Representative model. Photo: Elise240SX, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2011 Kia Soul recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2011 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 1
Complaints: 194
Latest campaign: Sep 25, 2023

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Park‑it	Latest	Campaign IDs
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	1	Sep 25, 2023	23V652000
Structure	1	–	Dec 29, 2014	14V822000
Exterior lighting	1	–	Apr 1, 2013	13V114000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

1Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Sep 25, 2023Latest campaign


Sep 25, 202323V652000	Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip control unit/module An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Park outside, away from structures DetailsHide details for campaign 23V652000 What's wrong Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving. Risk An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Remedy Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284. Campaign NHTSA 23V652000 · Sep 25, 2023
Dec 29, 201414V822000	Structure: body roof and pillars A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 14V822000 What's wrong Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag. Risk A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash. Remedy Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC112. Campaign NHTSA 14V822000 · Dec 29, 2014
Apr 1, 201313V114000	Exterior lighting: brake lights switch Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 13V114000 What's wrong Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate. Risk Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash. Remedy Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098. Campaign NHTSA 13V114000 · Apr 1, 2013

Sep 25, 202323V652000

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip control unit/module

An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Park outside, away from structures

DetailsHide details for campaign 23V652000

What's wrong: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign: NHTSA 23V652000 · Sep 25, 2023

Dec 29, 201414V822000

Structure: body roof and pillars

A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 14V822000

What's wrong: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.
Risk: A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC112.
Campaign: NHTSA 14V822000 · Dec 29, 2014

Apr 1, 201313V114000

Exterior lighting: brake lights switch

Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 13V114000

What's wrong: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Campaign: NHTSA 13V114000 · Apr 1, 2013

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2011 Kia Soul? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component194

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

194Complaints filed

27Involving a crash

5Involving a fire

29Injuries reported · 1 death

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Service brakes	45	23	2	1	1
Hydraulic	32	16	1	0	1
Electrical system	30	15	1	2	0
Air bags	26	13	22	0	26
Engine	24	12	1	1	1
Unknown or other	21	11	0	0	0
Exterior lighting	13	7	0	0	0
Power train	13	7	0	0	1
Structure	12	6	3	0	3
Visibility	11	6	0	0	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	10	5	0	0	0
Suspension	9	5	1	0	0
Vehicle speed control	8	4	0	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	8	4	0	1	0
Seat belts	7	4	4	0	6

11 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Air bags
“The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the airbag warning light was illuminated, indicating that the airbag system was inoperative.”
Filed 08/27/2026 · ODI 11760046
Service brakes
“The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her husband was at a stop sign, the vehicle suddenly shut off.”
Filed 03/05/2026 · ODI 11722193
Air bags
“This vehicle had just passed a inspection for me to get it licensed and Kentucky. There was no light showing that the airbags would not work.”
Filed 06/30/2025 · ODI 11670276

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2011 Kia Soul recall questions

How many recalls does the 2011 Kia Soul have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2011 Kia Soul. The most recent, 23V652000 (reported September 25, 2023), concerns service brakes, hydraulic. 1 campaign carries a park-it or park-outside warning. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2011 Kia Soul?

Service brakes is the most-reported component, named in 45 complaints out of 194 filed with NHTSA (23%). Across all complaints, owners reported 27 crashs and 5 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2011 Kia Soul?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Kia dealer.

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