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EnginePart report

2012 Kia Soul Engine Problems

Complaints
210about this part
Share
41%of 515 total for the year
Median mileage
119,150miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 210 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Kia Soul, 41% of the 515 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 119,150 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 17 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

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

“I received a recall letter in the mail regarding the catalytic converter. The rec all indicated that if you hear a knocking in the engine the needed to check engine to see if it was damaged due to the catalytic converter. I took vehicle to 2 Kia dealerships and both refused to look at engine but acknowledged that it was making knocking noise”

NHTSA complaint #11242864, filed 2019-08, 160,000 miles

“It's only seven years old, but it leaks engine oil and a very large metal bump and knocking coming from the engine. It can be heard very loud even outside the car. I'm very worried if the engine is on fire or if it stops suddenly. In korea, the government has already recommended that the car's engine be repaired free of charge. I want to be solved well in the u.s.”

NHTSA complaint #11281477, filed 2019-11, 119,800 miles

“Before taking the vehicle in for the recall it was burning oil. It would be completely empty after just 2000 miles of getting my oil change. I took it in to get the recall fixed. They replaced the computer as well as the catalytic converter. It still continues to burn the oil the same as it did before. They told me they couldn't do anything especially since it has 123000 miles now.”

NHTSA complaint #11269897, filed 2019-10, 123,000 miles

“Catalytic recall- hard time accelerating. The RPM stayed at 0 while driving. Went through almost an entire tank of gas within 4 hours. Took to Kia dealership and they said it was the catalytic converter. But my VIN isn't on the list so they want me to pay out of pocked. Exact same problem as the recall.”

NHTSA complaint #11222372, filed 2019-06, 100 miles

“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

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202518%
2024517%
20231426%
20225457%
202113958%
202024563%
20198864%
201814265%
201719170%
201656169%
201563170%
201455461%
201328643%
201221041%
20112412%
201097%

Other parts of the 2012 Kia Soul

Steering
166 complaintsBrakes
46 complaintsOther or unknown
40 complaintsElectrical system
38 complaintsEngine cooling
32 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