2012 Kia Soul Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

208Engine complaints

40.6%Of all 512 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE208 · 40.6%

STEERING163 · 31.8%

Unspecified / other39 · 7.6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37 · 7.2%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC34 · 6.6%

Share of the 512 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Kia Soul overview page.

What owners report

“I FIRST NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE WHILE BACKING OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE. I THOUGHT PERHAPS A RECENT BRAKE JOB NEEDED SOME TWEAKING OR MAYBE…”NHTSA complaint 11112848 — filed 07/21/2018

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE CHECK ENGINE…”NHTSA complaint 11103798 — filed 06/25/2018

“VEHICLE AT 155000 MILES. DRIVING UP HILL ON A A ROAD I DRIVE EVERY DAY TO WORK. 0510, GOING 60 MPH AT 4000 RPMS UP…”NHTSA complaint 11102797 — filed 06/20/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Kia Soul have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Kia Soul: 208 of 512 complaints on file (40.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Kia Soul have in total?

512 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 25 involved a crash, 23 involved a fire, 25 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.