2010 Kia Soul: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2010 Kia Soul: 3 recalls, 135 owner complaints and up to 28 mpg combined.
Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical Vehicle recall #10V388000 · 2010 · 35,185 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: When the lights are illuminated under certain conditions, an electrical short May occur that can result in a fire.
The 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.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #13V114000 · 2013 · 980,377 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: 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.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #14V822000 · 2014 · 95,314 vehicles
What's wrong: A headliner plate May detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.
Why it matters: A detached headliner plate May increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 15 mention a fire, 19 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (24): the most common themes are fire / smoke (9), electrical failure (8), door / lock issues (6).
- Body & structure (21): the most common themes are door / lock issues (11).
- Airbags (21): the most common themes are fails to deploy (8).
- Steering (12): the most common themes are steering problems (7).
The 2010 Kia Soul has 135 owner complaints, ranking #12 of 16 Soul model years for complaints (well below the 347 average). Complaints peaked in 2010 (35 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 20,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (194 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 31 | 28 | Regular |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 31 | 28 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 30 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 30 | 26 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2010 Kia Soul.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2010 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2010 Kia Soul. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2010 Kia Soul problems?
Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (24), body & structure (21), airbags (21).
What gas mileage does the 2010 Kia Soul get?
EPA ratings run up to 28 mpg combined (1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2010 Kia Soul repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.