YearToAvoid

2010 Kia Soul Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 20 engine complaints for the 2010 Kia Soul, 16% of its 126 total complaints that year. Median mileage at failure was 64,000, with 3 fires and 2 crashes tied to the engine area. No related recalls are on file.

Engine complaints
20
16% of 126
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
64,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine catches fire under the hood after smoke and unusual warning lights appear, sometimes requiring the fire department to extinguish it.
  • Sudden unintended acceleration reported at low speeds, with the engine racing and RPMs spiking even after the brake pedal is applied.
  • Cruise control fails to disengage when the brake is pressed, causing the engine to keep racing to maintain speed.
  • Engine cracks at the head with damaged valves, eventually requiring full engine replacement after electrical issues were first noticed.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly downshifts or loses power at highway speeds above 65 to 70 mph, creating a rear-end collision risk.
  • Vehicle lurches forward on its own at very low speeds until the driver applies the brakes to stop it.

When 2010 Kia Soul engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 27, 2010, latest Feb 7, 2024.

2010 Kia Soul engine complaints: complaints filed per month1Jan 2010Nov 2010Dec 2013Feb 2016Oct 2017Jan 2019Oct 2023
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2010 to Feb 2024; peak Jan 2010 (1).

Engine recalls for the 2010 Kia Soul

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Soul model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201020 (16%)
  2. 201136 (19%)
  3. 2012224 (44%)
  4. 2013312 (47%)
  5. 2014602 (67%)
  6. 2015673 (75%)
  7. 2016622 (77%)
  8. 2017203 (75%)
  9. 2018152 (70%)
  10. 201992 (68%)
  11. 2020251 (66%)
  12. 2021179 (77%)
  13. 202272 (82%)
  14. 202317 (33%)
  15. 20245 (17%)
  16. 20252 (17%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2010 Kia Soul?
NHTSA lists 20 engine complaints for the 2010 Kia Soul, which is 16% of the 126 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Kia Soul engine?
No. NHTSA's records show no related recalls tied to the engine complaints for the 2010 Kia Soul.
At what mileage do 2010 Kia Soul engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine-area complaints on the 2010 Kia Soul is 64,000 miles.
Did any 2010 Kia Soul engine complaints involve fires or crashes?
Yes, NHTSA's engine complaint data for the 2010 Kia Soul includes 3 fires and 2 crashes, with 3 injuries reported overall.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.