TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - 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 to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 15, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whose Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) / Body Control Module (BCM) are not able to receive the Anti-Theft Software Logic upgrade under CS2301/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09 TSBs. In an effort to help prevent thefts of K
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Kia Soul steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Kia Soul have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Soul | 30 |
| 2017 Soul | 9 |
| 2018 Soul | 5 |
| 2019 Soul | 5 |
| 2020 Soul (this page) | 16 |
| 2021 Soul | 9 |
| 2023 Soul | 8 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - 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 to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 15, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whose Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) / Body Control Module (BCM) are not able to receive the Anti-Theft Software Logic upgrade under CS2301/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09 TSBs. In an effort to help prevent thefts of K
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - 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 to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 15, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whose Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) / Body Control Module (BCM) are not able to receive the Anti-Theft Software Logic upgrade under CS2301/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09 TSBs. In an effort to help prevent thefts of K
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 13, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whose Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) / Body Control Module (BCM) are not able to receive the Anti-Theft Software Logic upgrade under CS2301/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09 TSBs. In an effort to help prevent thefts of Kia vehicles that are not equipped with an immobilizer, a protective cover will be permanently affixed to the ignition cylinder. This Theft Deterrent Igni
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER RE-NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner re-notification advising that Kia is now making steering wheel lock devices available directly to certain Kia vehicle owners. These devices can help deter a theft attempt. We are making this device available to customers free of charge and will ship it directly to customers who place orders within eighteen (18) months from the date of this letter.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2020 Kia Soul has generated 16 complaints centered on steering system failures that range from dangerous to inconvenient. The most critical failure is electrical power steering lockup—the system freezes mid-drive or at startup, leaving the driver unable to turn the wheel. Owners report the steering wheel refusing to respond while in reverse or drive, forcing them to shut down and restart the vehicle to regain control. A second complaint documents the tow operator retrieving another Soul in Phoenix the same night with identical steering lockup mid-turn, suggesting a pattern.
A separate issue involves the steering failing to return to center after turns at various speeds. At 232,000 miles, two owners report steering remaining turned and unresponsive, with dealership diagnostics pointing to faulty steering rack and pinion plugs.
Multiple owners also describe loud clunking from the steering column base when turning, traced to a defective coupling gear between the power steering motor and column. One owner, who is a mechanic, identified this as a known defect that triggered recalls in older Kias and has caused accidents.
Vehicle pull to the right at highway speed appears in several complaints—sharp, abrupt tugging above 45–50 mph that causes dangerous veering. One dealer blamed lane-keeping assist; others report lacking equipment to properly align the vehicle. Front tire wear shows acceleration from the pulling problem.
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering system lockup / loss of functionality
Electrical power steering freezes or becomes completely inoperative while driving or at startup, preventing the steering wheel from turning or responding to input. The steering wheel may lock in place, and the system typically restores function after the vehicle is shut down and restarted.
When: Early in ownership (1,600–14,000 miles); one reported at 8,960 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locked or unable to turn; Power steering became unresponsive; Red steering wheel warning light with exclamation point on dashboard; Steering wheel icon with line through it displayed; System restored after engine restart
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column replacement reported in at least two cases; flexible coupling replacement in power steering assembly reported in one case; dealership diagnostic fees ($170 minimum) mentioned where failure could not be reproduced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One complaint states manufacturer was informed; no recalls or TSBs mentioned for this specific failure
Steering wheel does not return to center after turning
After turning the steering wheel during normal driving at various speeds, the steering fails to return to its original centered position. The driver must manually correct the steering.
When: At 232,000 miles on two separate complaints
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel remains turned after driver releases it; Steering does not self-center during or after turns; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack and pinion plugs identified as faulty and required replacement; repairs not completed at time of complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no TSBs or recalls mentioned
Steering column noise and coupling gear defect
Loud clunking or clanking noise emanates from the base of the steering column when the steering wheel is turned, especially when the car is stationary or moving at low speeds under 5 mph. Root cause identified as defective or damaged coupling gear between the power steering motor and steering column.
When: Started at approximately 2,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clunk or clank noise at steering column base; Noise occurs when turning wheel fully in either direction while parked or moving slowly; No immediate loss of steering function
Repairs/costs cited: Entire steering system replaced under warranty; owner noted this defect led to recalls in older Kias and has caused accidents
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty repair approved; no recall mentioned
Vehicle pulls strongly to the right at highway speed
Vehicle veers or pulls sharply and abruptly to the right during highway driving above 45–50 mph. In some cases the pull is severe enough to cause the vehicle to begin veering off the road. One complaint attributes this to lane-keeping assist function, though the pulling is described as dangerously sharp and abrupt.
When: Present early after purchase (7 months in one case); mileage varies
Symptoms owners cite: Sharp, abrupt pull to the right at speeds above 45–50 mph; Vehicle veers toward right lane boundary; No warning lights reported; Pulling worsens over time
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer attributed to lane-keeping assist and declined to address; another dealer (Kia of Irvine) reported inability to perform alignment due to lack of equipment; right front tire shows severe accelerated wear from alignment problem
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned; one dealer claimed pulling is normal design behavior of lane-keeping assist
Steering wheel jammed or locked preventing engine start
Steering wheel becomes physically jammed or locked in place, preventing the driver from turning the key to start the engine. The jam persists for an extended period before the wheel finally releases.
When: Two incidents reported; specific mileage not provided
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locked in place; Unable to turn ignition key; Unable to start the engine; Jam lasted over 1 hour before releasing
Repairs/costs cited: Tow truck required; repairs not detailed
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2020 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 2020 Kia Soul?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 16 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 45,077 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2020/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.