2010 Kia Soul problems
NHTSA has received 195 complaints about the 2010 Kia Soul, and 13% of them involve electrical system. After that come body & structure (11%) and air bags (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 195 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 33 and 24
- Injuries and deaths
- 29 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 21,000 miles 148 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 69 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 16 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 10 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 20 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 15 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 148 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 20,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 63,000 miles (21 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 33 complaints mention a crash; 24 complaints mention a fire; 29 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 96% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2010 ranks 13th most-complained-about out of 15 model years of the Kia Soul with enough data (123 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The 2010 soul had a major failure when it impacted a tree at 10 MPH. There were no leaking fluids, signs of smoke or fire. The vehicle caught fire roughly 15 minutes later and burned totally up before fire crews could get there to put it out. The origin of the fire was between the engine and the fire wall. I feel as though the safety bumpers that are required by law to work bellow the 15 MPH constraint are under designed.
As I was driving north on I-95 it had started to rain. I was in the left lane of a two lane highway going 60 MPH in a 70 MPH zone when an 18 wheeler went by me going 85 MPH or more. It pushed water on the road over into my lane and I felt my wheels begin to move. I let off the gas and gripped the wheel. My ESC light never turned on. I hydroplaned from my lane into the right lane then back into my lane and off the road.
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 kia soul. While the contact's daughter was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle was struck on the front driver's side near the headlight by another vehicle. The air bag did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact's daughter sustained a seat belt injury on her chest and a nose injury, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer.
I exported my kia soul 2010 to germany due to military movement order. As the car is now registered in germany; I did not get any notifications from kia us about the recall sc098am regarding a problem with the brake light switch, rated as a safety issue. My german car dealer is trying to help me get the brake light switch changed, but is unable to get the necessary information from kia. Is there a possibility to assist me in getting the necessary work from a safety recall done in germany? Thank you for your help