2012 Kia Soul reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Kia Soul — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 667
- 290 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 208 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 41 reported crashes · 40 injuries · 2 deaths · 31 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#728
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
+402
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2010-2014
+375
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
31%
Engine: 208 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Kia Soul
- ENGINE 208
- STEERING 162
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 39
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 37
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 34
3 recalls on record for the 2012 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 19V120000 · 2019 · ENGINE Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the en
- 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.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Kia Soul reliable?
NHTSA has 667 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Kia Soul and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (208 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Kia Soul units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Soul?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (208), steering (162), unknown or other (39), electrical system (37). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 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.