Kia Soul 2010–2013

1st generation (AM) · AM · 2,002 complaints, 1,198 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 79,897 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The engine accounts for 26.2% of complaints (524 reports, 333 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 117,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 81,000 and 143,449 miles.

A single system taking 26.2% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.

The steering accounts for 16.6% of complaints (332 reports, 187 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,983 and 96,500 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 8.3% of complaints (166 reports, 89 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 99,700 miles.

The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 6.8% of complaints (136 reports, 41 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 122,746 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 87,000 and 152,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 6.6% of complaints (132 reports, 58 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 93,340 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 144,124 miles.

The engine and its cooling system accounts for 4.2% of complaints (85 reports, 68 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 136,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 106,000 and 159,203 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2013 model year drew the most — 866 complaints — while 2010 drew the fewest at 193. The median year sits at 471.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 2,002 complaints filed against this generation, 147 reported a crash; 126 reported a fire; 148 reported an injury; 4 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.3% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 30,000 and 125,822 miles, with a median of 79,897. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the engine and the steering are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The steering in particular shows a median failure mileage of 68,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (5)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Kia Soul 2014–2019
• Kia Soul 2020–2025