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

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2012 Kia Soul recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2012 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: 514
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
Engine	1	–	Feb 22, 2019	19V120000
Structure	1	–	Dec 29, 2014	14V822000

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
Feb 22, 201919V120000	Engine Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V120000 What's wrong Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure. Risk Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire. Remedy Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176. Campaign NHTSA 19V120000 · Feb 22, 2019
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

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

Feb 22, 201919V120000

Engine

Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 19V120000

What's wrong: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Risk: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Campaign: NHTSA 19V120000 · Feb 22, 2019

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

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).

Owner complaints by component514

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

514Complaints filed

25Involving a crash

23Involving a fire

25Injuries reported · 2 deaths

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Engine	209	41	1	17	4
Steering	166	32	3	0	6
Service brakes	46	9	3	3	0
Unknown or other	39	8	2	2	4
Electrical system	38	7	2	2	2
Hydraulic	34	7	0	1	0
Engine and engine cooling	32	6	1	3	1
Fuel/propulsion system	21	4	0	0	0
Power train	21	4	3	1	3
Structure	18	4	4	1	5
Air bags	17	3	15	1	13
Exterior lighting	10	2	0	1	0
Vehicle speed control	10	2	0	0	0
Suspension	7	1	2	0	1
Electronic stability control (ESC)	7	1	1	0	0

13 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

Service brakes
“I purchased Dorman part #74015 Brake Pedal Stopper from AutoZone Altamonte after an employee recommended it for my 2012 Kia Soul without checking system compatibility. I installed it that night.”
Filed 07/24/2026 · ODI 11752753
Engine and engine cooling
“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended.”
Filed 07/13/2026 · ODI 11750027
Service brakes
“The brake lines on my car failed. I had to use the parking brake to get the car to stop. Typically, a brake failure leaves you with partial braking power, however, I had no brakes whatsoever.”
Filed 06/30/2026 · ODI 11747370

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2012 Kia Soul recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Kia Soul have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 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 2012 Kia Soul?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 209 complaints out of 514 filed with NHTSA (41%). Across all complaints, owners reported 25 crashs and 23 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2012 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.

Check a specific Kia by VIN

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