2011 Kia Soul reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2011 Kia Soul — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 270
- 78 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- 32 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 43 reported crashes · 43 injuries · 2 deaths · 7 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,983
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
+5
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2009-2013
-3
median 274 complaints in 614 records
Top component share
12%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 32 complaints
What owners report fails — 2011 Kia Soul
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 32
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28
- AIR BAGS 25
- ENGINE 24
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21
3 recalls on record for the 2011 Kia Soul
- NHTSA 23V652000 · 2024 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACT An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- 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
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2011 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 2011 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 2011 Kia Soul reliable?
NHTSA has 270 consumer complaints on record for the 2011 Kia Soul and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (32 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2011 Kia Soul units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Soul?
Owners most often report problems with: service brakes, hydraulic (32), electrical system (28), air bags (25), engine (24). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2011 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.