. I had to have it towed.
Recall 19V120 received 4-12-19 was addressed by Burlington Kia in May 2019. The COP ECU logic was upgraded. The car was not running well in 2022 - hesitating, misfiring, but it did not throw a code so no one could diagnose the issue. Spark plugs were changed but that did not…
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2012 Kia Soul reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 509 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Kia Soul is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
What's the most common problem on the 2012 Kia Soul?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 171 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Kia Soul has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Kia Soul?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 509 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.