43 of 155 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2011 Kia Soul. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 28% of relevant complaints.
Better than 74% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 39 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 22%).
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
What owners reported
POWER TRAIN08/01/20171 INJURED
I PURCHASED KIA SOUL PLUS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2 MONTHS AGO FROM ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 53,000 MILES. VEHICLE "LAGGED" MOMENTARILY WHILE TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTED. I ASSUMED CHARACTERISTIC OF CAR. APPROX. 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING CAR WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY WITH MY FIANC' @ APPROX. 65MPH THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY &…
TRAFFIC CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND IV REAR ENDED OV1 WHICH PUSHED OV1 INTO OV2 WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO OV3. VEHICLE IN QUESTION (KIA SOUL) WAS THE IV. THE IV SUFFERED EXTREME FRONT-END DAMAGE AND WAS TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OFFICER AT THE SCENE AND THE TOWING COMPANY DRIVER WERE ADAMANT THAT THE FORC…
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROP10/07/2024
While driving my car just started accelerating in traffic and I couldn’t get it to stop even while hitting brakes trying not to hit another vehicle. Fortunately found a way to pull to side of road and throw in park and it was still revving up and didn’t stop til I turned off car completely. So terrifying. Now I’m [XXX]…
Three of 43 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (3)
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
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 headli…
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
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 200…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
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 Opti…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2011 Kia Soul
No elevated drivetrain pattern for this model year. That describes the model, not the car in front of you.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
3 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle.
