What is the 2014-2016 Kia Soul Steering Pinion Gear Separation (Loss of Steering)?

NHTSA recall 17V608000 (Kia SC155) covers 2014-2016 Soul vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering-gear assembly, causing loss of steering and increasing crash risk. The campaign supersedes 14V332 and 15V736, including vehicles previously r… Severity: high.

What is the 2012-2016 Kia Soul Catalytic Converter Overheating and Engine Piston Damage?

NHTSA recall 19V120000 (Kia SC176) covers 2012-2016 Soul vehicles with the 1.6L GDI engine. Excessive exhaust-gas temperature can damage the catalytic converter, leading to abnormal combustion, piston damage, connecting-rod failure, stall or fire. Kia’s later SC176Y bulletin addr… Severity: high.

What is the 2020-2023 Kia Soul Piston Oil Ring Defect and Excessive Oil Consumption?

NHTSA recall 21V259000 (Kia SC209) covers certain 2020-2021 Soul vehicles with 2.0L Nu MPI engines whose piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated. Kia communication 11017169/SST082 indexes a later PNSS vibration-inspection process to certain 2020-2023 Soul vehicle… Severity: high.

What is the 2023 Kia Soul Side Curtain Air Bags Can Deploy Unexpectedly (Recall 23V830000)?

Kia recalled certain 2023 Soul vehicles because a manufacturing error in the side curtain air bag modules can cause them to deploy unexpectedly — that is, without a crash. In a Soul, the curtain bags run along the headliner above the side windows, so an unexpected deployment happ… Severity: high.

What is the 2011-2013 Kia Soul ABS/HECU Module Brake-Fluid Leak Causing Engine Compartment Fire?

The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU/ABS module) can develop an internal electrical short (fluid leakage plus localized PCB melting was found in retrieved units), producing excessive current that can cause an engine-compartment fire while parked or driving. NHTSA recall 23… Repairs typically run $0-$1,200. Severity: high.

What is the 2017-2020 Kia Soul 7-Speed Dual-Clutch (DCT) Judder and Premature Clutch Failure?

Souls with the 1.6L Turbo-GDI and 7-speed dry dual-clutch transmission exhibit low-speed clutch judder (a body shake accelerating from a stop, worst on cold/humid mornings), harsh engagement, and hesitation. The dry clutches glaze/wear during stop-and-go creeping. Kia's diagnosis… Repairs typically run $300-$6,000. Severity: high.

What is the 2014-2020 Kia Soul Panoramic Sunroof Spontaneous Shattering?

The optional panoramic glass sunroof can spontaneously shatter without impact, often at speed, showering occupants with glass and accompanied by a loud bang. NHTSA opened an investigation into Hyundai/Kia panoramic sunroof shattering in 2013 (expanded 2014) but closed it without… Repairs typically run $500-$1,500. Severity: high.

What is the 2015-2020 Kia Soul Electric Motor Bearing Noise (Soul EV)?

The Soul EV (2015-2020) can develop a whining or grinding noise from the electric drive motor due to bearing wear. The front motor bearing deteriorates prematurely, particularly in cold climates. The noise is most noticeable at low speeds when other road noise is minimal. Kia has… Repairs typically run $400-$4,000. Severity: medium.

What is the 2010-2013 Kia Soul Motor-Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Flexible Coupling Noise?

Kia TSB CHA074 covers 2010-2013 Soul vehicles in its listed production range and attributes a knock or click while turning at a stop to premature wear of the MDPS motor’s flexible coupling. Kia WTY013 separately extended flexible-coupling coverage to 10 years/unlimited mileage fo… Severity: medium.

Kia · Known Issues

2010-2023 Kia Soul Problems: 15 Known Issues

2010-2023 model years · 134+ owner reports · Updated August 2026

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According to Au7o's analysis of 134+ owner reports, the 2010-2023 Kia Soul has 15 documented known issues, with 13 rated critical. The most serious are Steering Pinion Gear Separation (Loss of Steering), Catalytic Converter Overheating and Engine Piston Damage, Piston Oil Ring Defect and Excessive Oil Consumption, On-Board Charger (OBC) Failure — AC Level 1 and Level 2 Charging Dead, CHAdeMO Still Works ($0-$3,000 repair), Headlamp Multi-Function Switch Contact Wear Causing Low/High Beam Flicker and Dropout ($250-$600 repair), First-Generation Soul EV SK Innovation Pouch-Cell Capacity Collapse Below 70% SOH ($0-$9,000 repair), Recall 23V218000 (Kia SC267): E400 High-Voltage Battery Cell Short Circuit Fire Risk (Soul EV) ($0-$0 repair), Recall 25V099000 (Kia SC336): Improperly Manufactured Piston Oil Rings Can Destroy the Engine, Side Curtain Air Bags Can Deploy Unexpectedly (Recall 23V830000). at .

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Kia Soul problems?

According to Au7o's analysis of 134+ owner reports, the 2010-2023 Kia Soul has 15 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Steering Pinion Gear Separation (Loss of Steering), Catalytic Converter Overheating and Engine Piston Damage, Piston Oil Ring Defect and Excessive Oil Consumption. Of these, 13 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.

Is the Kia Soul reliable?

The 2010-2023 Kia Soul has 15 known issues documented across 134+ owner reports. 13 issues are rated critical: Steering Pinion Gear Separation (Loss of Steering) and Catalytic Converter Overheating and Engine Piston Damage and Piston Oil Ring Defect and Excessive Oil Consumption and On-Board Charger (OBC) Failure — AC Level 1 and Level 2 Charging Dead, CHAdeMO Still Works and Headlamp Multi-Function Switch Contact Wear Causing Low/High Beam Flicker and Dropout and First-Generation Soul EV SK Innovation Pouch-Cell Capacity Collapse Below 70% SOH and Recall 23V218000 (Kia SC267): E400 High-Voltage Battery Cell Short Circuit Fire Risk (Soul EV) and Recall 25V099000 (Kia SC336): Improperly Manufactured Piston Oil Rings Can Destroy the Engine and Side Curtain Air Bags Can Deploy Unexpectedly (Recall 23V830000) and Recall 23V531000: Electric Oil Pump Controller May Overheat and Cause a Fire (2023 Soul) and ABS/HECU Module Brake-Fluid Leak Causing Engine Compartment Fire and 7-Speed Dual-Clutch (DCT) Judder and Premature Clutch Failure and Panoramic Sunroof Spontaneous Shattering. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.

How much does it cost to fix common Kia Soul problems?

Repair costs for known Kia Soul issues range from $0 to $9,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.

What year Kia Soul is the most reliable?

Reliability varies across model years of the Kia Soul. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 2010-2023 Kia Soul with 15 documented issues documented across 134+ owner reports.

All 15 Known Issues

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Kia Soul problems?

Is the Kia Soul reliable?

How much does it cost to fix common Kia Soul problems?

What year Kia Soul is the most reliable?

On-Board Charger (OBC) Failure — AC Level 1 and Level 2 Charging Dead, CHAdeMO Still Works#

Headlamp Multi-Function Switch Contact Wear Causing Low/High Beam Flicker and Dropout#

First-Generation Soul EV SK Innovation Pouch-Cell Capacity Collapse Below 70% SOH#

Recall 23V218000 (Kia SC267): E400 High-Voltage Battery Cell Short Circuit Fire Risk (Soul EV)#

Recall 23V531000: Electric Oil Pump Controller May Overheat and Cause a Fire (2023 Soul)#

ABS/HECU Module Brake-Fluid Leak Causing Engine Compartment Fire#

Catalytic Converter Overheating and Engine Piston Damage#

Piston Oil Ring Defect and Excessive Oil Consumption#

Recall 25V099000 (Kia SC336): Improperly Manufactured Piston Oil Rings Can Destroy the Engine#

Steering Pinion Gear Separation (Loss of Steering)#

Side Curtain Air Bags Can Deploy Unexpectedly (Recall 23V830000)#

7-Speed Dual-Clutch (DCT) Judder and Premature Clutch Failure#

Panoramic Sunroof Spontaneous Shattering#

Electric Motor Bearing Noise (Soul EV)#

Motor-Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Flexible Coupling Noise#

What is the 2014-2016 Kia Soul Steering Pinion Gear Separation (Loss of Steering)?

What is the 2012-2016 Kia Soul Catalytic Converter Overheating and Engine Piston Damage?

What is the 2020-2023 Kia Soul Piston Oil Ring Defect and Excessive Oil Consumption?

What is the 2015-2019 Kia Soul On-Board Charger (OBC) Failure — AC Level 1 and Level 2 Charging Dead, CHAdeMO Still Works?

What is the 2014-2015 Kia Soul Headlamp Multi-Function Switch Contact Wear Causing Low/High Beam Flicker and Dropout?

What is the 2015-2017 Kia Soul First-Generation Soul EV SK Innovation Pouch-Cell Capacity Collapse Below 70% SOH?

What is the 2015-2019 Kia Soul Recall 23V218000 (Kia SC267): E400 High-Voltage Battery Cell Short Circuit Fire Risk (Soul EV)?

What is the 2021-2023 Kia Soul Recall 25V099000 (Kia SC336): Improperly Manufactured Piston Oil Rings Can Destroy the Engine?