CarComplaints.com Notes: Look past the horrible hamster advertising campaign and you'll find a vehicle that is comfortable to drive, roomy and reliable. Just don't expect to set any MPG records on the highway (a side effect of driving a car shaped like a lunchbox).

3.4

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,326 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Kia Soul brakes problems

brakes problem

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2011 Kia Soul Owner Comments

problem #10

Oct 152020

Soul

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Annandale, VA, USA

problem #9

Aug 202020

Soul

  • 118,000 miles
Brake light will not illuminate when depressed. Break light switch not functioning properly. ESC/stability control light stays on continuous while car is in motion or stopped. Tail lights burn out every 6-12 month, as well as head lamps burning out often.

- Upper Arlington, OH, USA

problem #8

Jul 012014

Soul

  • 26,565 miles
File a vehuilce safety complaint 07/09/2014; confirmation #: 10609442 and have not received any feedback, response or status to my issue, which I found out many Kia Soul drivers are having, but no recall has been issued to resolve teh problem. The ecs on various occasion comes on while driving or when at a stop light. Pushing the ecs on/off switch does nothing, light stays on. Turhn engine off then on, light still stays on. Contacted dealer they said being it it when it happens, to be checked out, but the light does not cooperate. The ecs light problem started when a recall for the brake switch was replaced. The problem started in 2014 and occurs a few times each year to the current date of Feb 18 2016.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #7

Jun 102015

Soul

  • 55,234 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

ESC has engaged at 50 mph on dry roads rapidly slow the car down to 15 mph. This is the third occurrence in a month.

- Denton, TX, USA

problem #6

Jul 012014

Soul 4-cyl

  • 26,565 miles
The ESC on two separate occasions came on while driving on dry road between 30 and 55 mph. Tried turning pushing the on/off ecs switch, but light would not go off. With vehicle stopped, shifting transmission while pushing on brake pedal, ESC light would not go off. Turned off engine, waited a few minutes then restarted, light came back on. Light went off after driving a few feet and stopping at traffic light. I do not know what damage or problems this may cause to the operational capabilities of the vehicle. If it happens one more time, as I suspect it will, I will contact the dealer.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #5

Jan 152014

Soul 4-cyl

  • 8,500 miles
Without warning and while driving on dry pavement even at steady speed ESC warning light flashes and vehicle suddenly looses power drastically (barely runs).ESC acting like car is on ice when it is not. Drove 1 mile on dry pavement with car barely running. Problem is intermittent and has occurred on 3 occasions within 300 miles of driving. Had car to dealer for ESC malfunction on 3-4 occasions for this problem and problem still occurring. Dealer acknowledged problem on visits 1-2. brake switch & ABS module replaced but did not solve problem. Last visit after another ESC breakdown they said they could find nothing wrong, even though it malfunctioned only 2 days before car brought in. Dealer has had car in shop for over 1 month total time. They apparently are unable to fix it. I am driving an unsafe car with only a little over 9000 miles on it that is still under warranty. Yet they have offered no resolution. I don't need my car to go into "limp mode" while passing a car on a 2 lane road!. car runs normal however if ESC switch is turned off.

- Hickory Hills, IL, USA

problem #4

Oct 032011

Soul

  • 3,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Electronic stability control comes on when traveling on dry roads going in straight line and stays on for indeterminate periods (sometimes days at a time) unrelated to driving conditions. Will not turn off even when vehicle is stopped and key is taken out of ignition - when you put the key back into ignition and turn the traction control is still engaged. When the traction control is engaged the gas mileage is negatively impacted. Dealer has no fix for problem.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #3

Jun 152011

Soul 4-cyl

  • 300 miles
When driving at any speed & need to suddenly stop, the vehicle brakes lock up & do not stop the vehicle in time. Basically, the tires lock up & the car continues to skid & screech. This is especially aggravated when the vehicle drives over a pothole or other defect in the roadway while braking or in constant stop-&-go traffic. The vehicle has narrowly missed crashing into other vehicles or structures numerous times. I noticed the problems within a couple of weeks of purchasing the new 2011 car. It feels very dangerous & scary & I'm very uneasy about driving in certain situations because I'm not sure if the car will respond properly in an emergency.

- Floral Park, NY, USA

problem #2

May 022012

Soul

  • 10,100 miles
Speed control - the speed control did not disengage on numerous occaisions, when the brake was gently applied or tapped, speed control did not disengage and the speed actually increased. The vehicle is currently with the dealer. We were able to demonstrate replicate the problem with the service technician driving the vehicle. Horn - does not activate seems to occur when vehicle warmed up. Was able to demonstrate to dealer stability control light activates and does not turn off intermittently

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #1

May 202011

Soul 4-cyl

  • 15,000 miles
Driving the vehicle down the road in good weather conditions when the brakes initiated for no reason and no gas seemed to be going to the throttle. The ESC light came on. I attempted to turn the traction control light off but there was still no change. The vehicle slowed down to about 5 miles an hour and stalled out a couple of times because lack of gas going to the vehicle. Fortunately I was in a congested area and was only traveling about 20 mph when this happened. Could have been extremely dangerous had I been on a highway.

- Pikeville, KY, USA

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