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Engine coolingPart report

2011 Kia Soul Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
2%of 194 total for the year
Median mileage
90,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2011 Kia Soul, 2% of the 194 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,500 miles. 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.

“Air conditioner I actually found this out by accident. I bought a portable explosive gas detector from menards (model number: 240pgd) mainly for my sister who lives in a trailer park and has become severely ill from a sewer gas smell in the court. Just before I left for my sister's place, I thought I would try out this gas detector in the cabin of my car near the A/C vent. I looked at the specs for this explosive gas detector and the temperatures were within testing range. The explosive gas detector showed high concentrations of explosive gas by beeping and showing a red LED. …”

NHTSA complaint #10468745, filed 2012-08, 24,000 miles

“I bought my car from mazda in hilo, hawaii. After three months the A/C when it is turned on, would work for 5 minutes or so, then it will blow warm air. The mazda dealership in hilo, hawaii tried to repair the A/C problem once, the problem persisted, then mazda sent me to the Kia dealership which tried to fix the A/C problem twice, with no success. I since moved to oahu in april 9th, 2014. The A/C problem is still on going. My niece bought Kia SOUL 2011 here on oahu and her car has the same A/C problem, I have. Is there other Kia SOUL 2011 owners with the same A/C problem?”

NHTSA complaint #10610872, filed 2014-07

“The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and making a right turn, the contact veered to the side of the road, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the hood. The contact opened the hood and noticed smoke and coolant in the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the engine. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

NHTSA complaint #11590381, filed 2024-05, 157,000 miles

“The whole front of the car was on fire and the wind shield exploded. Everything melted down and car is totaled. This incident was caused by an interior malfunction with the car. Would like Kia to replace this car with a new car because this was a new car that I purchased through Kia.”

NHTSA complaint #10447319, filed 2012-02

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202312%
20222021%
20214720%
2020113%
201964%
201894%
201793%
201610613%
2015586%
2014556%
2013457%
2012326%
201142%
201054%

Other parts of the 2011 Kia Soul

Brakes
45 complaintsElectrical system
30 complaintsAir bags
26 complaintsEngine
24 complaintsOther or unknown
22 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsExterior lighting
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
13 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsElectronic stability control
10 complaintsFuel system
9 complaintsSuspension
9 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2011 Kia Soul

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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