What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Soul?

Brakes have the most complaints with 45. Electrical System follows with 30 and Engine with 28.

Does the 2011 Kia Soul have recalls?

Yes. The by-year data shows 3 recalls. The Recalls section on this page lists them.

Is the 2011 Kia Soul reliable?

NHTSA has 194 owner complaints for this year. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them with the problem groups above.

How many air bag complaints does the 2011 Kia Soul have?

There are 26 air bag complaints, and 22 of them mention a crash.

What is the gas mileage of the 2011 Kia Soul?

See the fuel economy section on this page. It is generated from EPA data.

2011 Kia Soul Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 194 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Kia Soul^[1]. Brakes top the list with 45 complaints^[2].

194owner complaints^[1]

3recalls^[3]

26–28MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

4★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car, and the groups below are listed from biggest to smallest.

Brakes. 45 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe pedals that sank or did not respond, wheels that locked up on rough pavement, and a grinding shake when stopping hard.
Electrical System. 30 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a horn that sounds on its own or fails, and dealers who could not find the cause. Some describe the engine shutting off after the key was bumped while turning. A few describe a fire.
Engine. 28 complaints^[7]. Owners describe loud engine noises, an oil leak, and a fire under the hood that destroyed the car.
Air Bags. 26 complaints^[8]. Owners describe crashes where the air bags did not go off, including side impacts, and they report injuries afterward.
Unknown Or Other. 21 complaints^[9]. These reports do not fit a clear component group.
Power Train. 13 complaints^[10].
Exterior Lighting. 13 complaints^[11].
Structure. 12 complaints^[12].

These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, and one complaint can name more than one part.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2011 Soul is necessarily included.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (23V652), September 2023. About 1,730,192 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Structure › Body › Roof And Pillars (14V822), December 2014. About 95,314 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch (13V114), April 2013. About 980,377 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[16]	25 / 30 / 27	$2,500
Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	26 / 31 / 28	$2,400
Soul, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[17]	24 / 29 / 26	$2,600
Soul, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[18]	24 / 30 / 26	$2,600

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV FWD^[5]	4	4	5	4	15.1%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2011 Kia Soul with 1.6L 4-cylinder^[19]	124 hp
2011 Kia Soul with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[20]	142 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
SOUL 1.6L^[21]	162 in	70 in	63 in	100 in	2,623 lb
SOUL 2.0L^[22]	162 in	70 in	63 in	100 in	2,899 lb

How 2011 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Soul model year. The 2011 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2010	135	3
2011	194	3
2012	514	3
2013	667	3
2014	904	5
2015	908	7
2016	823	5
2017	290	3
2018	222	3
2019	140	3
2020	387	1
2021	238	2
2022	94	1
2023	54	4
2024	30	0
2025	12	0

NHTSA's counts for the Soul show 194 complaints and 3 recalls for 2011^[3]. Among the 16 model years listed, 6 have fewer complaints than 2011 and 9 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2025 (12) and the most are for 2015 (908)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2011 Soul?

The 2011 Soul has 194 complaints on file^[1]. Brakes lead the list^[2], followed by the electrical system^[6] and the engine^[7]. The air bag group is smaller at 26 complaints, but it carries 22 crashes^[8]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a guide to what owners report and not as a score. Check the recall section above and have any used example inspected before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Soul?: Brakes have the most complaints with 45^[2]. Electrical System follows with 30^[6] and Engine with 28^[7].
Does the 2011 Kia Soul have recalls?: Yes. The by-year data shows 3 recalls^[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists them.
Is the 2011 Kia Soul reliable?: NHTSA has 194 owner complaints for this year^[1]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them with the problem groups above.
How many air bag complaints does the 2011 Kia Soul have?: There are 26 air bag complaints, and 22 of them mention a crash^[8].
What is the gas mileage of the 2011 Kia Soul?: See the fuel economy section on this page. It is generated from EPA data.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Kia Soul

2011 this page
2012 514 complaints, 3 recalls
2013 667 complaints, 3 recalls
2014 904 complaints, 5 recalls
2015 908 complaints, 7 recalls
2016 823 complaints, 5 recalls
2017 290 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 222 complaints, 3 recalls
2019 140 complaints, 3 recalls
2020 387 complaints, 1 recall

Compare all model years of the Kia Soul

All Kia models

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 194 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Kia Soul (27 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 29 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
45 complaints name the brakes component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 114,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Kia Soul model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 31 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
30 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,000). NHTSA vehicle records
28 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 107,000). NHTSA vehicle records
26 complaints name the air bags component group (22 crashes, 0 fires, 26 injuries, median mileage at failure 57,000). NHTSA vehicle records
21 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
13 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
13 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 106,000). NHTSA vehicle records
12 complaints name the structure component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 42,600). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 23V652, filed September 25, 2023: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V822, filed December 29, 2014: Structure › Body › Roof And Pillars. NHTSA recall database
Recall 13V114, filed April 1, 2013: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Soul, 1.6L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 30 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Soul, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 29 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Soul, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 30 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2011 Kia Soul with 1.6L 4-cylinder: rated 124 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2011 Kia Soul with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 142 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SOUL 1.6L: length 162 in, width 70 in, height 63 in, wheelbase 100 in, curb weight 2,623 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SOUL 2.0L: length 162 in, width 70 in, height 63 in, wheelbase 100 in, curb weight 2,899 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2011 Kia Soul: problems, recalls and fuel economy