2010 Kia Soul Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 4%of 135 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 15,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the fuel system of the 2010 Kia Soul, 4% of the 135 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 15,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“We rear-ended a 2004 expedition in our 2010 Kia SOUL at 20mph. My wife sustained a traumatic brain injury as a result of the air bag wiring harness being cut in half (both sides) before the sensors were activated. I have photos of the wiring harness cut in the accident and the car. My 39 year old wife will now spend the rest of her life disabled. This is a dangerous car. Kia states the airbags will not activate at 20mph. This is not a 5 star frontal impact design. The fuel shut off did not activate, 'all safety features failed'. …”
NHTSA complaint #10346524, filed 2010-07, 25,000 miles“I was driving down the interstate on my way to work when my check engine light turned on and began flashing rapidly. I then began to get over to the shoulder and into safety when I heard what sounded like a loud dropping sound come from the engine and smoke started coming out of the hood. When I got pulled over to the shoulder, I ran and popped my hood and saw that the whole battery was on fire, within minutes the whole car was engulfed and I was told to get back for my safety by someone that stopped.”
NHTSA complaint #11551804, filed 2023-10“The contact owns a 2010 Kia SOUL. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH a piece of metal on the road hit the vehicle. When he stopped at a gasoline station he noticed that the fuel was spilling back out and assumed that the metal fractured the fuel tank. The vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic who informed the driver that there was a hole in the fuel tank and advised him that it needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 15,500.”
NHTSA complaint #10381435, filed 2011-02, 15,500 miles“The contact owns a 2010 Kia SOUL. The contact was driving approximately 25 MPH. The transmission began to slip without prior warning. The failure continued during the travel for approximately 800 miles. In addition, whenever dispensing fuel into the fuel tank; the fuel continuously sprays out. Also, there was failure with the brake system. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician was unable to locate the failures. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 800. The current mileage was approximately 7,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10315522, filed 2010-03, 800 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10194565May 19, 2021Tsb_fue021_closed: technical service bulletin closed
- 10034249Apr 1, 2010Kia: combined tsb/service action fuel filler cap replacement. Provides information related to some vehicles regarding an improved fuel cap that is available with a larger handle…
Fuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 4% |
| 2022 | 7 | 7% |
| 2021 | 11 | 5% |
| 2020 | 16 | 4% |
| 2019 | 15 | 11% |
| 2018 | 11 | 5% |
| 2017 | 19 | 7% |
| 2016 | 84 | 10% |
| 2015 | 79 | 9% |
| 2014 | 57 | 6% |
| 2013 | 30 | 4% |
| 2012 | 23 | 4% |
| 2011 | 9 | 5% |
| 2010 | 5 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2010 Kia Soul
24 complaintsAir bags
21 complaintsBody and structure
21 complaintsBrakes
16 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
14 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsEngine
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsTires
6 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2010 Kia Soul
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology