KIA Soul Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 520 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the KIA Soul across 15 model years. The 2014 model year has the most (98). The words owners use most often: “catalytic converter” (6% of reports).
- 520electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 17mention a crash
- 13mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Catalytic converter: mentioned in 29 of 520 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 257 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 520 complaints, 17 mention a crash, 56 a fire, 13 an injury.
KIA Soul electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Soul | 9 | 30% | — |
| 2023 Soul | 14 | 26% | 45,000 |
| 2022 Soul | 10 | 11% | 2,050 |
| 2021 Soul | 15 | 6% | 10,407 |
| 2020 Soul | 28 | 7% | 21,632 |
| 2019 Soul | 14 | 10% | 30,882 |
| 2018 Soul | 19 | 9% | 59,000 |
| 2017 Soul | 19 | 7% | 20,000 |
| 2016 Soul | 56 | 7% | 63,061 |
| 2015 Soul | 75 | 8% | 65,000 |
| 2014 Soul | 98 | 11% | 69,500 |
| 2013 Soul | 71 | 11% | 60,750 |
| 2012 Soul | 38 | 7% | 68,000 |
| 2011 Soul | 30 | 15% | 75,000 |
| 2010 Soul | 24 | 18% | 64,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Model years: 2023
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen.  The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.  As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
Electrical system:wiring
Model years: 2010
Problem: 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.
Risk: When the lights are illuminated under certain conditions, an electrical short may occur that can result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
It appears to get really hot and then it starts to smoke abundantly. And then the car struggles to drive forward. And something about instrument cluster
The vehicle has experienced intermittent stalling and near-stalling while driving. The problem began after a prior Kia engine replacement related to DTC P1327/P132700. After the engine replacement, the vehicle developed additional drivability and warning-light concerns, including P0420 and…
My 2019 Kia Soul has been professionally diagnosed with DTC B162000, âInternal Fault â Replace SRSCM,â involving the Supplemental Restraint System/Airbag Control Module. My repair shop documented this diagnosis on August 24, 2026. Kia Safety Recall SC226 / NHTSA Recall 22V-031 addresses an…
2023 Kia soul purchased brand new. Vehicle does not display speedometer, blinkers don't work, reverse camera doesn't work, nothing displays on dash, continuous alarm sound while vehicle is on. Having no indication of speed traveling or ability to signal turns is a safety concern. failure at…
The vehicle is suffering from an extreme internal engine oil consumption defect, burning approximately 3 quarts of engine oil every 500 to 600 miles with no external leaks. The internal oil burning heavily fouled the vehicle's ignition system (spark plugs and coil packs), causing severe engine…
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Souls have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 520 owner complaints about electrical system for the KIA Soul. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA Soul electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the KIA Soul?
The most frequent phrase is “catalytic converter”, in 29 of 520 complaints.
Other KIA Soul problems
- Engine problems (3,145)
- Steering problems (519)
- Power Train problems (432)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (407)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (346)
- Exterior Lighting problems (252)
- Air Bags problems (203)
- Service Brakes problems (202)
See all KIA Soul problems.