2012 Kia Soul Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 3%of 516 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 49,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Kia Soul, 3% of the 516 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 49,000 miles. 15 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was slowing approaching parking spot. Vehicle started speeding rapidly, I could not stop vehicle and crashed into a brick building. My son was yelling to stop, I said I am trying and cannot. The air bags came out, car was smoking, badly dented. Windshield broke. We were bruised and scratched. There was over $9500 worth of damage. The vehicle malfunctioned and sped out of control.”
NHTSA complaint #10525069, filed 2013-07, 19,000 miles“My car was going approximately 50mph when it rear ended a stopped vehicle in the middle of a busy highway. Then my car was rear ended seconds afterwards. My car was scrunched (totaled), both front and back, and the airbags never deployed. Had the airbags deployed, the injuries to the driver would've been much less severe. I have huge concerns and doubts about the safety of this model. I don't think the airbags in this model propertly function.”
NHTSA complaint #10734540, filed 2015-07, 29,000 miles“Driving a 2012 Kia SOUL, truck unexpectedly stopped in front of me, light was green. Managed to stop and got hit in the rear by a jeep, my vehicle was propelled into the pickup in front of me. Suffered injuries to neck, shoulder, r/arm r/elbow. Airbags did not deploy. Set restraints we all that prevented me from hitting the steering wheel and windshield. Injuries were from airbag not deploying properly. None deployed. Damage to front ansd rear of car, might be totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #10809593, filed 2015-12, 112,000 miles“We were traveling down a rural road in kentucky. A deer ran out in front of us. We struck the deer at approximately 57 MPH. There was considerable damage to the front end of the vehicle and it was not drivable. Our airbags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10559687, filed 2014-01, 74,000 miles“My spouse hit a large male deer head on at appx 55mph at about 5am this morning. The airbag deployed, but the blast from the airbag burned completely through the sleeves of his jacket, through two layers of shirts, and caused second degree burns of his arms. Had he not been wearing so many layers of clothing, we are confident that the burns would have been full thickness third degree burns. We have pictures of the burns on his arms and the burned garments. …”
NHTSA complaint #10493327, filed 2013-01, 30,000 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 8% |
| 2023 | 5 | 9% |
| 2022 | 3 | 3% |
| 2021 | 4 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 1% |
| 2019 | 15 | 11% |
| 2018 | 11 | 5% |
| 2017 | 16 | 6% |
| 2016 | 17 | 2% |
| 2015 | 20 | 2% |
| 2014 | 26 | 3% |
| 2013 | 18 | 3% |
| 2012 | 17 | 3% |
| 2011 | 26 | 13% |
| 2010 | 21 | 16% |
Other parts of the 2012 Kia Soul
210 complaintsSteering
167 complaintsBrakes
46 complaintsOther or unknown
40 complaintsElectrical system
38 complaintsEngine cooling
32 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsExterior lighting
10 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsElectronic stability control
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 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