2012 Kia Soul Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Soul report two themes above all else: engine trouble (oil consumption, knocking, stalling and engine replacement) and a clicking or clunking steering wheel. Most engine complaints arrive well past 100,000 miles, while steering noise is often reported earlier, and several owners describe gradual oil loss between services rather than a single sudden failure.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knock, oil loss and engine failure

   • 171 complaints (33%)
   • median 123,000 mi at 8.1 yrs old (115 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,100 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe ticking or knocking noises from the engine, oil that disappears between services with no warning light, and vehicles that stall or lose power at speed. Several owners say a dealer diagnosed a failed connecting rod or a seized engine and recommended a full engine replacement; some reported the repair was declined or not covered, while others were told the vehicle was not part of the related recall. A number of owners link their experience to the catalytic converter recall covering 1.6L GDI cars, and mention a service bulletin or product improvement campaign for engine inspection or replacement. Commonly reported between roughly 90,000 and 170,000 miles, on highway driving as well as at stops.

   Recall 19V1200005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burning smell, listen for ticking at cold start, and ask whether the 1.6L GDI engine campaigns or bulletins were ever performed. Confirm the vehicle's VIN status for the engine-related recalls.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 2-2-17 I was driving on state highway ee, which is a 2 lane blacktop when my Kia engine died, I coasted to a nearby driveway and got off of the roadway the best I could, a tow truck had to be called, as the engine would not start. The catalystic converter had blown apart and was clogging the exhaust.. In doing research, I see there is a recall on the 1.6 engines, but mine is a 2.0, why are there no recalls on the 2.0 ?”

   NHTSA complaint #11297671, filed 2020-01, 140,000 miles

   “In early 2016, my vehicle began burning oil at an alarming rate. November the same year I ended up having to get my engine replaced at about 120,000 miles. In 2019, the same issue began to occur. I have to put oil in my car multiple times every week. A family member who works for Kia brought our attention to a recall on the catalytic converter that can cause converter and engine damage due to overheating. On jan 28 2020 I took the Kia SOUL to stevens Kia in harrisonburg va for the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11327355, filed 2020-06, 220,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Engine-bay fire risk and recalled brake control unit

   • 101 complaints (20%)
   • median 109,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (57 state mileage)
   • 22 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,201 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Complaints describe smoke or flames from the engine compartment, sometimes while parked or shortly after braking, and in a few cases a burning odor inside the cabin. Owners also report receiving recall notices for the hydraulic control unit and waiting for parts, or having the antilock control unit replaced before the recall repair was available. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 88,000 to 200,000 miles, in parked and driving situations.

   Recall 23V652000

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer that recall 23V652000 has been completed on the specific vehicle, and look for signs of prior heat or wiring damage near the brake control unit and fuse box.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment and heard an abnormal grinding sound, after which the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11572424, filed 2024-02, 68,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with an audible alarm. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently, and the interior lights were independently turning on. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11588570, filed 2024-05, 130,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Catalytic converter failure and check-engine light

   • 79 complaints (15%)
   • median 125,411 mi at 8.2 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Complaints describe a check-engine light, often with code P0420, and a dealer recommendation to replace the catalytic converter; some owners had it replaced more than once. Others report misfires, hesitation and sluggish acceleration tied to converter or fuel-system parts, and several mention overheating or loss of power that led to a tow. Typically reported between about 90,000 and 175,000 miles.

   Recall 19V1200002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the emissions or check-engine history and whether the converter has already been replaced; a pre-purchase scan for stored codes is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle's malfunction light came on and it began to lose power off and on going down the turnpike. Since then, it sometimes won't start even though it sounds like it is going to. It continues to have these problems intermittently. When a diagnostic tool was hooked up to it, it brought up the following codes: p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold), p0336 (crankshaft position sensor a circuit range/performance. I believe this may be related to recall #19v120000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11406877, filed 2021-04, 147,750 miles

   “Car lost power on highway and was unable to accelerate. Check engine light was flashing. Had car towed to gerald Kia north aurora to have them evaluate car to see if it was a result of the catalytic converter recall. In 9/ 2017 dealership advised me that the catalytic converter needed replacement with a stored error code of p0420. I was told there was no rush to replace the converter since it was related to emissions. I was quoted a repair fee of $1630. Replaced converter in 4/2018 and again in 3/2019 at reputable shop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11296741, filed 2020-01, 172,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Stalling or loss of power while driving

   • 48 complaints (9%)
   • median 133,500 mi at 8.7 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Several complaints describe the engine shutting off at a stoplight or while driving, sometimes with no warning light, and needing several attempts to restart. Owners report that dealers could not find stored codes and returned the car unrepaired, while others had the vehicle towed and were diagnosed with engine or sensor faults. Mostly reported between about 100,000 and 160,000 miles, at idle and at road speeds.

   Recall 19V1200001 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, note whether idle is steady and the car restarts cleanly, and ask for a diagnostic scan history rather than relying on a cleared light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About 2 weeks ago my car died at a stoplight for the first time. All along there is no indicator lights. Then died while driving 3 days later at 35 MPH. I went to an auto zone to get a check on its computer but they wouldn't do anything due to the corona virus. Drove it a few days , it died again at the stoplight. It began to do this every few days .no indication when it would shut off and no indicator lights. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11327448, filed 2020-06, 150,214 miles

   “I have been having my car stall at stoplight since the middle of may. I complained on here because there are no recalls on my car but on the same make and model some in the same year as mine does have recalls. Then it started to stall while driving. Then I took video on my phone of having to restart it and the rpms did not work at all. I took the advice from one of the phone numbers on here and they told me to take it to a Kia dealer.the Kia dealer said there is nothing wrong and no codes, and no lights on the dash. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11328991, filed 2020-06, 150,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Clicking or clunking noise when turning the steering wheel

   • 121 complaints (24%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (71 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe a click, clunk or pop heard while turning the wheel at low speed, and some say the wheel first felt sticky or stiff when changing lanes. Dealers reportedly diagnosed worn steering column or flexible coupling parts and quoted replacement of the steering column, rack and pinion or coupling; in one case the coupling was replaced and the noise stopped. Others report no diagnosis or repair. Reported from about 43,000 to 190,000 miles, most often during low-speed turns and parking maneuvers.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for clicks or binding, and ask whether the steering column coupling or motor has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine is making a ticking noise and the steering wheel is clicking when I turned the steering wheel also had 3 open recalls. Took it to all star Kia in san bernardino for 3 recalls and they refused to work on the vehicle because they said they were not comfortable working on the car, they also stated that the ticking sound was not related to the recall even though I told them I saw on the NHTSA website that due to catalytic coverter overheating it could cause rod knock. I even told them the recall was sc176.”

   NHTSA complaint #11415032, filed 2021-05, 140,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2012 Kia SOUL. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, there was an abnormal clicking noise detected while turning the steering wheel in either direction. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323481, filed 2020-05, 190,000 miles

Buying note. A 2012 Soul with high mileage deserves a careful engine check: oil level, cold-start noise and any service history for engine or converter work. Ask for proof that open recalls were completed on that VIN, and budget for steering column or coupling attention if the wheel clicks.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.