Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2023 | 8 | 15% | 17,000 miles |
| 2022 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2021 | 9 | 4% | 5,000 miles |
| 2020 | 16 | 4% | 4,000 miles |
| 2019 | 5 | 4% | 122,000 miles |
| 2018 | 5 | 2% | 38,000 miles |
| 2017 | 10 | 4% | 44,000 miles |
| 2016 | 30 | 4% | 57,000 miles |
| 2015 | 44 | 5% | 36,000 miles |
| 2014 | 55 | 6% | 36,000 miles |
| 2013 | 153 | 23% | 70,000 miles |
| 2012 | 166 | 32% | 69,000 miles |
| 2011 | 4 | 2% | 8,000 miles |
| 2010 | 12 | 9% | 4,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owned a 2023 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the lane assist feature malfunctioned and the steering wheel inadvertently turned sharply to the left and seized. As a result, the vehicle crashed into trees and rolled down the hill. The contact was removed from the vehicle. The contact sustained injury laceration to both hands and knuckles, reinjured right hip, bruised spinal cord, strained shoulder, neck, and injury to the left knee that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that someone will reach out to him but no response. The contact. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Soul. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP mode and stalled. On another occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to vibrate after the accelerator pedal was depressed and the front driver's and passenger's side headlights failed to operate. Additionally, the contact stated that she took the vehicle to the car wash and noticed that fuel had leaked onto the tires. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that tire shine was on the tires not fuel. The contact also stated that the vehicle had lost power steering functionality. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. …
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that after activating the air conditioning the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Also, the contact stated while depressing the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal extended to the floor causing the braking distance to be extended. The contact stated that there was popping sound coming from the steering column while turning the steering wheel in either direction. The contact stated the headlights were dim and failed to properly illuminate the roadway and the rear brake lights also failed illuminate while depressing the brake pedal. …
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while turning the ignition on and off, there was a knocking sound coming from the dashboard. After pulling into a parking lot, a red exclamation point illuminated the instrument panel, and the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to coast out of the way by driving forward. The vehicle was turned off and towed to the dealer. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure occurred two more times while driving at various speeds, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer each time. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer informed the contact to return the vehicle if the failure recurred. The manufacturer was informed of the failure by the dealer and a case was opened. …
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while starting the vehicle in a parking lot, the steering wheel locked, and the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact shifted the vehicle into park(P) and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated a symbol of a steering wheel in a circle with a line through the steering wheel was illuminated. The contact stated she drove the vehicle to her residence and turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
The contact's wife owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and turning the steering wheel, the steering wheel failed to return to center. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the steering rack, and pinion plugs were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 232,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the power steering became inoperable causing the driver to lose control of the steering and nearly crashed into a second vehicle. Moments later, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that a screw within the alternator had failed causing the alternator to malfunction. The alternator was replaced. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became loose, vibrated, and made a knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and a dealer, and it was determined that the steering coupler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
Related recalls (1)
Steering
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017.
NHTSA investigations
Steering Shaft Separation
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is aware of a single complaint on the subject vehicles that alleges the hand wheel became mechanically de-coupled from the road wheels when the intermediate steering shaft universal joint separated from the upper steering column.It appears that the intermediate steering shaft in the complaint vehicle was disassembled and then improperly re-assembled with the universal joint…
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Soul years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (166), 2013 (153), 2014 (55), 2015 (44) and 2016 (30) model years. Steering complaints make up 32% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Kia Soul steering problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 17V-608 (steering, Sep 29, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Kia Soul steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles; 44% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the column (5 mentions), followed by the steering wheel /handle bar › yaw/angle sensor (1).
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.