2010 Kia Soul Electrical Problems
20 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Electrical Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SOUL AND MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 THROUGH JULY 30, 2010. A LIMITED NUMBER OF WIRING HARNESSES SUPPLIED BY JCI AND USED FOR THE LIGHTING IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, LOCATED IN THE FRONT DOOR TRIM PANELS, AND THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION, LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR TRIM PANELS, MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SOLDERED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE LIGHTS IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, AND THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Owner Complaints (20)
Your check engine light came on and began flashing rapidly while driving on the interstate. You heard a loud dropping sound from the engine, smoke came pouring out from under the hood, and when you pulled over and opened the hood, you discovered your battery was on fire. The fire spread quickly and engulfed the entire vehicle.
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Your airbag warning light is on, and diagnostic scans show a problem with the occupant classification sensor (OCS) and electrical voltage in the airbag system. Kia has discontinued the required control module (part #95910-2K000), and dealers cannot obtain it anywhere in the United States, leaving the airbag system unable to be repaired. The fix would normally involve replacing the airbag control module assembly, but this part is no longer available from the manufacturer.
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When you hit a bump in the road, you hear a loud popping sound and your radio and speakers cut out completely. At the same time, random warning lights appear on your dashboard that only turn off when you restart the car. You're concerned this electrical issue could potentially cause a fire.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE RADIO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BILL DODGE KIA DEALER (877-583-6175, LOCATED AT 3 SAUNDERS WAY, WESTBROOK, ME 04092) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
HEAD LIGHTS, A/C, POWER WINDOWS, SUN ROOF, WIPERS AND HORN ALL STOPPED WORKING AT ONCE.IT WAS ON A HOT DAY. THEN ALL JUST STARTED WORKING AFTER CAR HAD COOLED DOWN. SAME THING HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, SOMETIME IN LATE JUNE OR EARLY JULY 2017. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AFTERWARD BUT THEY COULDN'T HELP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS DETECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AUTOMATICALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE, WHICH LED TO FIRE, UNDER THE HOOD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP AND THEN TOWED TO THE VEHICLE'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN LOCATION WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TAKATA RECALL : SOMOS PROPIETARIOS DESDE MAYO DEL 2012 HASTA LA FECHA VAN 3 OCACIONES QUE LE REPARAMOS LOS FRENOS Y CONSTANTEMENTE HUELE A QUEMADO Y SE LE PRENDE LUZ DE CHECK ENGINE POR LO MENOS UNA VEZ POR MES DESDE QUE LO TENEMOS Y SE LE APAGA A LA SEMANA O DOS SEMANAS NOS MANDAN DE LA HYUNDAI A EL DEALER DE LA KIA Y EN ESE DEALER NOS DICEN QUE NO TIENE NADA NADAMAS LO REPROGRAMAN PERO EL PROBLEMA CONTINUA.
WIRING CONNECTOR CONNECTED TO THE RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY MELTED. I HAD REPLACED THE RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY A YEAR EARLIER TO ITS FAILURE. UPON THE REPAIR SHOP I TOOK MY CAR TO CALLING THE DEALER, IT WAS MENTIONED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BY THE DEALER. THE MELTING OF THIS CONNECTOR CAUSED THE ENGINE TO START OVER HEATING AND THE A/C TO NO LONGER COOL. DEALER MENTIONED THAT THE CONNECTOR IS NOT AVAILABLE AND IT WOULD TAKE REPLACING THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 65,000 MILES ON IT.
MY HORN DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. I ALMOST WAS IN A BAD ACCIDENT TRYING TO PREVENT A CAR SIDESWIPING ME TO CROSS LANES - I KEPT TRYING TO HONK THE HORN. IT WOULD NOT WORK SO I HAD TO JAM ON MY BRAKES AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED TOO. I WROTE TO KIA AND GOT NO RESPONSE. I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE - A DRIVER TO THE RIGHT OF ME CUT ME OFF TO GET INTO THE TURN LANE TO THE LEFT OF ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION, THE KEY WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE, AND THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
I WAS NOTIFIED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT NONE OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE LIGHTING UP WHEN I BRAKED. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY KIA SOUL TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND A FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH. THIS WAS THE SAME FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH THAT WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL IN 2013. THIS MEANS THAT THE REPLACED NEW BRAKE SWITCH IS ALSO FAULTY AFTER LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF DRIVING. IT IS A WORRY TO ME THAT KIA COULD BE REPLACING A FAULTY RECALLED PART WITH ANOTHER FAULTY PART, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT HAS MAJOR SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. I WAS ALSO REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AND THIS ALSO SEEMS UNFAIR GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THE PARTICULAR PART.
THE VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS HAVE STOPPED WORKING FOR OVER 6 MONTHS NOW. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND EVEN AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE SIGNALS CONTINUE TO NOT WORK. THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIX IT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AND I AM CONCERNED MY DAUGHTER MAY GET A TICKET OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. THE RIGHT TAILLIGHT HAS ALSO BEGAN TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE WHEELS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED AFTER ONE YEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY ONLY OFFERED TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY. A DAY LATER, THE BATTERY FAILED. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY AND THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V388000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE CORRECTLY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
THE FACTORY PROVIDED KEYS FOR THE CAR ARE INTEGRATED REMOTE WIRELESS ENTRY KEY FOBS AND CONCEALED IGNITION KEY. TO REVEAL THE KEY, A BUTTON ON THE FOB IS PRESSED AND A SPRING LOADED ARM ROTATES THE KEY OUT OF THE FOB SO IT CAN BE INSERTED INTO THE STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED IGNITION SWITCH. ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, AFTER PARKING THE CAR I WENT TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION BY ROTATING THE KEY FOB COUNTER CLOCKWISE. WHEN I DID THE ARMATURE THAT HOLDS THE KEY SNAPPED OFF LEAVING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE RUNNING. AS ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE KEY REMAINED EXPOSED, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AS NOT ENOUGH OF THE KEY PROJECTED TO APPLY ROTATIONAL FORCE TO. IT WOULD SEEM THE ABILITY TO TURN OFF THE CAR IN EMERGENCIES IS CRUCIAL TO SAFETY AND I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL INVESTIGATION INITIATED. (FILED ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE, [XXX]) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING CAR ON SIDE STREET WHEN SHE NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN FIRE COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE SPEAKER/LIGHT AREA. SHE WAS FORTUNATELY NOT HURT AND WAS ASSISTED BY BYSTANDER IN PUTTING OUT FIRE. INSIDE OF DOOR AROUND SPEAKER MELTED. APPEARS TO BE SAME PROBLEM THAT KIA RECALLED 2010 KIA FOR (REF 10V388000 AUG 30 2010). CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED UNDER RECALL NO. 10V388000 AT FULLERTON KIA (NO LONGER IN BUSINESS AT THE FULLERTON LOCATION). TO DATE KIA HAS ACCEPTED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CAUSE IS INVESTIGATED BEFORE CAR IS REPAIRED, AND REASON IS DESTROYED AS IT APPEARS RECALL FIX WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THERE MAY BE 1000'S OF CARS ON THE ROAD WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR UPDATED 03/06/12 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 03/13/12 *KB
BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND DRIVERS SIDE DOOR STARTED TO SMOKE. MAIN SMOKE WAS COMING FROM SPEAKER AREA. WINDOWS WERE DOWN. EXITED CAR IN PARKING LOT AND BY THIS TIME, DOOR STARTED TO MELT. SOON THEREAFTER, DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. CAR WAS STILL NEAR OTHER VEHICLES AND PEOPLE IN BUSY PARKING LOT. WAS TOLD BY BYSTANDER'S THAT VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE PUSHED FURTHER AWAY FROM BUSY AREA. ENTERED VEHICLE VIA PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, LEANED ACROSS WITH RIGHT HAND TO PRESS DOWN BRAKE PEDAL AND USED LEFT HAND TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL. RIGHT HAND BURNED DUE TO HEAT FROM DRIVERS SIDE BLAZING FIRE WHILE PRESSING DOWN BRAKE. EXITED VEHICLE AND PUSHED VEHICLE TO FURTHER AREA IN PARKING LOT. FIRE COVERED MELTING PLASTIC FALLING FROM DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AS VEHICLE WAS PUSHED. HAD TO PUSH VEHICLE FURTHER AS FIREY PLASTIC WAS UNDER GAS TANK AREA. ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT FIRE. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DEMOLISHED AND SEATS DAMAGED. SMOKE DAMAGE THROUGHOUT VEHICLE. MELTED PLASTIC AND MELTED TIRES CAUSED CONCRETE IN PARKING LOT TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY BURNED/MELTED. BLISTERS TO RIGHT HAND, PHYSICIAN VISIT OCCURRED TO ADDRESS SKIN DISCOLORATION AND ENSURE INFECTION WAS NOT PRESENT. BLISTERED SKIN WAS CUT AWAY. KIA MOTORS STANCE IS TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AND PLACE BACK INTO THE MARKET. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON 9-17-10. MANUFACTURER'S REPORT DATE REGARDING THIS RECALL WAS 8-30-11. RECALL DATE WAS 9-13-11. NO NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED FROM MANUFACTURER OR DEALER REGARDING THIS FIRE SAFETY RECALL, SC083. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING AT A LOW SPEED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000.
I PURCHASED A 2010 KIA SOUL, AND 8 DAYS LATER SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL, DOOR LOCK, AND WINDOW. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE WINDOW MOTOR. THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS UNPLUGGED AND I WAS ALLOWED TO DRIVE IT HOME. THE DEALER SAID THE MOTOR WOULD COME IN THE FOLLOWING DAY BUT I COULD DRIVE IT UNTIL THEN. I DROVE APPROX. 1 MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND SMOKE STARTING POURING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER IN A PARKING LOT AND THE SPEAKERS CAUGHT FIRE. THE WHOLE SIDE DOOR PANEL, SPEAKERS, AND CARPET MELTED/FIRE DAMAGE. IT'S BEEN 4 WEEKS AND I AM STILL DRIVING A RENTAL CAR. KIA CORPORATE HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND OFFERED OPTIONS IN REPLACEMENT/COMPENSATION. *TR
BRAND NEW KIA SOUL 2010 - LESS THAN 500 MILES. ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE DOOR PANEL WHILE DRIVING. TOWED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED DOOR PANEL. LED LIGHT TRANSMITTER IN SPEAKERS SHORTED AND MELTED PLASTIC INSIDE DOOR. RESPONSE FROM KIA (ADVISED BY DEALER) WAS "DON'T LEAVE THE SPEAKER LIGHTS IN ON POSITION. ONLY USE THEM WHEN YOU NEED THEM." THIS WAS THE SECOND SAME INCIDENT THAT THE DEALER HAD THAT WEEK. *TR
Your car's radio stops producing sound during normal operation. When you turn the radio on, you may hear a popping noise as if it's about to work, but then it goes silent again—this happens whether your car is parked or driving. The issue likely involves a loose connection, blown fuse, or failing amplifier that needs to be inspected and repaired.
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