Is the 2011 Kia Soul a bad year?
194 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Soul years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Kia Soul are in line with other Soul years. Brakes stands out for this year: see below.
3th quietest of 10 Soul years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 Soul owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 114,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 45 (23%) | 51k–153k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 28 (14%) | 80k–147k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 30 (15%) | 19k–96k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 26 (13%) | 22k–84k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 17 (9%) | 3k–34k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 13 (7%) | 14k–87k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 12 (6%) | 3k–61k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 13 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 10 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 114,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 194 complaints: 27 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 23 report an injury · 12 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2011 Kia Soul: 3
The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag. A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 53
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Kia Soul. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
DTC P0011/ P0014/ P0016/ P0017 DUE TO INCORRECT CAMSHAFT RELUCTOR WHEEL CONFIGURATION - This Pitstop provides information on some 2010-2013MY Soul (AM)…
CYLINDER HEAD STEEL BALL INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION - This Pitstop provides information regarding the inspection and installation of the steel sealing ball…
ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable…
ECM upgrade - knock improvement DTC P0328
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
Neighbouring years
2010 Soul: 135 complaints, keep it · 2012 Soul: 516 complaints, consider selling.
Every Kia Soul year
2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · All Soul years side by side
Other Kia models: Kia Amanti · Kia Cadenza · Kia Carnival · Kia EV6 · Kia EV9 · Kia Forte · Kia K5 · Kia Niro · Kia Optima · Kia Optima Hybrid · Kia Rio · Kia Rondo · Kia Sedona · Kia Seltos · Kia Sephia · Kia Sorento · Kia Spectra · Kia Sportage · Kia Stinger · Kia Telluride. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2011 Kia Soul a bad year?
194 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Soul years. At 114,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Soul?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (45), engine (28), electrical system (30), air bags (26), visibility and wipers (17).
How many recalls does the 2011 Kia Soul have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 23V-652), Body structure (NHTSA 14V-822), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 13V-114). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.