2012 Kia Soul complaints

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 had this issues and a lot of people have had this happen to them.

When I first Bought my Kia the dealership told me they changed the battery because the car had trouble starting. A month goes by and my car had trouble starting again. I took It back to the dealership and they told me nothing was wrong with it and they needed a check engine light to fix something. Another month went by and my car was still having problems. I called The dealer ship and I told Them I thought It was my crankshaft position sensor and they told me they would look at it again. When I took It in they said nothing was wrong. Another month went by and still problems starting. I was At a red light and all of the sudden my car turned off. Once I got It to start the check engine light was on. I went And checked what the code was and believe it or not it was the crankshaft position sensor. I am Not the only one who has had this replaced on this car.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel made clicking sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion and steering column needed to be replaced. The contact declined the rack and pinion and steering column replacements. The vehicle was then taken to Turnersville Kia (2900 NJ-42, Sicklerville, NJ 08081) where it was diagnosed that the steering flexible coupling needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact stated that he heard a knocking sound in the engine but overlooked the sound. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Coolant) and referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V101000 (Engine). Additionally, the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine was damaged and needed to be replaced. The contact then stated that the dealer declined to perform the recall repair because the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer offered to perform the repair once the engine was replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the decision was left to the dealer to determine what repair was needed. In addition, the contact stated that the manufacturer offered an option to cover half the cost for a trade-in, but the contact declined. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

2012-2013 MY SOUL MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING (MDPS) FLEXIBLE COUPLING - I just had to have this replaced and it cost me money to get this part replaced - its a safety issue and I didnt even know this was a issue until my car started having the problem... I really this is crappy that a safety issue that is a known issue is not replaced for free.

My mechanic found a small gear located in the power steering wheel called the steering coupler. It has worn down and broke into pieces, making the steering wheel rattle and shake while driving. This is an issue that can turn dangerous as my car moves back and forth on the road due to this problem. The part is also made of PLASTIC! This is a poor cheap design that needs to be recalled. Many other consumers have the same problem with this on their 2012 Kia Soul.

The steering wheel ignition lock is easy bypassed by using only a small screwdriver or USB cord. This makes the car easily stolen and therefore violates the requirements of 571.114 which requires a "starting system which, whenever the key is removed from the starting system prevents.. the normal activation of the vehicles engine or motor". This affects all Kia / Hyundai vehicles with a normal keyed ignition and without a vehicle immobilizer produced from approximately 2009-2022. Since the technology required to comply with the regulation (i.e. a vehicle immobilizer) is readily available and available on other cars from this maker, the vehicle manufacturer knowingly violated this regulation. I request a NHTSA inquiry into this clear safety defect.

On July 14, 2022 at approximately 7:41 pm in Jacksonville, FL. The car hydroplaned and flip 3 times which ended up with the vehicle have significant damage to the front end and roof of the car. The driver side airbag did not deploy during this accident. Which makes me real concern, thank goodness my son-in law was able to walk away from the crash. However he is now experiencing problems from the impact and faulty air bags not deploying. I noticed that a recall was for 2014 but did not include the 2012 model. This is something of concern and needs to be investigated. The car has since been donated to DAV, if this information is needed please let me know as well as pictures of the vehicle.

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.

Any time I apply the brakes while simultaneously hitting a bump, speed bump, etc, the brakes seems to loose power and the brakes seem to go to the floor. It's frightening! I have mentioned it to the KIA Dealer but they've not been able to identify the issue.

Popping in steering when turning back and forth. Cruise and radio quit working.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle then stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. Additionally, the contact stated that she smelled a strong fuel odor. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 5 MPH. The contact drove to her father's residence and parked the vehicle. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine, and Engine Cooling) which she associated with the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 190,150.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at unknown speed, the check engine warning light appeared illuminated. Shortly after the light illuminated, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who discovered that the vehicle was low on oil; however, there was no evidence of an oil leak. Oil was added, however, the vehicle failed to restart. The mechanic then diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where they confirmed the engine failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, after retrieving the vehicle, the failure was still present. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,378.

A loud thumping noise accompanied by a large amount of smoke in exhaust along with sudden loss of engine power while traveling at highway speeds. Oil was spewing from a hole that was blown through engine block.

The contact's daughter owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was leaking oil. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer performed an unknown repair; however, the vehicle later lost motive power. The vehicle was then taken to Community Kia of Bloomington (2200 S Walnut St, Bloomington, IN 47401) where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine damage and connecting rod failure, which punctured the engine block. Community Kia of Bloomington informed the contact's daughter that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, she saw smoke exiting the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and after exiting the vehicle, she saw a fire that started under the vehicle. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The contact was unaware if a fire report was filed. The contact stated no one was injured or sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to her sister's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.

On April 25, 2022 the airbag light illuminated on the 2012 Kia soul. It was taken to the shop a Kia dealer on May 3, 2022. We were told by the mechanic that a contact assembly clock spring malfunctioned and if not repaired would be dangerous to drive the car because the airbag may not deploy. We inquired whether this issue was covered on the Kia airbag recall number SC229. Because this recall only covered Kia souls July 21, 2013-June 20, 2014.

Steering coupler. I have paid for replacement 2 different times and has broke yet again. Worried with wife driving car that she will lose control

The steering coupling is going out. it makes a clunking noise when you turn the steering wheel either direction constantly.

The contact's daughter owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's daughter had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective catalytic converter. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, upon a VIN search, she discovered that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle made a clicking noise. The check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not offer any assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 158,000.

On 4/7/2022 I was advised by Mike at Auffenberg Kia Group in O'Fallon, IL (618)624-2277 that the problem with my car stalling and starting is the catalytic converter. I had my car towed to the Kia Dealership and the diagnostic code that the car was giving is P0335. After replacing the crankshaft sensor, the car continued to stall and struggle to startup. The service repairmen advised me that they spend 9.5 hours of diagnostic time with Kia troubleshooting the problem because everything was testing good. The service repair and kia decided that the issue is the catalytic converter. The kia service repairmen also advised me that they opened a case with kia, case number 14741430 to try to get the repair covered under the recall but Kia's district manager declined the repair. My engine is 2.0L and the recall is for engines 1.6L. I ask that Kia does the right thing and repair my vehicle.

I've had recalls on antiknock sensor and catalytic problems with vehicle I've had them repaired at kia dealerships to no avail I've had catalytic converter replaced with my own money because the solutions did not fix problems..still having severe issues.vehicles engine light blinks three times and goes into limp mode which prevents engine from accelerating past 45 mph

Took it in to the shop. Had have problems with vehicle start up, stalling, and smell of gas. It has 107000 miles on it. Was told engine will need to be replaced. It is a Hazzard while driving.

The fuel tank is made in two parts a top and a bottom and assembled together along with mounting brackets. The joining seam leaks fuel when the fuel level is greater than half fuel. The fuel leakage is very close to the exhaust system creating a potentially dangerous Fire and Safety hazard. The design is flawed because the mounting brackets continually stress the joint which separates to cause fuel leakage.

Steering wheel couplen is going out and every kia soul 2011 2013 are recall some 2012 why isn't mine thats a sad situation kias are having major recalls kia needs to fix my steering

My 2012 Kia Soul+ is having the same steering wheel "clunking" issue as other years/models which have been issued a recall notice but my year/model/VIN is not included in the recall and I would like for it to be included so I can get the safety issue fixed. https://www.vehiclehistory.com/articles/2012-kia-soul-steering-recalls-your-questions-answered - below are statements from other owners with same issue: "I have a 2012 Kia Soul and the steering coupler is messed up. Premature Wear of the Flex Steering Coupler, it states that previous years and later years have this problem. But the 2012 does not have a recall although it has the same coupler." "Why is the 2012 Kia Sould not recalled for steering coupler? All other years prior and after were." "I have a 2012 Kia soul and the steering wheel coupler is messed up all other Kia have recall but my year model does not but yet same issue same part "

Steering coupler failing. Steering wheel currently clicks and feels loose when turning. Afraid it will break at any moment and needs immediate repair... Recall has been offered for other years of Kia Souls for this part but not 2012. This should be a recall for 2012 too!

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the contact was advised by the dealer that her vehicle could not be repaired at the moment. The contact stated that she had been waiting to receive an appointment date to have the vehicle repaired for over a year. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

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.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, however, declined the authorize the repair. The manufacturer provided no further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.

2012 Kia Soul there is a recall sc176 but my car is not on the recall? Around September 2021 my Motor running hot engine light is on and is flashing acts like it has low compression won’t go when I give it gas sometimes . Engine light came on again in november2021 and did not go off My car bogged down I was going 60mph 0mw to work traffic behind me and all sudden car went down to 40 then 20 mph then came To complete stop in highway I was almost rear ended. I would give it gas but it wouldn’t go . Big puff of gray smoke came Out of tail pipe then smoke started coming out from under hood I raised hood and hot water was bubbling and splashing out of motor. Now there is no air or exhaust coming from my tail pipe car will crank but will not go smelt like wires burning . I don’t understand how the same year make and model have recalls but mine doesn’t , I’m having the same problem as the recall I’m without transportation now please help me with this matter I have a appointment on Jan 31 2022 at Kia dealership but my vin doesn’t show recall idk what to do I had someone look at it they told me it was the Catalic converter malfunctioning this is very dangerous it could have caused a wreck or caught on fire leaving me Stranded on side of road is very unsafe for a woman ant time especially at night .

Vibration of tires while driving and clicking noise when turning steering wheel

While attempting to accelerate on the interstate (around 70 mph),car would not accelerate engine began to knock. No warning lights were illuminated. Took the vehicle to a local automotive repair and was informed that it had completely burned through the oil and the engine would need to be replaced. This would be the 2nd Engine I replaced Engine 2 years ago.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the catalytic convertor replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the check engine warning light illuminated for a second time. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the high-pressure sensor and the fuel pump to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the check engine warning light was illuminated for a third time. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 189,299.

Popping sound in steering column when turning. it is available for inspection. problem identified by Firestone technician.

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??

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and had the engine repaired. The contact stated that she experienced the failure for the second time in August 2021. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Sound coming from the engine check engine light on , I took the car to the Kia dealership and they refuse to fix it even with that recall SC176 , thank you

Approximately six months ago, my check engine light came on and I took my car to a local mechanic. He said that I needed an oil change and my oil level seemed a bit low even though it wasn’t at the 5000 mile mark yet, so I should keep an eye on oil consumption. Around 3500 miles after this oil change, my check engine light came on again. I took my car back to the mechanic at Midas and he informed me that my car was consuming oil due to faulty seals around the pistons, and I would need to make a warranty claim to KIA. The dealership immediately knew what the issue was and agreed to make an appointment to replace the engine, but called back and informed me I needed to do an oil consumption test and would have to pay for an additional oil change from the dealership. I agreed and after driving 1000 miles I brought my car back. The dealership confirms it is burning over a quart of oil every 1000 miles, but now they claim the engine will not be covered unless it seizes up while I am driving. Their suggestion is I replace the engine on my own dime or put more oil in every few thousand miles until it seizes and causes a potentially fatal accident. As I have been researching online, I have found several people with similar issues, and many who’s cars HAVE seized while they were driving highway speeds. It seems as though KIA’s plan to keep costs low is to hope anyone with an engine claim dies in the crash when it inevitably seizes up. Burning over a quart of oil every 1000 miles and su

While attempting to accelerate on the interstate (around 70 mph), the engine began to knock. No warning lights were illuminated. Took the vehicle to a local automotive repair and was informed that it had completely burned through the oil and the engine would need to be replaced. The technician advised that there is a technical service bulletin out for the issue in question as it relates to excessive oil consumption for affected vehicles. The engine could have failed at any point and we were advised it was unsafe to drive. As stated earlier, there were no warning lights and no reason to believe anything was wrong with the car prior to this incident as it has had routine oil changes and maintenance. The problem was detected at a Tires Plus location but the car is being towed to the dealer to confirm the issue this week. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone else.

Kia used a cheap plastic part as the central junction of the entire steering system. This causes a "clunk" noise when the plastic starts breaking down, and can eventually lead to complete steering failure. This should be a MFG recall, but instead it is a $500 repair.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph when the engine began to knock. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing engine replaced but was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) however the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that their vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000

The rod punctured the engine block and caused a fire around the fuel pump area. Signs on the positive battery terminal of jumping backwards. Kia believes the cause of the fire was the engine falling apart. I had been travelling free of worry when I heard a high whirring sound then a bang coming from the engine. I pulled over immediately and upon opening the hood discovered a fire. Good samaritans pulled over and put the fire out, there were 3 females in my car who could've burned alive had the others not stopped. The car needed a new engine at the cost of $7,404.08 I sold this car to Carvana and am waiting for Kia to get their act together and refund the cost of potentially killing 3 people. I have all paperwork from Kia regarding the incident.

Engine piston fails, while drive metal from the piston where internal parts out and vehicle breaks down. no warning lamps illuminated

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 25-55 MPH, the vehicle started making an abnormal ticking sound. The check engine warning light and the oil pressure warning light were illuminated. The contact stated he was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as a rod knock. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the recall repair was not completed as the dealer refused to replace the engine. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would follow up with the dealer on the diagnostic result. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.