2012 Kia Soul: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 663 complaints
663
Total Complaints
90,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
41
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

53,937 25th Percentile
90,000 Median Mileage
130,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
207
STEERING
162
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
39
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
37
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
33
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
23
POWER TRAIN
21
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
21
AIR BAGS
17
STRUCTURE:BODY
15

Severity Assessment

41
Crashes
31
Fires
40
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE SLUGGISH, RPM WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 2500 RPM, HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, LOST DRIVEABILITY. *TT"
"VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE SLUGGISH, RPM WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 2500 RPM, HAD TO GET VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, LOST DRIVEABILITY. *TT"
"THE 2012 KIA SOUL DOES NOT COME WITH A SPARE TIRE, INSTEAD IT COMES WITH A CAN OF FIX- A- FLAT AND A AIR PUMP. THERE IS NO JACK EITHER. THE FLAT MAY BE FIXED IF THE DAMAGE IS ON THE TREAD AND THE HOLE IS UNDER 1/4 INCH IN DIAMETER. IF THE DAMAGE IS ON THE SIDEWALL OR GREATER THAN 1/4 INCH, THE VEHIC..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28