2010 Kia Soul problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (12) · Structure (10) · Visibility (9)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Soul model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
105 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Structure:body:roof And Pillars 2014-12-29 · campaign 14V822000 · 95,314 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.
Risk: A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC112.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2013-04-01 · campaign 13V114000 · 980,377 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 20
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Electrical System:wiring 2010-08-31 · campaign 10V388000 · 35,185 vehicles
Defect: KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SOUL AND MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 THROUGH JULY 30, 2010. A LIMITED NUMBER OF WIRING HARNESSES SUPPLIED BY JCI AND USED FOR THE LIGHTING IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, LOCATED IN THE FRONT DOOR TRIM PANELS, AND THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION, LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR TRIM PANELS, MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SOLDERED.
Risk: WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY OCCUR THAT CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE LIGHTS IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, AND THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Service bulletins (74)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-06-09 · CS2311_TSB_R4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 provi
Structure:body 2025-12-19 · CS2311_OWNR_PC201 · Other
customer satisfaction campaign: postcard owner renotification (cs2311) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting customer satisfaction campaign. kia has developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade and can be installed at the ignition
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2025-12-09 · PS797 · Other
pitstop: technical operations: external damage to ultrasonic sensor: this pitstop provides information related to parking distance warning (pdw) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. the pdw system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal
Power Train 2025-04-17 · TSB_TRA046_R5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: transmission fluid application guide - 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 relating to the correct transmission fluid ty
Structure:body 2024-10-18 · CS2311_TSB_R3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 provid
Power Train 2024-05-16 · TSB_TRA046_R4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each kia model. a flush is required only when a transmission is replaced.
Showing the 6 most recent of 74 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-24 · Seat Belts · 💥 crash“the air bags did not deploy and the seat belt didn't lock and at the moment it is available to be inspected. my seat belt didn't lock so it is probably why my back fractured. i don't know if the problem has ever been reproduced or confirmed. to my knowledge no one has inspected the car. there was no warning signs or lights that came on. apparently …”
2026-04-02 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc)“see attached document for complaint.…”
2025-10-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System“gas tank mounting are rusting and are not the correctly plated …”
2024-12-16 · Unknown Or Other“hello, i would like to report that someone attempted to steal my 2010 kia soul. the incident occurred on [xxx], in san jose, ca 95111. as a result of the attempted theft, there is damage to the car’s steering wheel and ignition. please let me know if additional information or documentation is needed to assist with this report. information redact…”
2024-02-07 · Engine“scanner can not communicate with the ecm/tcm u0101 code shifting issues starting issues…”
2023-11-19 · Visibility/Wiper“i bought car being financed in sac,ca. august 8, 2023. took back referred to mechanic round corner. brake rotor issues fixed front this was august 14 noise still exist took back turned back rotors scraping noise pulling to left took to other automotive repairs ,inspections shocks original 2010 208,000 miles , brakes rotors scratches need replacing …”
2023-10-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 🔥 fire“i was driving down the interstate on my way to work when my check engine light turned on and began flashing rapidly. i then began to get over to the shoulder and into safety when i heard what sounded like a loud dropping sound come from the engine and smoke started coming out of the hood. when i got pulled over to the shoulder, i ran and popped my …”
2023-06-12 · Air Bags · 172,470 mi“the contact owns a 2010 kia soul. the contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 172,470. …”
2022-06-24 · Electrical System“the airbag light is on, and the passenger airbag light is off. kia dealership performed the electronic scan, and is obtaining message with defect in ocs sensor defect and electrical voltage. kia said needs kia part #95910-2k000 that kia has discontinued. there is no way to fix the air bag issue as kia has discontinued the part, and no dealer has…”
2022-06-21 · Seat Belts · 💥 crash“the contact owned a 2010 kia soul. the contact stated while driving 15 mph when she crashed into the rear passenger side of another vehicle due to an illegal turn damaging both vehicles. the contact stated the air bags did not deploy nor did the seatbelt retract. the contact stated when the paramedics helped out the vehicle the air bag fell out of …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.