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Engine coolingPart report

2012 Kia Soul Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
32about this part
Share
6%of 515 total for the year
Median mileage
137,500miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 32 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2012 Kia Soul, 6% of the 515 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 137,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I bought a 2012 Kia SOUL from capital city Kia in montpelier, vermont just over a month ago. It had 600 miles on it. After two weeks of driving it very seldom, it stopped operating while I was driving it and I had it towed to the nearest Kia dealership. They kept it there for a couple hours and worked on it while I waited and then sent me on my way. They said it was just loose connections. A half an hour later the car quite while I was driving again and I had to have it towed again. They kept the car for diagnostics. …”

NHTSA complaint #10478179, filed 2012-10, 1,200 miles

“The contact's daughter owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while her daughter was driving at an unknown speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started making abnormal sounds before stalling. The vehicle was not drivable. The owner and a friend pushed the vehicle a short distance to the friend's residence. The contact stated an independent mechanic arrived at the location of the vehicle but was unable to determine the cause of the failure. …”

NHTSA complaint #11525552, filed 2023-06, 222,114 miles

“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11484651, filed 2022-09, 90,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that the following day, while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started, and the check engine warning light was off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the recall repair failure code was not illuminated. …”

NHTSA complaint #11750027, filed 2026-07, 156,310 miles

“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while making a left turn a second vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle. During the crash no air bags deployed. The driver sustained a minor neck injury which did not require medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. In a second incident, the vehicle crashed down an embankment, and again no airbags had deployed. The driver sustained a minor neck injury that did not require medical treatment. …”

NHTSA complaint #11519953, filed 2023-05, 90,000 miles

Related recalls

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 2012 Kia Soul

Engine
210 complaintsSteering
166 complaintsBrakes
46 complaintsOther or unknown
40 complaintsElectrical system
38 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsAir bags
17 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 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