2012 Kia Soul Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2012 Kia Soul, and owners have filed 514 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2012 Kia Soul
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module Park outside
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which…
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk,…
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Engine and catalytic convertor (engine and engine cooling)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod…
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be…
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Roof and pillars (structure)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…
514 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Kia Soul have filed 514 complaints with NHTSA; 25 describe a crash and 23 describe a fire. Reports cite 25 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 89,142 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 96 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I purchased Dorman part #74015 Brake Pedal Stopper from AutoZone Altamonte after an employee recommended it for my 2012 Kia Soul without checking system compatibility. I installed it that night. On, w”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 24, 2026 · Service brakes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 13, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Kia Soul (Soul Eco). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 23–26 / 28–31 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Kia Soul model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Soul model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Kia Soul | 3 | 135 |
| 2011 Kia Soul | 3 | 194 |
| 2012 Kia Soul | 3 | 514 |
| 2013 Kia Soul | 3 | 664 |
| 2014 Kia Soul | 5 | 902 |
| 2015 Kia Soul | 4 | 899 |
| 2016 Kia Soul | 2 | 816 |
| 2017 Kia Soul | 1 | 272 |
| 2018 Kia Soul | 1 | 218 |
| 2019 Kia Soul | 1 | 136 |
| 2020 Kia Soul | 1 | 383 |
| 2021 Kia Soul | 2 | 236 |
| 2022 Kia Soul | 1 | 89 |
| 2023 Kia Soul | 4 | 53 |
| 2024 Kia Soul | 0 | 30 |
| 2025 Kia Soul | 0 | 12 |
Checking a specific 2012 Kia Soul
How do I know if my 2012 Kia Soul has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 Kia Soul; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 14V822000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.