2012 KIA SOUL Unknown Or Other Problems
39 NHTSA complaints on file
Unknown Or Other Issues in the 2012 KIA SOUL
39 unknown or other complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 KIA SOUL. Of these, 2 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 4 resulted in injury.
39
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Unknown Or Other Complaints
Was stalling, would loose power, now will not start. Found a recall ( engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic converter # 19v120000.) same problems. Towed to local kia, they say not under recall list. This recall is only for engine size 1.6. My engine is a 2.0. But they said catalytic converter needs replaced. Although car is aged only has about 55,000 miles. Catalytic converter should not be an issue. I believe the 2.0 engine needs to be added to the recall list.
To Whom It May Concern, I need a Recall Letter send to me to get my 2012 Kia Soul repaired. My Catalytic Converter needs to be replace, and my engine is leaking oil and that will need to be replace, and the Pillars on the front of my car, on the right & left side, needs to be replace, they flew off my car while I was driving on [XXX]. I looked up the information on the computer, that the vehicle emission warranty extends beyond the manufacturer's. along with others emission control devices, Federal Law requires to replace a defective Catalytic Converter & Engine for up to 15 years or 150,000 miles, the miles on my car is 128, 684. I took my vehicle to get check by Brake World , on [XXX] they said I needed a CRankshaft Position Sensor & a new Catalytic Converter. I have the printed...
a few months after buying the car (the car was bought used), the "check engine" icon appeared on the instrument panel, I immediately went to the car workshop, the employee said after checking that he did not see any problems. the icon disappeared from the dashboard. after a while the icon reappeared on the instrument panel. after that, I received a recall letter from the car manufacturer Kia, which stated that the car had a defect that could cause the car to catch fire. after that I contacted the dealer with this letter, the dealer informed me on the day of the application that there were no spare parts, they needed to be ordered, I asked them to order spare parts for me and agreed to wait a month. after a month on the appointed day - I contacted the dealer, but they did not solve my problem, informing me...
Vehicle first started to have issue with the blower motor relay, unknowingly at the time, that was the issue I had brought it to numerous mechanics, told it’s my blower motor itself, then took it to Kia and was told it’s not and they put my old one back in and didn’t solve any issue, on my way home my check engine light came on, driving on the HWY at 70mph. I get off on my exit slow down to the speed of 40Mph stop at the red light and then my vehicle starts to stall, refused to go faster then 40mph and was fighting it, at 7rpms. Local shop said it was some sort of sensor, had another mechanic look at it and found that KIA hadn’t put my Cars Computer back on my vehicle, so it was just flapping around, once he reconnected it the issue disappeared. Following...
The engines makes a weird chatter noise all the time
2012 Kia Soul 4dr wagon engine fail no warning lights sudden strange noise driving on highway with grandbabies. Heard a strange noise under hood then the vehicle lost acceleration and right before shutting down and dying the oil light came on and car went dead. No warning to any problem. Had the oil changed and double checked new oil was replaced. When I opened the hood and checked the oil their was no oil in vehicle it was as if it was drained out yet have no oil leaks to show it leaked out. If the oil disappears and no warning lights show no oil and car just dies on highway that is engine failure and burning up engine leading to fires and danger to drivers and passengers. 2012 Kia Soul 75,262 miles well maintained should not just be driving along engine malfunction and die and oil has disappeared. Let...
The series of events leading to my theory of what is wrong with my 2012 Kia Soul: 1. Steering coupler replacement in March of 2021 left my steering wheel sideways instead of straight, air bag light remains on, and traction control light as well. The after-market (I assume) cruise control is automatically on when car is started. Must turn off manually. 2. U-joint connecting to steering column fell onto my feet while driving in December of 2021. I slid it back on, but it slipped off approximately 4 more times in the next month before it was strongly secured. 3. Alignment performed in February 2022. Approximately 2 weeks after the alignment, my car started stuttering, if you will, prior to shifting into third gear. Then, again, prior to each shift into the higher gears. It stalled a few times in response to this action. While accelerating, the car begins to...
Unknown. Piston rings have blown, oil leaking into muffler.
"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...
Car started ticking, small repair shop told me it was engine lifters, I paid $2000 to replace them. After replacing the engine lifters the mechanic said it would be quite and stop making the ticking noise on idle and acceleration. However 5 months later it was still ticking, low power, brought it back in and they said I need to replace the engine lock block. This mechanical defect is a recall on my vehicles make model and year however it’s VIN is not under the recall. Car will stall, doesn’t want to accelerate quickly, will shake, and tap, or tick noise from the engine at start, and the entire time car is running, th ticking increases when I accelerate.
I was driving on the highway and I went To pass someone and then all of the sudden my car did not switch gears when accelerating (which has always been an issue) and a big cloud of white smoke came out of my exhaust. My car has always had issues switching gears but this time was bad. I checked all of my fluids, they were fine and my car wasn’t over heated. Once I started My car again it was fine and no smoke came out but it is still struggling to switch gears. I just Took my car to get my tires changed and looked at for any issues last week and they changed my tires and said my car had no issues. I know 2012 Kia Soul 1.6 engines just got recalled for similar issues. I also Looked up to see if anyone else with the same car...
The electrical system on this vehicle is severely malfunctioning. Once the engine is started it will not allow me to take it out of gear. All of the indicator lights are on and flash. It is unsafe because the Kia dealership service center doesn't know how to fix it. I don't think it's safe to drive because what if I put it in drive & it would not stop or shift to neutral.
Loss of power to brakes while braking at low speed resulting in a crash, air bag deployment and blowout of driver airbag. Driver sustained chemical burns, and abdomen bruising. The fire department extinguished a small fire . The KIA is a almost total loss .
KIA did a "PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN" as a work around for a recall on the Kia Soul. they were in the middle of this when our engine did the problem that they are "Improving," Dealership won't do the improvement saying we have no open recalls, but we keep getting the letter telling us to do the product improvement campaign. Engine is failing due to this issue, but dealership just wants us to replace engine. KIA won't replace since we didn't do the PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN that the dealership said we aren't eligible for. PLEASE HELP. I have all letters from KIA.
Steering clicks and feels loose when turning. Inspected by a repair shop and they said it was the steering coupler. It's my understanding this is a issue with most kia souls. This should be a recall item but 2012 year was not included. Very unsafe as steering can fail. Make this a recall.
Still the original owner or our 2012 Kia Soul and experiencing issues with the flex coupler in the steering column. As with other 2012 owners why is there no recall for this year unlike the other Kia and Hyundais make and models??
engine piston fails, while drive metal from the piston where internal parts out and vehicle breaks down. no warning lamps illuminated
Steering has clunking sound and loose feeling while turning the steering wheel. Research would suggest steering coupler faulty. This same part has been recalled in other Kia models but not in the particular model I own.
Steering wheel vibrate uncontrollable when driving
ESC LIGHT PROBLEM
MY CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF GAS STATION WON'T CRANK BACK UP
WITHIN TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR, IT STALLS WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, ETC., GEARED IN DRIVE AND LOW IDLE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN RESTARTED IT PROCEEDS AT A SLOW CRAWL AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE OR WILL ACCELERATE NORMALLY IN 15 TO 30 SECONDS. HAD OIL, OIL FILTER AND ENGINE AIR FILTER REPLACED BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT STALLS. AFTER SIX TIMES OF DYING AND NOT ACCELERATING, IT IS NOW PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND FEAR IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN ONE WEEK WITH NO PRIOR OPERATION ISSUES. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE FROM OTHER KIA SOUL OWNERS BUT NO RESOLVES, JUST ASTRONOMICAL REPAIR BILLS WITH NO FIXES AND NO HELP FROM KIA, DEALERSHIPS OR THE GOVERNMENT.
WHILE DRIVING CAR IS RANDOMLY STALLING . VISITED SEVERAL SERVICE INCLUDE KIA SERVICE AS WELL NOBODY KNOWS WHATS WRONG. IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN DURING DRIVING THE CAR JUST STALLS ALL OF THE SUDDEN.
REFRIGERANT OIL LEAKING FROM AC COMPRESSOR
ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO MY CAR DIED AT A STOPLIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME. ALL ALONG THERE IS NO INDICATOR LIGHTS. THEN DIED WHILE DRIVING 3 DAYS LATER AT 35 MPH. I WENT TO AN AUTO ZONE TO GET A CHECK ON ITS COMPUTER BUT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING DUE TO THE CORONA VIRUS. DROVE IT A FEW DAYS , IT DIED AGAIN AT THE STOPLIGHT. IT BEGAN TO DO THIS EVERY FEW DAYS .NO INDICATION WHEN IT WOULD SHUT OFF AND NO INDICATOR LIGHTS. I CALLED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND THERE WASN'T, I ALSO CHECKED ONLINE.WHEN IT DIED I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT JUST OFF THE ROAD OR AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS FOR A FEW MINUTES AND KEEP TRYING. THEN AFTER A FEW TIMES I STARTED NOTICING IT WOULD DIE AT THE INTERSECTION AND THEN MY RPM INDICATOR WOULD NOT WORK THEN THE CAR WOULD SHUT...
HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE
MY UVO RADIO IS FINE 1 DAY AND THE NEXT DAY IT NO LONGER HAS SOUND AND THE CLOCK DOESN'T WORK, I HAVE DONE A HARD RESET WITH NO RESULTS. WHEN RESEARCHING HOW TO FIX, I FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SOULS, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR SO ,ANY COMPLAINTS ? I JUST GOT IN IT 1 DAY TO LEAVE HOME AND IT NO LONGER WILL WORK.. THE BACK UP CAMERA HASN'T WORKED FOREVER AND I BOUGHT THIS KIA BRAND NEW AND IN 2019 WHEN I WAS WASHING THE KIA AT THE CAR WASH THE COVER OF THE BACKUP CAMERA FELL OFF AND THEIR IS CORROSION ALL OVER IT, I WOULD THINK FROM A FAULTY SEAL
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, AND ALL THE LIGHTS LINING THE FREEWAY WERE OUT. IT WAS PITCH BLACK, AND A COW HAD MADE ITS WAY INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SENT INTO THE AIR, AND FLEW RIGHT INTO MY CAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ONE OF ADOT'S FENCES WERE DOWN THAT WAS CONTAINING CATTLE. I WAS IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS, ALONG WITH MULTIPLE OTHER VEHICLES. I FILED A POLICE REPORT AND HAVE THAT CASE NUMBER AS WELL. I HAVE PHOTO AND VIDEO EVIDENCE PROOF.
WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT MAKES A POPPING NOISE AND SOMETIMES AS WELL IN OTHER GEARS CONTACTED THE DEALSHIP WHERE I GOT IT FROM IN 6/19 AND HE SAID IT SHOULD BE FINE, I CONTACTED BEFORE MY 30 DAY WARRANTY EXPIRED AS WELL BUT IT IS STILL DOING IT. I NOTICED IT DOING IT A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT IT. THE NOISE APPEARS AFTER THE AUTO LOCK ,
THIS PROBLEM IS STRANGE. I PURCHASED A USED 2012 KIA SOUL THIS YEAR. I TOOK IT TO HAVE THE 60K MAINTENANCE DONE. THE SERVICE AGENT AT 2 DIFFERENT PLACES VERIFIED AND ENTERED OUR VIN. IT DOESN'T EXIST IN THEIR SYSTEM. AFTER SEARCHING FOR MONTHS FOR SOME TYPE OF HELP WE FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS SOLD IN GUAM. IT IS AN AMERICAN STANDARD VEHICLE. IT WAS VERIFIED BY BOTH SERVICE ASSOCIATES. NOW THIS VEHICLE MAY BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL THAT HAS KILLED PEOPLE. I CAN'T HAVE THE WORK DONE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST IN KIA'S SYSTEM. SO NOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. NO ONE AT KIA KNOWS WHAT TO DO. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN DIFFERENT NUMBERS IN MULTIPLE COUNTRIES TO CALL. I CAN'T CALL ANY OF THEM. IT'S NOT AVAILABLE ON MY CARRIER OR ANY OF THE OTHER CARRIERS I'VE TRIED. THE KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF HAVE...
MY 2012 KIA SOUL (BASE) WITH THE 1.6L GDI RECENTLY HAD A PROBLEM ON I-80 TRAVELING BETWEEN DES MOINES, IA AND DENVER, CO. (THERE HAD BEEN NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS) AFTER REACHING AROUND 65 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN MISFIRING EMMITING OBD ERROR CODE 0336 INDICATION A BAD CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I STOPPED AT THE NEAREST AUTOZONE, BOUGHT A APPROPRIATE REPLACEMENT, AND INSTALLED THE PART IN THE PARKING LOT. UPON IGNITION, THE CAR IMMIDIATELY BEGAN MISFIRING AND DIED. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT, THE CAR STARTED AND MISFIRED; BUT IT SENT THE SAME 0336 CODE THEN THE TACHOMETER DIED. ALTHOUGH THE TECHOMETER DIED, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE (AND RUN) WITHOUT FURTHER MISFIRES. UPON SEEING THIS, I FIGURED IT WAS THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSORS (AS THE SYMPTOMS ARE VERY SIMILIAR). I FOUND, AND REPLACED BOTH ENGINE MOUNTED CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSORS, BUT NO NEW SYMPTOMS UNTILL I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. DURING...
BLOWER TO THE AC/HEATER JUST QUIT WORKING.. TURNED CAR OFF AT GAS STATION ,GOT BACK IN STAYED AND BLOWER WOULD NO LONGER WORK.. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 2012 KIA SOUL.
MY 2012 KIA SOUL CAUGHT FIRE JULY 13TH WITH MY SON DRIVING. THERE WAS A TICKING IN THE MOTOR, A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN FLAMES. WE HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT KIA SAYS IT'S AN INSURANCE ISSUE AND THEY CAN'T/WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NOW, NOT ONLY ARE WE WITHOUT A CAR BUT WE'RE STUCK WITH PAYMENTS FOR THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS BECAUSE INSURANCE SAYS IT'S NOT WORTH HALF OR WHAT WE STILL OWE ON IT. THANK GOD MY SON WAS OKAY BUT KIA NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE. *JS
CAR WOULD NOT START, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRE COVERS AND WIRES WERE DISINIGRATED. IT WAS TAKEN TO SHOP AND REPAIRED. THEN TWO WEEKS LATER HAPPENED AGAIN, THEN AGAIN ON 5/10/18 THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHOP AND MECHANIC HAD ADVISED THAT IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE BUT DIFFERENT LOCATION, THIS TIME WAS WORSE AND WAS TOLD THAT IF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STARTED THAT IT WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND ENDANGERING THE SAFETY TO MYSELF AND OTHER OCCUPANTS. WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT KIA USES A SOY BASED PEANUT OIL COATING FOR THE WIRES. HE INFORMED THAT THIS WOULD ATTRACT ANIMALS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $900 FOR THESE REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT KIA IS AWARE OF THIS AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS AS FAR AS HE IS AWARE OF.
BACKUP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING JUST OUT OF WARRANTY.
DRIVING MY CAR ABOUT 65 MPH DOWN A LONG STRETCH HIGHWAY IN THE WOODS HEARD THIS LOUD NOISE SAW BLACK IN THE RIGHT UPPER SIDE OF MY WIND SHIELD. THOUGHT I HIT A BLACK BIRD SAFELY PULLED OVER GOT OUT SAW NO BLOOD ON THE CAR OR FEATHERS. LOOKED CLOSER A BLACK PLASTIC MOLD HAD COME OFF AND CAUSED THE LOUD NOISY GOT IN MY CAR WENT BACK DOWN THE ROAD AND LOCATED IT WAS BROKE UP PRETTY GOOD. COME HOME DID SOME RESEARCH IT IS CALLED A PILLAR. IT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. THEIR WAS NO REASON THE PILLAR SHOULD HAVE BECOME DETACHED . WHEN I DID MY RESEARCH I NOTICED THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE NOT JUST ME.
REAR CAMERA DISABLED WHEN WASHED
THIS IS A STANDARD 6 SPEED VEHICLE. REVERSE IS IN THE SAME LOCATION AS 1ST GEAR. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT ONE MUST PULL ON A SLIDER CONTROL IN THE SHIFT HANDLE TO GET INTO FIRST. HISTORICALLY, REVERSE WAS ALWAYS THE GEAR FARTHEST AWAY FROM THE DRIVER. I HAVE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THOUGHT I WAS IN FIRST BUT WAS ACCIDENTLY IN REVERSE. I CAUGHT THE MISTAKE BEFORE THERE WAS ANY ACCIDENT. AS A SUGGESTION, REVERSE SHOULD BE IN THE SAME LOCATION FOR ALL CARS IN AMERICA. ACTUALLY, THE ENTIRE GEAR PATTERN SHOULD BE THE SAME FOR ALL STANDARD CARS IN AMERICA TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT.
VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE SLUGGISH, RPM WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 2500 RPM, HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, LOST DRIVEABILITY. *TT
Other 2012 KIA SOUL Problem Areas
Engine
206 complaints
Steering
162 complaints
Electrical System
37 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
33 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
23 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
21 complaints
Power Train
21 complaints
Air Bags
17 complaints
Structurebody
15 complaints
Service Brakes
10 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
9 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
7 complaints
Exterior Lighting
7 complaints
Suspension
6 complaints
Wheels
6 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor
5 complaints
Latcheslockslinkageshoodlatch
5 complaints
Seat Belts
4 complaints
Visibilitywiper
4 complaints
Steeringcolumn
3 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
2 complaints
Structure
2 complaints
Tires
2 complaints
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingengineoillubricationsumptankdrain Plug
1 complaint
Equipment Adaptivemobility
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingheadlights
1 complaint
Exterior Lightinglighting Control Module
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking
1 complaint
Lane Departure Assist
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfrontwarning Lightdevices
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontwheel Bearing
1 complaint
Tirestemporaryemergency Spare Tire
1 complaint
Traction Control System
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
1 complaint
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac System
1 complaint
Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly
1 complaint