NHTSA Complaint #11490443 — 2012 KIA SOUL

ENGINE issue reported to NHTSA

Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report

Complaint Details

ODI Number 11490443
Vehicle 2012 KIA SOUL
Component ENGINE
Date of Incident
Date Filed
Mileage N/A miles
Crash No
Fire No
Injuries 0
Deaths 0
Vehicle Towed No
State MO

Consumer Description

"play" and clicking noises in steering wheel have increasingly gotten much worse and noisier, clicking and clunking on turns. I feel like any moment my steering is going to go out and I am going to put everyone in my car and around me at risk. Called dealership and they said it is a common problem which I researched and found that the coupler in steering wheel fails. Kia used the same part in presvious years same model and even years afterward and those years were recalled but not my year. Makes no sense. The next issue was I was driving on the highway at 70 and all of a sudden lost power and car would not accelerate beyond a speed of 45 mph. Black smoke came out of my tail pipe and I limped home at 20 mph. Mo engine warning lights but I could smell something was hit like melted plastic. After letting the car sit a couple hours, I started it and it sounds like there is a hole in the exhaust all of a sudden. There lots of black ish grey soot under my car as if a balloon burst with soot in it from underneath the car somewhere. I called the dealer and described the issue and all they did was look up my vin and tell me there is no recall and that I must have gotten bad gas somewhere.

Related Complaints for the 2012 KIA SOUL

Other ENGINE Complaints

#11711934 On Oct. 14, 2025, this vehicle experienced a sudden catastrophic engine failure while driving approx. 70 mph on a hig...
#11709889 On 12/ 22/ 2025 I went to start the 2012 KIA Soul and it would act like it would start but, it would not turn over. B...
#11702167 I bought the car 2 yrs ago come April and it's had nothing but issues. I've had one recall did which was the knock se...
#11700888 P1326 code followed by loss of power (limp mode) followed by multiple misfires and loss of compression in cylinder 2....
#11671409 While driving KIA 2012: It will suddenly quit running while driving. Loss of control of steering. Loss of electrical...

Recent Complaints for the 2012 KIA SOUL

#11714892 STEERING I have a used kia soul 2012 which I bought 3 years ago. It's steering column has started making strange clicking nois...
#11710763 STEERING I am submitting this complaint regarding a known defect with the steering wheel coupler in my 2012 Kia vehicle. The s...
#11709889 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM On 12/ 22/ 2025 I went to start the 2012 KIA Soul and it would act like it would start but, it would not turn over. B...
#11706152 STEERING Steering is slightly loose and thumps when turned to the right.
#11702657 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brak...
Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report