The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated and jerked. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, a burning odor was detected. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact later received…
2012 Kia Soul brakes problems
moderate 38 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
38
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1fire
What stands out
Owners have filed 38 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 11 model years of Kia Soul in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Avoid this model until the brake hydraulic control unit recall is fully resolved with available parts; owners have waited months without repair while facing potential fire hazard. Verify any used 2012 Soul you consider has completed this recall before purchase, and budget for potential engine replacement if the vehicle has stalled or lost power during its history.
The dominant issue across these 38 complaints is NHTSA Campaign 23V652000, a hydraulic control unit defect tied to fire risk. Kia issued recall notices but has not sourced replacement parts, leaving owners stranded. Many report being told to wait months—one owner waited two months before learning parts still weren't available; another couldn't schedule a dealer appointment until September 2024. Several owners have parked their vehicles due to fire concern and watched batteries drain from non-use.
Beyond the parts shortage, owners describe stalling and loss of motive power at various speeds, sometimes while braking. Some vehicles experienced catastrophic engine failures: one threw a rod at 161,000 miles after stalling on the highway; another needed engine replacement at 143,449 miles with cylinder #2 misfire and blown dipstick; a third needed engine replacement at 172,000 miles. Kia denied warranty coverage on these failures, citing extended warranty expiration despite linking them to the brake recall.
Other reported brake failures include excessively sensitive brakes that engage hard with minimal pedal pressure, brake power loss when striking bumps while braking, unresolved warning lights for brakes and stability control after three dealer visits, inoperative side brake lights, and—critically—an electric parking brake that fails, allowing a manual-transmission vehicle to roll despite being in first gear with the e-brake engaged. One vehicle caught fire under the hood while parked, burning the entire car and damaging two residential structures.
Same Kia Soul brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Hydraulic Control Unit (HECU) Malfunction / Recall Part Unavailability
NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 targets a hydraulic control unit defect in 2012 Kia Souls that poses a fire risk. The critical issue is that Kia has been unable to source replacement parts for an extended period, leaving owners with recalled vehicles they cannot repair. Multiple owners report being notified of the recall but told parts are unavailable, with some waiting months for a remedy that never materializes.
When: Various mileages from 68,000 to 200,000 miles; some vehicles parked due to recall concern
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalling while driving or at complete stop; Loss of motive power while driving; Unintended acceleration followed by loss of power; Engine compartment fire (total loss); Smoke or burning plastic odor from engine compartment or cabin; Shuddering or jerking during acceleration/deceleration; HECU warning light illumination; Check engine light illumination; Electronic parking brake warning light
Codes mentioned: P0300 (misfire - inferred from cylinder-specific failures), Check engine codes (unspecified), HECU malfunction code
Repairs/costs cited: Hydraulic control unit replacement required per recall; parts distribution ongoing as of report dates. One owner had unit replaced by independent mechanic at 87,000 miles (before recall issued). No retail cost data provided; recall should be manufacturer-covered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Kia issued recall notice but has not supplied parts. Manufacturer confirmed in multiple reports that parts remain unavailable. One owner received Class Action Lawsuit documentation instead of repair.
Engine Failure Secondary to Brake System Defect
Several owners report engine damage or failure after experiencing stalling or loss of power events. One owner's engine threw a rod at 161,000 miles; another had cylinder #2 misfire, blown dipstick, and oil leakage requiring engine replacement at 143,449 miles. A third owner needed complete engine replacement at 172,000 miles after unintended acceleration and power loss with cruise control engaged. These catastrophic failures appear correlated with brake system malfunctions but owners were denied warranty coverage.
When: 143,449 miles (cylinder misfire); 161,000 miles (thrown rod); 172,000 miles (engine failure)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalling while driving; Loss of motive power; Abnormal shaking at 35 MPH; Smoke from engine compartment; Abnormal grinding sounds; Oil leakage underneath vehicle and in engine compartment; Blown dipstick; Check engine light illumination
Codes mentioned: Misfire cylinder #2
Repairs/costs cited: Cylinder #2 misfire required engine and battery replacement (estimated, not completed); engine replacement needed (172,000 mi); thrown rod at 161,000 mi. No costs cited. Vehicles were not repaired due to extended warranty expiration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None for engine failures. Kia denied warranty coverage citing extended warranty lapse, despite linking failures to recall Campaign 23V652000.
Brake Sensitivity / Over-Responsiveness
Owner reports all four wheels have excessively sensitive brakes requiring only slight pedal pressure to engage hard braking. Dealer dismissed concern as normal, but owner states this level of sensitivity compromises control during panic stops and makes it difficult to modulate correct stopping distance. This contradicts the stalling/loss-of-power complaints and may reflect a separate tuning or valve issue.
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes engage hard with minimal pedal pressure; Difficult to control light braking touch without over-braking; Excessive sensitivity on all four wheels
Repairs/costs cited: None; dealer stated behavior is normal.
Brake Loss on Bump / Speed Bump
Owner reports that when applying brakes while simultaneously striking a bump or speed bump, braking power is lost and the pedal sinks toward the floor. Owner describes the symptom as frightening and states dealer has been unable to diagnose the issue despite multiple visits.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake power loss when pedal applied during bump impact; Brake pedal sinks to floor during bump
Repairs/costs cited: Undiagnosed by dealer.
Brake and Stability Control Warning Lights / System Function Uncertainty
Owner reports illumination of operational warning lights for brakes, stability control, and anti-lock brakes. Dealer has made three repair attempts without resolution. Owner expresses concern that the presence of unresolved warning lights creates legitimate doubt about whether these safety systems will function as intended during actual driving hazards.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake warning light illumination; Stability control warning light illumination; Anti-lock brake warning light illumination; Warning lights persist after three dealer service attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Three dealer visits; issue unresolved.
Side Brake Lights Non-Functional
Owner reports that side brake lights (presumably brake lights on rear side markers or side-mounted position lamps) have failed without warning. Owner notes the third brake light (center high-mounted stop lamp) functions normally. Loss of side brake lights creates a visibility hazard for following traffic.
Symptoms owners cite: Side brake lights inoperative; Sudden failure with no warning signs; Center third brake light functions normally
Electric Parking Brake Failure / Vehicle Rolling When Parked
Manual transmission owner reports vehicle has repeatedly started rolling when parked in first gear with e-brake fully engaged. Owner states this has happened multiple times despite being certain brake was fully pulled and transmission in gear. One incident nearly struck owner's child, and owner confirms witnessing the failure firsthand. This represents a critical parking brake system failure.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls when parked in first gear with e-brake engaged; Failure occurs repeatedly despite confirmed e-brake engagement; No warning lights reported
Synthesized from 38 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and…
Had brakes trouble with your 2012 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 brakes problem on the 2012 Kia Soul?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 38 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 87,000 and 150,000 miles, with the median around 122,746. A quarter of owners report trouble before 87,000; a quarter make it past 150,000. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
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/2012/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.