2011 Kia Soul Lights Problems
12 owner-reported lights complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Lights Recalls (1)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Owner Complaints (12)
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, the cruise control failed to operate as designed. The contact stated that the ESC warning light was illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V114000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the Vin was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the Vin was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 270,000.
IN THE 9 YEARS SINCE PURCHASE I'VE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHTS 13 TIMES. THEY GENERALLY BURN OUT WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER SO NOW I JUST REPLACE BOTH WHEN ONE GOES OUT. I HAVE TO KEEP SPARES IN THE GLOVE BOX BECAUSE ON ONE OCCASION THEY BOTH WENT OUT ON THE SAME DAY.
1. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND UNPREDICTABLY. 2. I REPLACED THE MAP LIGHT. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING AND I REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE I ORDERED MYSELF. A LOCAL GARAGE DID THE WORK, NOT A DEALER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AT NIGHT TIME, HER NEIGHBOR INFORMED HER THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VAN GRIFFITH KIA (4301 E US HWY 377, GRANBURY, TX 76049; (817) 573-0400) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 9/16/2020 WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. *LN*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, AND THEY ARE CONSTANTLY ON WHILE DRIVING.
FOG LIGHTS QUIT WORKING JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL KNOB. THEY WILL COME ON AND OFF AT TIMES WHEN TURNING THE TURN SIGNAL ON TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I HAVE COME TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE JUST TURNED THE FOG LIGHTS OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ECM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A STOP LAMP SWITCH AND THE UNDER BODY CORROSION RECALL. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
THE DIM HEADLIGHTS ON MY KIA SOUL WERE BLOWING EVERY 3 MONTHS. I BOUGHT BULBS FROM THE AUTO PARTS STORE FROM THE CHEAP TO SUPER EXPENSIVE BULBS. NOTHING HELPED. I CALLED KIA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED THERE BULBS. SO, I BOUGHT THOSE BULBS TOO. MY HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL BLOWING. I CHECKED THE SOCKET AND IT WAS BROWN LIKE IT HAD BEEN OVERHEATED. I REPLACED THOSE SOCKETS AND PUT ANOTHER SET OF KIA BULBS IN THE CAR. THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND THEY ARE BACK TO GOING OUT ON ME. THEY BOTH WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHICH IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS!!!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE, THE BRAKES SEIZED, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHEELS SMOKED, THE BRAKE SHIFTER INTERLOCK FEATURE WOULD NOT TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
2011 KIA SOUL BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN ENGAGED BY PEDAL. TESTING LIGHTS SHOWS THAT ALL OTHER LIGHTS ARE IN WORKING ORDER. VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE STOP LAMP SWITCH RECALL ISSUED BY KIA IN 2013; HOWEVER, THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IN NEED OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH WHICH PREVENTED HER FROM SEEING WHEN REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO STANDARDS AND WAS UNABLE TO ALTER THE DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,500.