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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2010 Kia Soul Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2010 Kia Soul has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 135 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2010 Kia Soul, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2010 Kia Soul owner complaints

Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Kia Soul, describing incidents dated March 17, 2009 to June 30, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Electrical System 24 complaints
  • Air Bags 21 complaints
  • Structure 21 complaints
  • Service Brakes 15 complaints
  • Engine 14 complaints
  • Visibility/Wiper 14 complaints

Of the 135 complaints on file, 23 report a crash and 15 a fire; across all 135 complaints, owners report 19 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11759171 · Filed

    The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt didn't lock and at the moment it is available to be inspected. My seat belt didn't lock so it is probably why my back fractured. I don't know if the problem has ever been reproduced or confirmed. To my knowledge no one has inspected the car. There was no…

  • ODI #11728848 · Filed

    See attached document for complaint.

  • ODI #11691093 · Filed

    Gas tank mounting are rusting and are not the correctly plated

Read all 135 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2010 Kia Soul in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Headliner Plate Detachment

NHTSA #14V822000 · Structure — Body — Roof and Pillars · NHTSA notice

Reported December 29, 2014 · Kia Motors America

Potentially affected: 95,314 vehicles

Repair completion: 64.33% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC112 · Owners notified January 29, 2015 · Vehicles built January 8, 2009 – October 2, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently

NHTSA #13V114000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported April 1, 2013 · Kia Motors Corporation

Potentially affected: 980,377 vehicles

Kia campaign SC098 · Owners notified April 19, 2013 · Vehicles built January 8, 2009 – June 14, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT

NHTSA #10V388000 · Electrical System — Wiring · NHTSA notice

Reported August 31, 2010 · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 35,185 vehicles

Kia campaign SC083 · Owners notified September 13, 2010 · Vehicles built September 7, 2009 – June 8, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SOUL AND MODEL YEAR 2011 SORENTO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 THROUGH JULY 30, 2010. A LIMITED NUMBER OF WIRING HARNESSES SUPPLIED BY JCI AND USED FOR THE LIGHTING IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, LOCATED IN THE FRONT DOOR TRIM PANELS, AND THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION, LOCATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR TRIM PANELS, MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SOLDERED.

Safety consequence

WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY OCCUR THAT CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE LIGHTS IN THE KIA SOUL VEHICLE'S ADVANCED LIGHTING SPEAKERS, AND THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE KIA SORENTO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR ACCENT ILLUMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

KIA'S SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS SC083.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other Kia Soul model years

Check your 2010 Kia Soul VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Soul at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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