2021 Kia Soul Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 4%of 239 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 4,815miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the steering of the 2021 Kia Soul, 4% of the 239 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 4,815 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Had car 1 week - 204 miles. Power steering warning light came on while I was driving 55. Then the tire pressure light. Then all warning lights. Headlights and interior lighting off and on then finally just off. Pulled into parking lot where all systems stopped working. Was not enough power to close sun roof. No power door locks - had to operate manually. Car towed to dealer. Thankfully I am a strong person and was able to get off the highway and into a parking lot without incident. I am not sure how that happened since I did not even have working hazard lights.”
NHTSA complaint #11406532, filed 2021-04, 204 miles“Vehicle keeps pulling. Vehicle pulled to the right. Performed a steering angle relearned, and wheel alignment. Cross rotated tires and now the vehicle pulls to the left. Told nothing else can be done at this time. Car is constantly. Fighting itself with steering assist.”
NHTSA complaint #11366841, filed 2020-10, 631 miles“First off I do not use my lane keep assist. When traveling at any speed on a long curves of 100 to 150 ft or longer or sitting in a parking lot with the steering wheel angled between 15 to 30 degrees either left or right of center for 15 to 30 seconds the system will (in a sense) fall asleep. On the long corners this causes a dangerous situation for the driver and others because with the system falls asleep it will continue tracking the same course without recentering unless forced to re-engage. In other words it will not come out of the curve without forceful input from the driver. …”
NHTSA complaint #11552757, filed 2023-10“The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while turning the ignition on and off, there was a knocking sound coming from the dashboard. After pulling into a parking lot, a red exclamation point illuminated the instrument panel, and the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to coast out of the way by driving forward. The vehicle was turned off and towed to the dealer. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …”
NHTSA complaint #11644815, filed 2025-02, 53,000 miles“The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a transmission failure, and the transmission was replaced by the dealer. The contact stated that the dealer also replaced the rack and pinion due to an abnormal clunking sound coming from the steering wheel. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing abnormal oil consumption. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed. The contact returned to the dealer after driving for 1,000 miles on three occasions. …”
NHTSA complaint #11680163, filed 2025-08, 4,815 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11009080Oct 18, 2024TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include…
- 10250838Feb 22, 2024TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include…
- 10247554Dec 18, 2023TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include…
- 10247553Dec 12, 2023TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin provides information to install a…
- 10240742Aug 14, 2023CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER RE-NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner re-notification advising that Kia is now making steering wheel lock devices available directly…
- 10233312Mar 20, 2023CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is now making steering wheel lock devices available directly to…
- 10202226Oct 5, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 10191058Apr 29, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN:SERVICE ACTION: EPS LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC C160404 (SA466) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the software logic of the Electronic…
- 10189545Mar 25, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 | 8 | 15% |
| 2022 | 2 | 2% |
| 2021 | 9 | 4% |
| 2020 | 16 | 4% |
| 2019 | 5 | 4% |
| 2018 | 5 | 2% |
| 2017 | 10 | 4% |
| 2016 | 30 | 4% |
| 2015 | 44 | 5% |
| 2014 | 55 | 6% |
| 2013 | 153 | 23% |
| 2012 | 166 | 32% |
| 2011 | 4 | 2% |
| 2010 | 12 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2021 Kia Soul
139 complaintsEngine cooling
47 complaintsOther or unknown
27 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
26 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsForward collision avoidance
5 complaintsSuspension
5 complaintsAir bags
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Kia Soul
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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