TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. ALSO, AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
2012 Kia Soul complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2012 record →
I CAN FEEL SLACK PLAY IN THE UPPER STEERING THAT MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN STATIONARY, MOVING, IN TOWN OR ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO ON INTERSTATE WHEN I REACH APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END STARTS AND INCREASES WITH SPEED. IT GETS TO AN INTENSITY THAT I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING OVER SIXTYFIVE MPH
WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT'S MAKING A CLICKING SOUND AND EVERY TIME YOU GO OVER A BUMP IT MAKES THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE
WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THERE IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH A DISINTEGRATED RUBBER BUSHING IN THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR AND THERE IS A RECALL DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. WHY IS MY CAR NOT COVERED?
THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) WOULDN'T FIND ANY GEAR. THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TURNED GREEN, I PLACED THE GEAR IN 1ST. IT DROVE ABOUT 200 FEET AND I HEARD A FAINT "POP". THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR DID NOT HAVE ANY FEELING IN IT, AND I COULDN'T GO INTO ANY GEAR. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING, I STILL HAD A CLUTCH PEDDLE, JUST NO GEARS. I HAD IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION CABLE LINKAGE HAD FAILED AND IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO FIND A NEW ONE. APPARENTLY THE 2012 SOUL 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION IS A ONE YEAR ONLY? WHEN ASKED HOW LONG WOULD IT BE THE DEALERS RESPONSE WAS, "WE HAVE A LOT OF RECALLS IN HERE, AND YOUR PART IS ON BACK ORDER".
CAR WAS GREAT UNTIL IT REACHED THE 100000 MILE MARK. THEN IT LOSES ALL POWER AND DIES WHILE GOING 65 TO 70 MPH ON FREEWAY! IT IS GOING TO GET ME KILLED! WHEN HAPPENS, THE RPM GAUGE QUICKLY PLUMMETS TO ZERO AND REMAINS THERE AT ZERO AFTER I GET IT RESTARTED. AFTER IT SITS FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES IT STARTS FINE WITH THE RPM GAUGE GIVING AN ACTUAL READING. THIS IS HAPPENING ABOUT 3 TIMES IN A 25 MILE SPAN!
I HAVE A 2012 KIA SOUL THAT HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS STARTED MAKING THE HIGHLY COMPLAINED ABOUT CLUNKING NOISE AND SHIFTING/LOOSE SENSATION IN THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHETHER STATIONARY OR DRIVING. IT HAS ALSO FOR SOME TIME BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SHAKING STEERING WHEEL AT AROUND 80 MPH THAT HAS COMPLAINTS. I AM A FORMER MECHANIC AND THROUGH READING ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND SEEING SYMPTOM/REPAIR VIDEOS I HAVE DIAGNOSED MY CLUNKING STEERING COLUMN TO BE CAUSED BY A FAILED STEERING COUPLER. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED BY KIA ON OTHER VEHICLES BUT NOT ON 2012 SOUL.THIS STEERING COUPLER ISSUE SHOULD HAVE KIA RECALLING ALL VEHICLES THAT HAVE REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE. I AM LOOSING FAITH IN KIA MOTORS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THIS PART ON MY TIME/MONEY.
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WAS EXITING ON OFF RAMP CAR LOST EXCELERATION CAR BLEW OUT SMOKE AND STALLED COASTED OFF EXIT. WOULD NOT RUN AFTER THAT. IT CLICKED LIKE IT WANTED TO START. FOUND HUGE HOLE BLOWN IN MY ENGINE BLOCK
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 THE TEST DRIVE, THE VEHICLE EMMITED 3 OBD CODES, AND DIDNT START MISFIRING UNTIL THE TACHOMETER WENT OVER 3500 RPM. BY THEN, I WAS DOING A HIGHWAY TEST ON I-80 OUTSIDE LINCOLN, NE, AND THE CAR JUST DIED AT AROUND 55-65 MPH. IT EMMITED CODE 0336 FOR A BAD CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, 0565 FOR CRUISE CONTROL ON SIGNAL MALFUNCTION (I HAVE THE BASE MODEL, SO THERE IS NO CRUISE CONTROL), AND 0517 FOR BATTERY TEMPERATURE CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE INTERSTATE, AND BACK HOME WHERE THE PROBLEM CHANGED AGAIN. NOW IT MISFIRES UNTILL THE TACHOMETER HITS 3500, THEN THE TACHOMET
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THEE CONTACT HEARD ABNORMAL NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. KIA OF DULUTH (1701 W MICHIGAN ST, DULUTH, MN 55806, (866) 722-4542) DIAGNOSED THAT THE PISTONS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT OIL NEEDED TO BE ADDED BETWEEN OIL CHANGE INTERVALS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NUMBER ONE PISTON ROD BEARING DAMAGED THE CRANKSHAFT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MIKE KELLY KIA (LOCATED AT 254 PITTSBURGH RD SUITE A, BUTLER, PA 16002, (724) 287-2701) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
ENGINE LEAKING AND CAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER DOESN'T SEAM RIGHT
MY CAR GETS VERY HOT FOR NO REASON . THE DASHBOARD ,RADIO,BY MY GEARSTICK TO NAME A FEW PLACES. I SEEN THE RECALL FOR THE SOULS CATCHING ON FIRE AND READ THAT THE EXHAUST GAS CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE LAST APRIL ONLY A MONTH AFTER BUYING MY CAR. I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE STEPS TO TAKE TO TRY AN GET IT ADDED .
STEERING IS MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAYS IT IS A COUPLER MUST BE FIXED BEFORE I LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER. I AM AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SINCE IT COULD LOSE STEERING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 31000 MILES ON IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALOHA KIA (94-169 FARRINGTON HWY, WAIPHAU, HAWAII 96819) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
STEERING MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AND FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT LOCK UP AT LOW SPEEDS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS FAULTY AND EXTREMELY LOOSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO STEER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME LOOSE WITH A "CLICK" ON EITHER SIDE OF PLAY. WAS TOLD BY KIA DEALER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1843. IF I DIDN'T FIX IT, MY STEERING MIGHT GO OUT AT ANY TIME. KIA COVERED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH RECALLS ON LATER MODELS BUT REFUSED TO COVER THIS BECAUSE OF VEHICLE AGE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A MILEAGE OR AGE ISSUE, IT'S A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. I'VE FOUND DOZENS OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE.
THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN BEING TURNED, WHILE STATIONARY OR MOVING. 90,000 MILES ON CAR, AFRAID THE STEERING MAY GIVE OUT... HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SINCE INITIAL CLUNKING BEGAN AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES
KIA FLEXIBLE STEERING COUPLER 56315-2K000FFF COMPLETELY FAILED 12/2018. SAME COMPLAINT AS HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF 2012 KIA SOULS. PLASTIC STEERING COUPLER COMPLETELY FALLS APART CAUSE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PLAY AND BAD BANGING WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. GOING OVER ROAD HOLES, SPEED BUMPS AND EVEN ROAD REFLECTORS CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL IN EITHER DIRECTION AS WELL AS DRIFTING ISSUES. DEFECTIVE PART WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE BREAKDOWN OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT. KIA DEALERSHIP IN LAKE WALES, FL QUOTED $450 TO REPLACE THE $10 STAR SHAPED COUPLER STATING THE COSTS ARE MAINLY IN LABOR. THESE REPAIR COSTS SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. THE PART SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS A POOR DESIGN ON THE PART OF KIA. THE 2012 SOUL SHOULD BE INCLUDED ALONG WITH THE 2014-2016 RECALLS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE EXACT ISSUE. I ALSO OWN A 2015 SOUL AND HAVE RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE COUPLER REPAIR. (WE ALSO OWN A 2017 SPORTAGE) WHY ARE THE 2012 OWNERS BEING LEFT OUT AND DISREGARDED? THE PART IS THE SAME, THE LABOR IS THE SAME AND THE POTENTIAL DANGER AND FURTHER DAMAGE IS THE SAME. KIA SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THE RIGHT THING BEFORE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS FILED AND COST THEM A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT MORE. KIA'S LACK OF CUSTOMER CARE, CONCERN AND COMMITMENT TO THE 2012 OWNERS IS DISRESPECTFUL AND SHAMEFUL. I TRULY AND SINCERELY HOPE KIA WILL TAKE NOTICE OF OUR COMPLAINTS AND PLEA AND HELP US. *TR
STEERING COLUMN MAKES A RATHER LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AS IT'S BEING WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND WHEN IT'S IN MOTION. STEERING COUPLER SHOULD BE RECALLED NOT MADE FOR THE CONSUMER TO FOOT THE BILL ON INFERIOR PRODUCTS.
LOUD CLUNK ON TURNING THE WHEEL SOUNDS LIKE COUPLING IS FAULTY. OCCURS STATIONARY AND MOVING THOUGH APPEARS TO DECREASE WHEN MOVING FASTER. CONCERNED THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE VEHICLE.
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND WHEN STATIONARY. THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT'S MOVING ON IT'S OWN, I HAVE TO HOLD IT VERY STEADY TO KEEP CONTROL. I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING COUPLER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND IT WOULD COST $200. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THESE MODEL CARS BASED ON THE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. I STARTED NOTICING IT AROUND 70K MILES. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALL. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.
STEERING COLUMN COUPLER TO MDPS IS OF POOR DESIGN AND FAILS PREMATURELY. KIA HAS RECALLED THE SAME PART IN THE OPTIMAS IN THE SAME YEARS AND FUTURE MODELS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AS WELL. IF NOT REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN CAN COMPLETELY DISCONNECT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND RESULT IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS HAS NOT DIRECTLY HAPPENED IF THE PARTS ARE REPLACED DUE TO THE OTHER SYMPTOMS OF KNOCKING OR CLICKING BUT IS A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW FOR USING INFERIOR PLASTICS IN CRITICAL COMPONENT OF DRIVING CONTROL. REFERENCE TSB CHA 44-2014, CHA 74-2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. A DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING; HOWEVER, THERE WERE SIX TSBS FOR THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THERE WAS A PERMANENT REMEDY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED . THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
SPARK PLUGS ARE BURNING OUT FOR NO REASON. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL TUNE UPS. BECAUSE THE SPARK PLUGS ARE DOING THIS. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM.?
STEERING WHEEL HAS DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANT "PLAY" IN BEING ABLE TO MOVE 1-2 INCHES EITHER WAY WITH AN AUDIBLE CLUNK WHEN IT REACHES THE POINT OF ACTUALLY ENGAGING THE STEERING MECHANISM. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTED INCIDENCES OF STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS ON THE 2012 KIA SOUL THAT HAVE USUALLY BEEN LINKED TO A FAULTY STEERING COUPLER (HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/KIAMOTOR/SOUL/STEERING-COLUMN-PROBLEMS.PHP). LATER YEAR MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS, BUT NOT THE 2012.
WAS GOING DOWN TEN, KIA CAN'T DETERMINE IF MY POWER STEERING WANT BOUT WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 55, AND THEN HITTING A DEER. THE BODY WORK HAS BEEN FIXED BUT MY VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING IS NOT RESPONDING - MDPS WILL NOT COMMUNICATE WITH VEHICLE. FAILURE IN ELECTRONIC MDPS AT TOP OF STEERING COLUMN. THEY CHECKED ALL CONNECTORS, AND NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO COLUMN ITSELF. FOUND C1503 -ESC/ECS (ESP) ERROR AND C1687 - TIME OUT VSM2 (MDPS) FAILURE. DIAGNOSIS SAYS I NEED A POWER STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY. GEICO REFUSES TO COVER THIS SAYING IT'S A COMMON ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING ISSUE WITH KIA'S. IF THESE ARE MESSING UP ELECTRONICALLY WHILE DRIVING THIS YEAR FOR 2012 SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT FEELS AS IF INSURANCE HAS FOUND A LOOPHOLE TO NOT COVER KIA SOULS WITH POWER STEERING. I ALSO SAW A CORROSION ISSUE RECALL AND MY CAR WAS FROM OHIO WHICH I LIVED THERE YEARS WITH IT BEFORE MOVING TO VIRGINIA. NO ONE AT THE NEWPORT NEWS VIRGINIA KIA EVEN MENTIONED THE RECALL FOR MY VIN #, I FOUND IT WHILE REGISTERING MY KIA ONLINE.
2012 KIA SOUL STEERING COUPLER DEFECT, ATTACHED IS MY RECEIPT TO REPAIR A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC STEERING COUPLING THAT RESULTED IN A STEERING HAZARD (SHIMMYING, SHAKING, VIBRATING) WHILE MAKING A ROAD TRIP TO FL. UNFORTUNATELY KIA CORPORATE REFUSES TO ACCEPT THIS AS A DEFECT ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY EXTENDED THEIR KIA OPTIMA WARRANTY ON THIS DEFECT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS GENERATED THROUGH COMPLAINTS. THE SERVICE TECH AT KIA I SPOKE WITH CONFIRMED THEY HAD RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SOUL STEERING COUPLING BUT COULDN'T SAY HOW MANY COMPLAINED OR HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WOULD BE NEEDED TO AFFECT A RECALL SO I HAD TO INCUR A $300+ EXPENSE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. PLEASE CONTACT ME @ [XXX]. MY EMAIL IS [XXX]. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHEN CAR IS RUNNING AND IN PARK TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AN INCH OR SO IN EITHER DIRECTION IS VERY LOOSE AT FIRST TILL IT BEGINS TO BECOME FIRM AND YOU HEAR A THUD. THE AMOUNT OF PLAY IS ABOUT AN INCH GOING TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN MAKING TURNS, THE STEERING COLUMN MADE AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF SOUTH AUSTIN (LOCATED AT 5306 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX 78745, (512) 444-6635) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLEX COUPLER ON THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
THE HOOD DISENGAGED WHILE MY 76 YEAR OLD MOTHER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SMASHED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES AND CHARGED HER $3,500 TO FIX IT. IT BROKE LOOSE TWICE AFTER THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING BUT DIDN'T FLY UP AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. SHE TOOK IT IN BOTH TIMES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMERS SERVICE ON 9/12 AND THEY SAID THEY'D CALL ME BACK IN 48 HOURS BUT NEVER DID. I CALLED BACK ON 9/18 AND THEY SAID THEY'D CALL ME BACK IN 48 HOURS BUT NEVER DID. I CALLED BACK ON 10/3 AND THEY SAID THEY'D CALL BACK IN 48 HOURS AND THEN I FINALLY RECEIVED A VOICEMAIL ON 10/15 ASKING TO CALL THEM BACK. I CALLED BACK AND RECEIVED THE PERSON'S VOICEMAIL ON 10/16, 10/22, 10/24 AND 10/25. NO RESPONSE AT ALL. THEY ARE IGNORING ME. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HOODS DISENGAGING ON KIA SOULS. MY MOTHER IS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE HER CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD OBVIOUSLY KILL SOMEONE. YET KIA DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN.
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.
THE STEERING IS MAKING A LOUD CLONKING NOISE WHILE TURNING, STATIONARY OR DRIVING, WORST ON THE HIGHWAY. I REPLACED AND BALANCED THE TIRES BUT STILL DOING IT. IT'S SCARY. I SEE THERE ARE MORE REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM.
TAKATA RECALL I TOOK MY CAR TO FIRESTONE TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE AND CHECK THE BREAKS. I WAS TOLD WHEN I TURN THE CAR LEFT IT MAKES A GOD AWFUL NOISE AND THE WHEEL SHAKES. I HAVE A 75000 MIKE WARRANTY ON IT. THIS BETTER BE COVERED. I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
AROUND 60,000 MILES I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT STARTED OUT MINIMAL, ONLY HAPPENING SLIGHTLY WHEN I WOULD TURN THE WHEEL (THIS WAS BOTH WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION). IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOME WORSE AND NOW ON TOP OF THE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING, MY WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN I REACH A SPEED OF 70 MPH.
VEHICLE HAS 96000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY BEGAN TO HEAR RATTLING AND PINGING. ATTEMPTED TO MAKE IT TO REST AREA TO PULL OVER AND INSPECT. HEARD LOUD BANG AND ENGINE STALLED. COASTED INTO REST AREA. INSPECTION REVEALED OIL LEAKING FROM HOLE BLOWN IN LOWER ENGINE BLOCK.
"TAKATA RECALL" THE STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. KIA SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS. AS TIME GOES ON IT IS GETTING WORSE AND IF ONE DAY SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME YOU WILL HEAR FROM A LAWYER AND MY DAUGHTERS. I GOT A ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS AND IT WILL BE OVER $200.00 . THIS WOULD BE LESS THEN A LAWSUIT.
I HAVE A 2012 KIA SOUL+ THAT HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS STARTED MAKING THE HIGHLY COMPLAINED ABOUT CLUNKING NOISE AND SHIFTING/LOOSE SENSATION IN THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHETHER STATIONARY OR DRIVING. IT HAS ALSO FOR SOME TIME BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SHAKING STEERING WHEEL AT AROUND 80 MPH THAT HAS COMPLAINTS. I AM A FORMER MECHANIC AND THROUGH READING ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND SEEING SYMPTOM/REPAIR VIDEOS I HAVE DIAGNOSED MY CLUNKING STEERING COLUMN TO BE CAUSED BY A FAILED STEERING COUPLER. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED BY KIA ON OTHER VEHICLES BUT NOT ON 2012 SOUL. I AM INTERESTED TO FIND OUT IF THIS COUPLER IS ALSO BEHIND MY SHAKING STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHER SPEEDS. SHAKING IS NOT DUE TO TIRES, WHEELS, OR ALIGNMENT/PARTS PROBLEMS AS PROBLEM WAS SAME BEFORE I JUST PUT NEW TIRES ON AND HAD BALANCE/ALIGNMENT DONE. ALSO WAS NO DIFFERENT BETWEEN SEVERAL TIRE ROTATIONS OF OLD TIRES. THIS STEERING COUPLER ISSUE SHOULD HAVE KIA RECALLING ALL VEHICLES THAT HAVE REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE. I AM LOOSING FAITH IN KIA MOTORS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THIS PART ON MY TIME/MONEY.
CAR HAS JUST OVER 60K MILES. KNOCKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THE KNOCKING OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS. IF SITTING IN NEUTRAL WITH ENGINE ON, TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT AND YOU FEEL AND HEAR THE KNOCKING SOUND.
THERE HAS BEEN A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO EITHER SIDE, WHILING DRIVING OR IN STILL MODE. IT SEEMS AS THIS HAS ALSO BEEN AN ISSUE WITH LATER MOTELS AS THEIR WAS A RECALL INVOLVING THE STEERING SYSTEM FOR YEARS 2014 - 2016. FROM RESEARCH, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TALK FROM 2012 KIA SOUL OWNERS HAVING TO HAVE THEIR COUPLER IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN REPLACED DUE TO POSSIBLE SAFELY ISSUES.
STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING.
2012 KIA SOULWITH 15,000 MILES: STEERING MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. EVEN WHEN SITTING STILL. WHEN DRIVING IT ALSO HAS PLAY AND MAKES CLUNKING NOISE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE COUPLER IS BAD, AND THAT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FEE TO FIX IS $200, AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, EVEN THOUGH THE MILEAGE IS SO LOW. OTHER KIA SOULS HAVE RECALLS, THIS YEAR SHOULD AS WELL.
MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING THIS CLUNKING NOISE IT HAD 50000 MILE ON IT, TOOK IT TO MY KIA DEALER, THE TOLD ME IT WAS A FLEXIBLE COUPLING AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE TO REPLACE IT THAT MY WARRANTY RAN OUT, I SAID THATS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY SAID ITS NOT, I JUST GOT MY CAR AND WENT HOME.I FOYND OUT THAT ALOT OF KIA MODELS HAD THAT PROBLEM AND THE WERE GIVEN A CALL BACK LETTER. IT MAKE NO SENSE ITS THE EXCAT SAME PART HAS THE ONE CALLED BACK, PLUSS IF IT DOESNT GET FIXED I COULD LOSE MY STERRING THE CAR HAS 52000 MILES ON. HOW CAN THEY RECALL MODEL AFTER 2013 AND NOT 2012.
CLICKING IN STEERING WHEN DRIVING OR SITTING STILL.
I FIRST NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE WHILE BACKING OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE. I THOUGHT PERHAPS A RECENT BRAKE JOB NEEDED SOME TWEAKING OR MAYBE HAD A DEFECTIVE PART INSTALLED. I DROPPED IT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECKED OUT ON TUESDAY MORNING. WHEN THEY FINALLY LOOKED AT IT ON THURSDAY THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO "CRANK BEARING FAILURE" AND "RING FAILURE." MY ENGINE ONLY HAD 63000 MILES ON IT AND ALL THEY COULD DO WAS SHRUG AND OFFER A USED ENGINE AT THE SAME COST AS THE CURRENT VEHICLE VALUE.
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
MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING THIS CLUNKING NOISE IT HAD 44,507 MILE ON IT,TOOK IT TO MY KIA DEALER,THE TOLD ME IT WAS A FLEXIBLE COUPLING AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE TO REPLACE IT THAT MY WARRANTY RAN OUT, I SAID THATS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY SAID ITS NOT, I JUST GOT MY CAR AND WENT HOME.I FOYND OUT THAT ALOT OF KIA MODELS HAD THAT PROBLEM AND THE WERE GIVEN A CALL BACK LETTER. IT MAKE NO SENSE ITS THE EXCAT SAME PART HAS THE ONE CALLED BACK,PLUSS IF IT DOESNT GET FIXED I COULD LOSE MY STERRING THE CAR HAS 44000 MILES ON IT
STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND CLICKING WHILE DRIVING. FELT LOOSE WHILE STATIONERY. LOCAL AUTO SHOP REPLACED MDPS FLEX COUPLING. IT WAS TOTALLY WORN OUT. CAR HAD LESS THAN 39,000 MILES. APPARENTLY 2014 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS. ALSO KIA OPTIMA'S FLEX JOINTS WERE REPLACED FREE AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP. THIS KIA SOUL UNES THE FAME FLEX JOINT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WEST PALM BEACH KIA (735 S MILITARY TRAIL, WEST PALM BEACH, FL), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ATTRIBUTED TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS, AND DOCUMENTED THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,751. *TT
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2012 Kia Soul → · Every Soul year → · How the figures are calculated →