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SteeringPart report

2011 Kia Soul Steering Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
2%of 194 total for the year
Median mileage
8,200miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the steering of the 2011 Kia Soul, 2% of the 194 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 8,200 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, 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.

“I was driving to work, making a left turn into the parking lot when the front passenger tire blew. The steering wheel pulled sharply to the right and I was pulled into a curb. This caused over $1600 worth of damage to the car. There was a huge hole in the side wall of the tire and no evidence of any metal or anything in the tire. Also, the tire pressure indicator light has never come on, so I know they were at the proper PSI. I contacted the dealer when the accident happened, and was told they have no responsibility for the tires. …”

NHTSA complaint #10483323, filed 2012-11, 8,200 miles

“Steering wheel making clunking noise ( clack ), as if getting loose, when the vehicle is on and the steering is turned to the right or to the left, while standing still or driving regardless of road or pavement. This noise also appears when going over bumps, ruts and raised reflective pavement markers, although in this instance is more of a combination of multiple 'clack' sounds as the wheels go over more than one road disturbance (I.e. Consecutive reflective markers). Manufacturer Kia already has a recall for certain years of their Kia optima model.”

NHTSA complaint #10958911, filed 2017-03, 91,500 miles

“When driving at any speed & need to suddenly stop, the vehicle brakes lock up & do not stop the vehicle in time. Basically, the tires lock up & the car continues to skid & screech. This is especially aggravated when the vehicle drives over a pothole or other defect in the roadway while braking or in constant stop-&-go traffic. The vehicle has narrowly missed crashing into other vehicles or structures numerous times. I noticed the problems within a couple of weeks of purchasing the new 2011 car. …”

NHTSA complaint #10460669, filed 2012-06, 300 miles

“My daughter was traveling on a country road at 50 miles per hour. Another vehicle crossed into her lane, hit her head-on and she died on the scene. When the police department arrived to investigate, they noticed that the steering wheel of her Kia SOUL detached from the column and they located the steering wheel (airbag deployed) in the floorboard behind the driver's seat.”

NHTSA complaint #10865513, filed 2016-05

Related service bulletins

Steering: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202426%
2023815%
202222%
202194%
2020164%
201954%
201852%
2017104%
2016304%
2015445%
2014556%
201315323%
201216632%
201142%
2010129%

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 29, 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