Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

2011 KIA Soul

What the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this vehicle: every recall, every consumer complaint, every defect investigation, every NCAP crash test. Sourced directly from NHTSA data feeds.

3
Open recalls
193
NHTSA complaints
3
Defect investigations
65
Service bulletins

NCAP safety

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Consumer complaints

193 filed
27
Crashes
5
Fires
29
Injuries reported
1
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • Service BRAKES, Hydraulic
    32
  • Electrical System
    28
  • AIR Bags
    25
  • Engine
    24
  • Unknown OR Other
    21
  • Service Brakes
    13
  • Power Train
    12
  • Exterior Lighting
    11

Recalls

3 campaigns
23V652000·SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 2023-09-25

Park outside

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

RiskAn engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

FixOwners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

14V822000·STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS2014-12-29

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.

RiskA detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.

FixKia 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.

13V114000·EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH2013-04-01

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 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

RiskFailure 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.

FixKia 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.

NHTSA investigations

102 actions
AQ23002·SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 2023-11-17

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

PE19004·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR2019-03-29 → 2021-12-22

Non-crash Vehicle Fires

Led to recall20V088000

PE19004·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH2019-03-29 → 2021-12-22

Non-crash Vehicle Fires

Led to recall20V088000

PE19004·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY2019-03-29 → 2021-12-22

Non-crash Vehicle Fires

Led to recall20V088000

PE19004·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY2019-03-29 → 2021-12-22

Non-crash Vehicle Fires

Led to recall20V088000

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