I was driving my 2014 Kia Soul on Friday 12/12 when without any warning the brakes went out. Thankfully I was able to get it to a parking lot without incident and requested a tow. After having it repaired, the mechanics stated the brake lines completely popped due to brake line corrosion. After researching this issue, I found that my Kia Soul had a Voluntary Service Campaign recall regarding the…
2014 Kia Soul brakes problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
1fire
1injury
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2014 Kia Soul brake systems are plagued by corrosion-induced line failures, intermittent loss of pressure with no warning lights, and master cylinder leaks—some leading to complete brake loss at highway speeds or in traffic. Kia's Voluntary Service Campaign for corrosion covers only high road-salt states, leaving coastal non-VSC areas unprotected despite identical rust damage.
Brake failures on 2014 Kia Souls cluster around three primary modes: corrosion-induced brake line rupture, intermittent ABS and pressure loss, and master cylinder failure.
Brake line corrosion is the most frequent complaint. Owners describe lines rusting at bend points near rear wheels, causing sudden fluid loss and total brake failure with no warning. Multiple narratives detail brake pedals going to the floor with zero pressure—one owner went through a red light unable to stop. Kia issued a Voluntary Service Campaign (VSC) targeting high road-salt states, but owners in coastal Alabama and other non-VSC areas report identical corrosion damage and denied warranty support.
Intermittent brake pressure loss strikes without warning lights or diagnostic codes. Owners report the pedal going solid and firm, the vehicle not slowing or stopping, and the problem too inconsistent to reproduce at dealerships. One owner's independent mechanic reproduced the fault and replaced the ABS sensor; the issue recurred. Another owner spent thousands over a month replacing rotors, pads, master cylinder, and finally the entire ABS system before the failure stopped.
Master cylinder leaks—fluid pooling into the booster—cause immediate brake warning light and total loss. One catastrophic case involved brake pedal failure immediately after dealership service for an unrelated repair, followed by vehicle fire and owner injury.
Brake pedal feel is also abnormal: abnormal clunking when pressed, hard braking response unrelated to pedal pressure, and fading pedal feedback. The brake pedal rubber cover has also fallen off during driving, nearly causing accidents.
Same Kia Soul brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Brake line corrosion and rupture
Brake lines corrode and burst, causing complete loss of brake pressure and fluid. Occurs at bend points near rear wheels and under the vehicle body. Multiple owners report corrosion damage; Kia issued a Voluntary Service Campaign (VSC) for high road-salt states, but coverage is incomplete—owners in coastal areas outside the VSC zone (e.g., Alabama coast) are excluded despite similar salt exposure.
When: No specific mileage noted; occurs during routine driving
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travels to the floor with no pressure; Sudden complete loss of braking ability; Puddle or wetness near vehicle base; Fluid leakage visible under car
Repairs/costs cited: Brake lines replaced; parts difficult to source at dealership. Junk-yard research by one owner showed same-year models exhibiting identical corrosion.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Voluntary Service Campaign issued for high road-salt states only; owners outside VSC zone denied reimbursement and warranty assistance despite corrosion damage.
Intermittent ABS and brake pressure loss
Brake system loses pressure intermittently without warning, brake pedal goes to floor, and vehicle cannot stop or slow down. ABS system engages but no warning light illuminates. Problem is difficult to reproduce; owners shift to neutral to stop vehicle. One owner's independent mechanic replaced ABS sensor; issue recurred. Another owner required full ABS system replacement after rotors, pads, and master cylinder were replaced without resolving the issue.
When: Failures recorded between 12/25/23 and 1/14/24; vehicles at 95,000–96,806 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes solid and firm with no response; ABS engages but no dash warning light illuminates; Vehicle does not slow or stop; Vehicle runs through red light unable to stop; No warning lights or diagnostic codes appear; Issue does not reproduce at dealership
Repairs/costs cited: ABS sensor replacement attempted; full ABS system replacement eventually performed. Dealership initially blamed air in brake line. Independent mechanic reproduced issue. Owner reported spending thousands of dollars over one month with vehicle undrivable due to safety hazard.
Brake master cylinder failure and leakage
Brake master cylinder leaks brake fluid into the brake booster. One owner reports brake warning light illumination followed by total brake failure. Another narrative (post-service at dealership) describes brake pedal traveling to floorboard after valve cover gasket replacement, followed by vehicle fire; case opened by manufacturer (case number 12479808) but no assistance offered.
When: Unknown mileage for fire-related incident; one failure at dealership immediately after service
Symptoms owners cite: Brake warning light illuminates; Complete loss of braking; Brake fluid pooling into booster; Brake pedal to floorboard
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder and brake booster required replacement. Fire incident resulted in vehicle total loss and owner injury (neck strain, headaches, left knee injury); police report filed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Case number 12479808 opened; no further assistance offered.
Brake pedal unresponsiveness and abnormal feel
Brake pedal exhibits abnormal behavior: hard clunking noise when pressed, pedal feels solid with ground-glass sensation, or fading pedal feel where braking grip is not linear with pedal pressure. In one case, pedal depresses with abnormal clunking and vehicle fails to slow as expected; owner must tap pedal repeatedly. Another reports hard-braking effect unrelated to pedal pressure, interfering with safety apps.
When: One failure at 91,000 miles; one at 35 mph during traffic stop; timing unclear for others
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal clunking noise from brake system when pedal depressed; Solid, ground-glass pedal feel; Vehicle slows only after repeated pedal taps; Fading pedal feel—braking grip not linear with pressure; Vehicle tends to push forward on braking despite pedal pressure; ABS and electrical dashboard issues concurrent with braking failure (at 91,000 miles)
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired in most instances; one vehicle taken to dealership but no cause determined.
Brake pedal rubber pad deterioration
Brake pedal rubber protective cover falls off during normal driving, exposing the pedal mechanism. Replaced once; failed again within one week.
When: During normal driving; repeated failure within one week of repair
Symptoms owners cite: Rubber pedal protector falls off while driving; Foot slides off pedal; Nearly caused accident during pedal contact loss
Repairs/costs cited: Rubber pad replaced; failed again within one week.
ESC/ABS warning light with possible fire hazard
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) warning light intermittently illuminates and turns on and off while driving. Owner expresses concern about vehicle catching fire while parked or driving, noting owner was aware of NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Dealership diagnosed that hydraulic electronic control unit requires replacement, but part was not yet obtained at time of report.
When: At approximately 96,806 miles during 40 mph driving
Symptoms owners cite: ESC warning light illuminates and turns off repeatedly; Owner fear of fire hazard
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000
Repairs/costs cited: Hydraulic electronic control unit replacement needed; part ordered but not installed at report time.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 issued for hydraulic brake issues.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Brakes are loud been changed to new ones, engine makes a small sound
Had brakes trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Kia Soul?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 70,000 and 96,806 miles, with the median around 91,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 96,806. 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/2014/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.