Reliable Auto DB

2012 Kia Soul reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Kia Soul holds 514 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 16 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Soul years here — over the median of the other years, which is 14. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Engine, and Roof and pillars.

2012 Kia Soul
Photo by DieselFordMondeo, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

514

Per year

16

Recalls

3

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (209 of 514), then Steering (166) and Electrical system (38). Those filings include 25 that report a crash, 23 that report a fire, 14 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Soul has 662 complaints, 18 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Kia Soul. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall Brake control module 2023-09-25 · NHTSA campaign 23V652000
Summary 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 can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
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, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Recall Engine 2019-02-22 · NHTSA campaign 19V120000
Summary 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 failure.
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 replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Recall structure, body, roof and pillars 2014-12-29 · NHTSA campaign 14V822000
Summary 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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC112.

Complaints by component (514 total)

Engine
209
Steering
166
Electrical system
38
Hydraulic brakes
34
Engine and engine cooling
32
Fuel and propulsion system
21
Powertrain
21
Structure
18
Air bags
17
Service brakes
12
Exterior lighting
10
Speed control
10
Electronic stability control (ESC)
7
Suspension
7
Wheels
6
Latches, locks, and linkages
5
Seat belts
4
Visibility and wipers
4
Tires
3
Forward collision avoidance
2
Fuel system, gasoline
2
Visibility
2
Adaptive and mobility equipment
1
Equipment
1
Lane departure
1
Traction control
1
Show 18 more Show less
Crash-flagged

25

Fire-flagged

23

Injury reports

14

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

320111920121920137201413201582016252017502018962019432020502021472022622023392024222025112026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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, while driving on a…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-07-24
  • "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…"
    Engine and engine cooling, Engine · filed 2026-07-13
  • "The brake lines on my car failed. I had to use the parking brake to get the car to stop. Typically, a brake failure leaves you with partial braking power, however, I had no brakes whatsoever. Upon inspection, it appears…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-06-30
  • "When I turn my steering wheel left or right there is a very large margin before the tires turn it rattles back and forth back and forth as I'm driving down the street no control for at least three degrees and either…"
    Steering, Exterior lighting · filed 2026-06-18
  • "The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled and failed to accelerate with the low oil warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the…"
    Engine · filed 2026-05-12

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Kia Soul SUV FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Soul 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 25 30 27 MPG $2400
Soul 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 23 28 25 MPG $2600
Soul 1.6L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 25 30 27 MPG $2400
Soul 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 29 26 MPG $2500
Soul Eco 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 29 26 MPG $2500
Soul Eco 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 26 31 28 MPG $2300

Specs and fitment

2nd generation (PS), 2012–2019
Body styles Hatchback
Oil 5W-20 or 0W-20 (1.6L and 2.0L) , 4 qt capacity
Tire size 205/60R16 to 215/45R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 19V120000. 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 failure. Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire. 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 replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.

Compare

Next year 2013 Kia Soul See every Kia Soul model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Kia Soul reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Kia Soul holds 514 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 16 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Soul years here — over the median of the other years, which is 14. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Engine, and Roof and pillars.

What are common problems with a 2012 Kia Soul?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (209 of 514), then Steering (166) and Electrical system (38). Those filings include 25 that report a crash, 23 that report a fire, 14 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2012 Kia Soul more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Soul has 662 complaints, 18 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Kia Soul been recalled?

The 2012 Kia Soul has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Kia Soul?

Owners have filed 514 complaints about the 2012 Kia Soul with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Kia Soul get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Kia Soul is 26.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Soul take?

5W-20 or 0W-20 (1.6L and 2.0L)

What does NHTSA recall 19V-120 cover on the Kia Soul?

NHTSA campaign 19V120000.

What generation is the 2013 Kia Soul?

2nd generation (PS) (2012-2019).