Tl* the contact owned a 2014 Kia soul. While driving 45 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning and caused the vehicle to crash. There were no injuries sustained and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 31,000.
2014 Kia Soul steering problems
severe 55 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
55
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
12crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 55 steering complaints filed for the 2014 Kia Soul, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 55 steering 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 13 model years of Kia Soul in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Enter into a retail installment sale contract on december 2nd 2015.on december 18 th my wife received a call from carson Toyota who stated merry christmas,I have good news for you,can you come in we can lower your payments, I told him we are okay with our payments,also I advise him that my husband is at the doctor. He stated tell my husband he can get a lower payment .I told him are you sure you…
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2014 Kia Soul?
It's a meaningful issue. 55 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 42 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 22,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 37,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 22,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.