Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Kia Soul owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2010 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH when she crashed into the rear passenger side of another vehicle due to an illegal turn damaging both vehicles. The contact stated the air bags did not deploy nor did the seatbelt retract. The contact stated when the paramedics helped out the vehicle the air bag fell out of the steering wheel. The contact was taken to the hospital for back pain. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt didn't lock and at the moment it is available to be inspected. My seat belt didn't lock so it is probably why my back fractured. I don't know if the problem has ever been reproduced or confirmed. To my knowledge no one has inspected the car. There was no warning signs or lights that came on. Apparently the air bags only deploy with front or rear impact not rollovers and the seat belts don't lock either but how does a 2001 Saturn seat belts lock in a rollover but a 2010 Kia doesn't.
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Soul. The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 172,470.
The airbag light is on, and the passenger airbag light is off. Kia dealership performed the electronic scan, and is obtaining message with defect in OCS sensor defect and electrical voltage. Kia said needs Kia part #95910-2K000 that Kia has discontinued. There is no way to fix the air bag issue as Kia has discontinued the part, and no dealer has the part in the United States. The vehicle is available for inspection. Dealer has confirmed the problem, but can't repair because the Kia part has been DISCONTINUED. The part that has been discontinued is the Control Module, Module Assembly Air Bag.
As I was driving north on I-95 it had started to rain. I was in the left lane of a two lane highway going 60 MPH in a 70 MPH zone when an 18 wheeler went by me going 85 MPH or more. It pushed water on the road over into my lane and I felt my wheels begin to move. I let off the gas and gripped the wheel. My ESC light never turned on. I hydroplaned from my lane into the right lane then back into my lane and off the road. The wheels locked about 20 feet off the road and the car tipped on the passenger side and hit a tree. I had my seatbelt on as I sat and dialed 911. My windshield was spiderwebbed, my hood of the car was up, and all my belongings were thrown on the right side of the car. I was wearing my prescription glasses and a headband and with the force of the hit, both were thrown off my face. As I sat in the car on the phone with 911 the car began to catch fire. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 Kia Soul. While the contact's daughter was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle was struck on the front driver's side near the headlight by another vehicle. The air bag did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact's daughter sustained a seat belt injury on her chest and a nose injury, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was not available.
"Takata recall" the airbag did not deploy when the car was hit traveling south bound. A vehicle pulled out in front and could not avoid hitting the vehicle. Traveling on a straight way on city street. Insurance have totaled the vehicle.
We rear-ended a 2004 expedition in our 2010 Kia Soul at 20mph. My wife sustained a "traumatic brain injury" as a result of the air bag wiring harness being cut in half (both sides) before the sensors were activated. I have photos of the wiring harness cut in the accident and the car. My 39 year old wife will now spend the rest of her life disabled. This is a dangerous car. Kia states the airbags will not activate at 20mph. This is not a 5 star frontal impact design. The fuel shut off did not activate, 'all safety features failed'. I drove the car 1/4 mile to a parking lot after the wreck, onto a trailer later that day, off the trailer, back onto a trailer and off again. The dealer told us to pound sand and call Kia if we weren't satisfied with the vehicle safety systems.
2010 Kia Soul was hit by Plymouth neon as neon was exiting highway I-70 westbound at zumbehl rd in st charles, mo. Neon failed to either stop at red light or yield right of way to my Kia Soul. The Soul was hit on the right front completely tearing off the front bumper. The Soul was spun counter clockwise and hit a second time in the right side rear passenger door. The impact sent the Soul across 2 traffic lanes and across an approximately 6 inch high median curb into the path of oncoming traffic. Neither the front airbags, nor the side airbags deployed and the front passenger impacted the side interior causing injuries.
09/09/2010 I was t-boned in a 2010 Kia Soul with 1822 miles on the odometer. The car that hit me was a murano going 45 MPH. The impact was on the driver side quarter panel and driver door. I sustained a concussion from hitting the driver side window and some spectacular bruising on my left arm and shoulder. Not one of the six airbags deployed. I purchased this car because of the safety rating and the number of airbags. Today 01/16/2011 the car is still in the shop. Repairs have been a nightmare. The front driver side wheel was bent parallel to the ground. I am not a happy camper.
Airbag complaints in other Soul years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2010 Kia Soul?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2010 Kia Soul, 16% of the model year's 135 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Kia Soul airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2010 Kia Soul, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Kia Soul airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 53,000 miles, and 43% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 16 crashes, 2 fires and 15 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.