VehicleVerdict

2012 Kia Soul electrical system problems

The 2012 Kia Soul has 46 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

46

Electrical System complaints

7%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Soul electrical system complaints by model year102 complaints2010: 30 complaints2011: 42 complaints2012: 46 complaints2013: 77 complaints2014: 102 complaints2015: 77 complaints2016: 64 complaints2017: 20 complaints2018: 20 complaints2019: 12 complaints2020: 29 complaints2021: 15 complaints2022: 10 complaints2023: 12 complaints2024: 8 complaints
Soul electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW KIA SOUL IN NOV OF 2011. WITHIN 200 MILES OF OWNERSHIP, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTION AND FALSELY ACTIVATED. THE ESC NOT ONLY FALSELY ACTIVATED BUT REMAINED ACTIVATED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND COULD ONLY BE TURNED IF CONSIDERABLE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 6, 2012 · crash

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2012 Kia Soul have?

NHTSA has 46 complaints about the 2012 Kia Soul electrical system — 7% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.