2010 Kia Soul reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2010 Kia Soul — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 193
- 23 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 24 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 31 reported crashes · 27 injuries · 24 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,657
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
-72
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2008-2012
-70
median 263 complaints in 666 records
Top component share
12%
Electrical System: 24 complaints
What owners report fails — 2010 Kia Soul
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24
- AIR BAGS 16
- STRUCTURE 12
- STEERING 12
- SERVICE BRAKES 11
3 recalls on record for the 2010 Kia Soul
- NHTSA 14V822000 · 2015 · STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
- NHTSA 13V114000 · 2013 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk
- NHTSA 10V388000 · 2010 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY OCCUR THAT CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2010 Kia Soul
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2010 Kia Soul units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Kia Soul reliable?
NHTSA has 193 consumer complaints on record for the 2010 Kia Soul and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (24 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2010 Kia Soul units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Kia Soul?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (24), air bags (16), structure (12), steering (12). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2010 Kia Soul?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.