Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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).
I was driving down the interstate on my way to work when my check engine light turned on and began flashing rapidly. I then began to get over to the shoulder and into safety when I heard what sounded like a loud dropping sound come from the engine and smoke started coming out of the hood. When I got pulled over to the shoulder, I ran and popped my hood and saw that the whole battery was on fire, within minutes the whole car was engulfed and I was told to get back for my safety by someone that stopped.
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.
Hello, I would like to report that someone attempted to steal my 2010 Kia Soul. The incident occurred on [redacted], in San Jose, CA 95111. As a result of the attempted theft, there is damage to the car's steering wheel and ignition. Please let me know if additional information or documentation is needed to assist with this report.
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 Kia Soul. While driving at low speeds, a loud noise was detected from the vehicle and multiple unknown warning indicators illuminated. The contact mentioned that the high beam headlights illuminated automatically. The contact also noticed smoke, which LED to fire, under the hood. The local fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The contact also mentioned that when the vehicle was turned off and the key was removed from the ignition, the engine continued to rev. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local body shop and then towed to the vehicle's insurance company. The contact mentioned that the insurance company towed the vehicle to another unknown location where the vehicle was considered a total loss. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact noticed smoke from the radio. The vehicle was taken to the bill Dodge Kia dealer [phone], located at 3 saunders way, westbrook, me 04092) where it was diagnosed that there was a shortage in the wiring harness. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Backing out of parking space and drivers side door started to smoke. Main smoke was coming from speaker area. Windows were down. Exited car in parking lot and by this time, door started to melt. Soon thereafter, door caught on fire. Car was still near other vehicles and people in busy parking lot. Was told by bystander's that vehicle needed to be pushed further away from busy area. Entered vehicle via passenger side door, leaned across with right hand to press down brake pedal and used left hand to put into neutral. Right hand burned due to heat from drivers side blazing fire while pressing down brake. Exited vehicle and pushed vehicle to further area in parking lot. Fire covered melting plastic falling from drivers side door as vehicle was pushed. Had to push vehicle further as firey plastic was under gas tank area. Entire drivers side door engulfed in flames. …
1. Stationary - a piece of the driver's side suspension spring broke off. My husband went to check what weird noise the car was making when he turned the wheel fully as we were trying to exit our paralleled parking spot in front of our home. When he opened the hood, he looked around and asked me to turn the wheel from so he could hear exactly where the sound was coming from. When he heard it was above the right wheel area, he looked deep, reached in and ended up finding a portion of the spring. A day or two later, both sides are making that noise, though no dislodged portion from the passenger side has been found yet. 2. Stationary when discovered - tire began losing air at a rate which took 1 full day. Had the tire checked for holes, found 1 and repaired it. Next-day however, same problem. Checked again, no holes. Next day the same. Finally brought it to tire sales shop we always use. …
I purchased a 2010 Kia Soul, and 8 days later smoke started coming out of the passenger side door panel, door lock, and window. The car was towed to the closest dealership and they told me that it was the window motor. The window motor was unplugged and I was allowed to drive it home. The dealer said the motor would come in the following day but I could drive it until then. I drove approx. 1 mile down the road and smoke starting pouring out of the passenger side door panel again. I was able to pull the car over in a parking lot and the speakers caught fire. The whole side door panel, speakers, and carpet melted/fire damage. It's been 4 weeks and I am still driving a rental car. Kia corporate has been contacted and offered options in replacement/compensation.
Daughter was driving car on side street when she noticed smoke and then fire coming from passenger side speaker/light area. She was fortunately not hurt and was assisted by bystander in putting out fire. Inside of door around speaker melted. Appears to be same problem that Kia recalled 2010 Kia for (ref 10V388000 aug 30 2010). Car was supposedly fixed under recall no. 10V388000 at fullerton Kia (no longer in business at the fullerton location). To date Kia has accepted no responsibility for the problem. I want to make sure that cause is investigated before car is repaired, and reason is destroyed as it appears recall fix was unsuccessful and there May be 1000's of cars on the road with same problem. Updated 03/06/12 updated ivoq 03/13/12
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Kia Soul. On two occasions, the wheels locked and the vehicle stalled. The contact also mentioned that the battery failed after one year. When the vehicle was taken to the dealer, they only offered to recharge the battery. A day later, the battery failed. The authorized dealer did not replace the battery and the contact had the battery replaced. The vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign number: 10V388000 (electrical system), but the vehicle continued to stall. The vehicle was taken to two different dealers who were unable to diagnose the failure correctly to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Wiring
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…
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.
NHTSA investigations
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
During this Preliminary Evaluation (PE), the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima, MY 2011-2014 Kia Sorento and MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with Theta II, Gamma, Nu and Lambda II engines…
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
In a letter dated June 11, 2018, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento, and Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles. In a letter dated July 24, 2018, CAS requested that MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles be added to the petition.
Electrical complaints in other Soul years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2010 Kia Soul?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the electrical system of the 2010 Kia Soul, 18% of the model year's 135 complaints. The component named most often is wiring (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Kia Soul electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-388 (wiring, Aug 31, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2010 Kia Soul electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 8 fires and 1 injury to electrical system 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.