Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2010 Kia Soul. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Headliner Plate Detachment
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently
- Summary
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY OCCUR THAT CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (135)
135 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 135 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 24 | 17.8% |
| Air bags | 21 | 15.6% |
| Structure | 21 | 15.6% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 11.1% |
| Steering | 12 | 8.9% |
| Power train | 11 | 8.1% |
| Unknown or other | 11 | 8.1% |
| Visibility | 10 | 7.4% |
| Engine | 9 | 6.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 6.7% |
How 2010 compares with other Soul years
Best and worst Soul years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 135 | 3 |
| 2011 | 194 | 3 |
| 2012 | 514 | 3 |
| 2013 | 663 | 3 |
| 2014 | 902 | 5 |
| 2015 | 898 | 4 |
| 2016 | 816 | 2 |
| 2017 | 272 | 1 |
| 2018 | 218 | 1 |
| 2019 | 136 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 28 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,400
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 317 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Station Wagons
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 28 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 31 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 31 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2010 Soul for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2010 Kia Soul FAQ
How many recalls does the 2010 Kia Soul have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 14V822000 (structure), 13V114000 (brake), 10V388000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2010 Kia Soul problems?
Owners filed 135 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (24), Air bags (21), Structure (21) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2010 Kia Soul get?
EPA rates the 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 26 city, 31 highway and 28 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2010 Soul compare with other years?
Among the 2010–2019 Kia Soul model years at least five years old, the 2010 drew the fewest complaints (135) and the 2014 the most (902). The 2010 drew 135. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.