2012 KIA SOUL Complaints

Beginning of June 2023 started noticing a problem with steering wheel, rattles and feels loose when turning left or right. Kia dealership said its the flex coupling needs to be replaced can get worse to the point can't steer car. This should be a recall on this car. I've never had a car that had problem with steering, can be pretty serious if it can cause an accident. Im getting it inspected, will cost approximately $400.00 to replace.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the engine was misfiring. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road for 20 minutes. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred a week later. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while making a turn, there was an abnormal clicking and grinding sound coming from the vehicle. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel drifted from one side to the next out of the hand of the contact. The steering wheel turned partially in one direction and aggressively before returning to center. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

In our 2012 Kia soul, the steering wheel is giving out and sticking resulting in the wheel, not being able to be controlled by the driver as it’s being yanked out of their hands. This is especially dangerous on the highway where there was almost an accident when my daughter was driving, the car and the car wheel stuck, and then abruptly yanked out of her hand. The Kia souls 2014 through 2016 have recalls on their steering wheel and the same issue is happening with our 2012 Kia soul. When we contacted Kia dealership and Kia customer service they told us that they would not help us, because it was not recalled and there was no current warranty for it past 98,000 miles but online it says 100,000 miles. Even though we are the third owner of the car we have received the car from her grandparents and have fold all recall information and then keeping tabs on keeping the car up-to-date to make sure that is mechanically sound, and always in good condition. We are scared for the dangerous situation that the steering wheel is putting us in to the point where we are not comfortable driving the vehicle. The Kia dealerships reached out to you about the safety concerns not only told us that they would charge us an obscene amount of money to bring it in for a diagnostic, but that they would not cover the cost to repair it, even if they found that it was related to the recall of the 2014 2016. The 2012s have the same steering an engine as the 2014 and 2016. We fear for the safety of our family, and Kia will not even look at it without charging us, and said that even if it was related to the same problem that they would not allowed to be covered under warranty, because there is not a specific warranty on the 2012 Kia soul model. I am reaching out to report that the same problem is happening with the 2012 version of the Kia soul in terms of the steering problems from recall on the 2014 and 2016 Kia souls. This is extremely dangerous and could weren’t a lawsuit if an accident happens

Steering column lock. I took the vehicle back complaining about the steering wheel having a rough spot in it they act like they could not find nothing while under warranty. Over the years it's progressively getting worse now the steering wheel will not lock when you pull the key out. While driving the car you can notice a click in the wheel in both directions where the key lock is trying to lock back in the position while driving. I called Kia and complained they said the vehicle was out of warranty how many other people has had this problem. When driving down the road I can feel in the wheel every time I move it right or left. My problem is what do you do if a steering wheel locks up running 60 70 mph down the road is other Kia owners having this problem has anybody been killed or because KEA is ignoring the problem with steering columns. The lock hasn't worked in two or three years now it is getting to the point that it has a real noticeable click and kink in the steering wheel. I think the government should check in on a KEA and make sure it's not an ongoing problem with other KEA's.

Clicking and knocking when turning or just parked turning the steering wheel. I hear it’s a steering coupler issue with lots of Kias and Hyundai’s that can be dangerous. Did I miss a recall, how do I get this taken care of?

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH the braking system suddenly activated causing the vehicle to abruptly stop. Smoke was then seen coming from under the front end of the vehicle. After the contact exited the vehicle flames and smoke began to engulf the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. The vehicle was later towed to the home. The extent of the damage to the vehicle and the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,000.

My 2012 Kia Soul has a problem with steering wheel make a clunking sound when move left to right and also when driving at speeds around 65mph steering wheel vibration we need a full recall on steering coupler.

Engine seizure, stalling, engine turns off without any warning. When taken to dealership or mechanic there is no error code for the issue.

There is a loud knocking noise coming from the steering motor/mechanism underneath the dash. The steering feels unstable when I am driving and when the vehicle is not in motion, there is a loud thud noise and feel, when I turn the steering wheel.