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Body and structurePart report

2012 Kia Soul Body and structure Problems

Complaints
18about this part
Share
4%of 515 total for the year
Median mileage
67,848miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the body and structure of the 2012 Kia Soul, 4% of the 515 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 67,848 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 1 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.

“5/6/2016 traveling on 2nd rd apprx speed 35 MPH, hood flew up hit windshield lack of traffic avoided collision. Almost 1 year to day later on freeway entry ramp I-65 nashville tn, 5pm traffic, apprx 45mph.. 1st episode had left home and only on road for a few mintues so assumed was something we had done to unlatch hood. 2nd episode we had been traveling for 3 hours already so there was nothing we could have done to cause this.. …”

NHTSA complaint #10984226, filed 2017-05, 95,000 miles

“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

“I was on the freeway, and all the lights lining the freeway were out. It was pitch black, and a cow had made its way into the middle of the freeway. It was struck by another vehicle and sent into the air, and flew right into my car. It is my understanding that one of adot's fences were down that was containing cattle. I was in a severe accident because of this, along with multiple other vehicles. I filed a police report and have that case number as well. I have photo and video evidence proof.”

NHTSA complaint #11278738, filed 2019-11, 92,000 miles

“Driving down the road and the hood latch broke causing the hood to fly up and wrap around the window shield. I had the presence of mind to move it to the side of the road and call for help. I was traveling app. 55 miles an hour, on a secondary paved road.”

NHTSA complaint #10794677, filed 2015-11, 79,000 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

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Body and structure: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202211%
202131%
2020103%
201943%
201852%
201741%
2016182%
2015162%
2014111%
2013152%
2012184%
2011126%
20102116%

Other parts of the 2012 Kia Soul

Engine
210 complaintsSteering
166 complaintsBrakes
46 complaintsOther or unknown
40 complaintsElectrical system
38 complaintsEngine cooling
32 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 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