2011 Kia Soul Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

24Engine complaints

12.4%Of all 193 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC32 · 16.6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28 · 14.5%

AIR BAGS25 · 13%

ENGINE24 · 12.4%

Unspecified / other21 · 10.9%

Share of the 193 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Kia Soul overview page.

What owners report

“ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019, I WAS DRIVING FROM KATY, TX TO NEW ORLEANS, LA TRAVELING WITH MY 2-YEAR-OLD SON ON I-10. APPROXIMATELY 51 MILES…”NHTSA complaint 11267527 — filed 10/09/2019

“HEAD-GASKETS AND/OR THERMOSTATS FAILING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND LOW MILES. I AM ON 2ND HEAD-GASKET AND 4TH THERMOSTAT AND ONLY AT 109000 MI. TWICE…”NHTSA complaint 11174866 — filed 02/06/2019

“THE CLUTCH HAS GONE OUT TWICE . THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 54029 AND DATE OF 1/17/17. LESS THAN SIX MONTHS LATER I TOOK IT…”NHTSA complaint 11163945 — filed 12/29/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Kia Soul have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Kia Soul: 24 of 193 complaints on file (12.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Kia Soul have in total?

193 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 27 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 29 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.