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Kia2009–2019 Critical issues documented

Kia Soul AM: common faults & what to check

The AM is the Kia Soul built 2009–2014. It was sold here with the 1.6 petrol and 2.0 petrol. Of the 8 faults documented for the Soul, 6 apply to this generation, each with its symptoms, what to inspect and a typical repair cost. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact Kia Soul

  • Odometer history
  • Money owing
  • Reported stolen
  • Ownership history
  • Official NZ vehicle register data
  • NZ owned and operated

Type the plate for the free basics. The full record is a paid check from $13.49, one car at a time, no subscription.

No NZ plate yet, or buying in Australia? Pick the generation and engine and start a free check below. New to KickTyres? How the check works →

8

Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$350–$800

Typical repair

3

Systems covered

You're looking at the AM

2 engine variants are documented for this generation. Pick yours to narrow further, or keep reading for the generation as a whole.

Choose a different generation

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

A 2009 Kia Soul is the AM generation (2009 to 2014).

Start your free check on this Kia Soul

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

Kia Soul AMEngine not picked yet

Pick the engine above first: the Soul came with 2, and without it the report has to show all of their faults. Pick the engine

Free. The paid plate check is separate, and stays optional.

Can't confirm for this car

Kia Soul · 2009

Narrowed to the year. No engine is recorded for this vehicle. Pick an engine to see which faults apply.

Tell us the engine, or check the engine code on the car, before relying on this.

  • No engine is recorded for this vehicle.

matched on year only

What to look out for

The checks worth doing on a Kia Soul before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

  • Costly issue

    With the car stationary, turn the steering from lock to lock slowly and listen for grinding, clunking, or grating from the top of the strut towers.

    See why

    Front Strut Top Mount Bearing Collapse

    The Soul's MacPherson strut top mounts use a bearing to allow steering rotation. These bearings deteriorate with age and kilometres, causing clunking over bumps and imprecise steering feedback. Failure progresses from subtle noise to a pronounced knock that is frequently mistaken for worn ball joints. The fault is common on NZ/AU examples exposed to typical road surfaces and is a standard finding on higher-mileage cars.

    What you would notice

    • Clunking or knocking from front suspension over bumps and at low speed
    • Noise on full steering lock during parking manoeuvres
    • Vague steering feel or a slight pull to one side
    • Creaking from the strut area when the body rolls in cornering

    Typically $350–$800 to put right.

  • Common issue

    Rock the steering gently side to side while stationary and feel/listen for a clunk.

    See why

    Steering column/coupler clunk and front-end knocks

    AM Soul owners commonly report a clunk or knock felt through the steering, traced to the steering column coupler/intermediate shaft, along with the usual worn front suspension links and bushes by this age. The steering clunk is more unsettling than dangerous but should be checked, and a car with several worn front-end parts rides poorly and may fail a WOF. These are cheap, normal fixes and useful bargaining points.

    What you would notice

    • Clunk felt through the steering wheel over bumps or turning
    • Knock from the front on rough roads
    • Vague steering feel
    • Uneven front tyre wear

    Typically $250–$800 to put right.

  • Common issue

    Any noticeable movement beyond minimal compliance indicates worn trailing arm bushes.

    See why

    Rear Trailing Arm Bush Deterioration

    The rear trailing arm bushes on the Soul deteriorate with age, causing rear handling vagueness, clunking over bumps, and tyre wear. NZ/AU road surfaces and UV exposure accelerate rubber degradation. Worn bushes allow rear axle geometry to shift under load, causing unpredictable handling in cornering and alignment that drifts out of specification between services.

    What you would notice

    • Knocking or clunking from rear suspension over speed humps or rough surfaces
    • Rear end wandering or tramping on uneven roads
    • Uneven or accelerated rear tyre wear, particularly inner or outer edge
    • Rear axle alignment outside specification at WOF inspection

    Typically $300–$700 to put right.

  • Common issue

    Check whether the engine light is on and ask if it has been on before.

    See why

    EVAP/purge valve faults triggering the check-engine light

    A frequent, low-drama complaint on the AM Soul is a check-engine light from the evaporative-emissions (EVAP) system — often a stuck purge valve or a loose/failed fuel-cap seal — which can also cause a slightly rough idle or a fuel smell. It's cheap to fix but will fail an emissions check and keeps the warning light on, which can mask other faults. Worth clearing up before purchase so the light isn't hiding something bigger.

    What you would notice

    • Check-engine light on
    • Faint petrol smell
    • Slightly rough idle
    • EVAP/small-leak fault codes

    Typically $150–$500 to put right.

See all 6 issues for this oneDocumented for the exact year and engine you picked.
Electrical1

01EVAP/purge valve faults triggering the check-engine light

Check whether the engine light is on and ask if it has been on before.2009–2013Electrical
CommonElectrical $150–$500 to fix

A frequent, low-drama complaint on the AM Soul is a check-engine light from the evaporative-emissions (EVAP) system — often a stuck purge valve or a loose/failed fuel-cap seal — which can also cause a slightly rough idle or a fuel smell. It's cheap to fix but will fail an emissions check and keeps the warning light on, which can mask other faults. Worth clearing up before purchase so the light isn't hiding something bigger.

Symptoms to notice

  • Check-engine light on
  • Faint petrol smell
  • Slightly rough idle
  • EVAP/small-leak fault codes

What to check

Check whether the engine light is on and ask if it has been on before. Scan for EVAP codes if possible. Make sure the fuel cap seals and clicks. A car with the light freshly cleared just before sale is a flag to scan for pending codes.

Where to look: Purge valve and EVAP lines near the intake; fuel cap

Ask the seller

  • “Is the check-engine light on or has it been recently?”
  • “Any petrol smell around the car?”
  • “Has the EVAP/purge valve been looked at?”
Body, brakes, suspension & interior3

02Front Strut Top Mount Bearing Collapse

With the car stationary, turn the steering from lock to lock slowly and listen for grinding, clunking, or grating from the top of the strut towers.2009–2019Suspension
CommonSuspension $350–$800 to fix

The Soul's MacPherson strut top mounts use a bearing to allow steering rotation. These bearings deteriorate with age and kilometres, causing clunking over bumps and imprecise steering feedback. Failure progresses from subtle noise to a pronounced knock that is frequently mistaken for worn ball joints. The fault is common on NZ/AU examples exposed to typical road surfaces and is a standard finding on higher-mileage cars.

Symptoms to notice

  • Clunking or knocking from front suspension over bumps and at low speed
  • Noise on full steering lock during parking manoeuvres
  • Vague steering feel or a slight pull to one side
  • Creaking from the strut area when the body rolls in cornering

What to check

With the car stationary, turn the steering from lock to lock slowly and listen for grinding, clunking, or grating from the top of the strut towers. Inspect the mount rubber for cracking or tearing. If a workshop inspection is possible: On a hoist, push upward on each strut spring and check for play or roughness in the top mount bearing.

Where to look: Top of front MacPherson struts, strut tower bearing and upper mount assembly

Parts involved: Shock absorber / strut.

Ask the seller

  • “Have the front strut top mounts been replaced?”
  • “Is there any clunking over bumps or knocking when parking?”
  • “Have the front struts been replaced at any point?”

03Steering column/coupler clunk and front-end knocks

Rock the steering gently side to side while stationary and feel/listen for a clunk.2009–2013Suspension
CommonSuspension $250–$800 to fix

AM Soul owners commonly report a clunk or knock felt through the steering, traced to the steering column coupler/intermediate shaft, along with the usual worn front suspension links and bushes by this age. The steering clunk is more unsettling than dangerous but should be checked, and a car with several worn front-end parts rides poorly and may fail a WOF. These are cheap, normal fixes and useful bargaining points.

Symptoms to notice

  • Clunk felt through the steering wheel over bumps or turning
  • Knock from the front on rough roads
  • Vague steering feel
  • Uneven front tyre wear

What to check

  1. Rock the steering gently side to side while stationary and feel/listen for a clunk.
  2. Drive slowly over rough tarmac and listen for front-end knocks.
  3. Push down on each front corner to check for looseness.
  4. Check the last WOF for advisories.

Where to look: Steering column coupler; front struts, links and bushes

Ask the seller

  • “Any clunk through the steering?”
  • “Were there advisories at the last WOF?”
  • “Have steering or suspension parts been replaced?”

04Rear Trailing Arm Bush Deterioration

Any noticeable movement beyond minimal compliance indicates worn trailing arm bushes.2009–2019Suspension
CommonSuspension $300–$700 to fix

The rear trailing arm bushes on the Soul deteriorate with age, causing rear handling vagueness, clunking over bumps, and tyre wear. NZ/AU road surfaces and UV exposure accelerate rubber degradation. Worn bushes allow rear axle geometry to shift under load, causing unpredictable handling in cornering and alignment that drifts out of specification between services.

Symptoms to notice

  • Knocking or clunking from rear suspension over speed humps or rough surfaces
  • Rear end wandering or tramping on uneven roads
  • Uneven or accelerated rear tyre wear, particularly inner or outer edge
  • Rear axle alignment outside specification at WOF inspection

What to check

Any noticeable movement beyond minimal compliance indicates worn trailing arm bushes. Inspect bush rubber visually for cracking, splitting, or void formation. Check rear tyre wear patterns for feathering or uneven contact. If a workshop inspection is possible: On a hoist, grab each rear wheel and attempt to move it forward and backward.

Where to look: Rear trailing arms, rubber bushes at chassis mounting points and arm pivot ends

Ask the seller

  • “Have the rear trailing arm bushes been replaced?”
  • “Is there any clunking from the rear over bumps or rough roads?”
  • “Has the rear tyre wear been even on recent WOF inspections?”
Depends on the exact engine — 2 moreDocumented for a specific engine we could not confirm from what you picked. Check the engine code on the car.
Engine, transmission & cooling2

012.0 Nu GDI Timing Chain Stretch

Cold-start the engine and listen immediately for chain rattle from the front before oil pressure builds.petrol2009–2019EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

022.0 engine oil consumption and top-end noise

Check the oil level and colour and ask how much it uses.petrol2009–2013Engine
OccasionalEngine $400–$3,000 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The first-generation AM Soul's 2.0 petrol can develop noticeable oil consumption and a top-end tick as it ages, and the later 2.0 'Nu' engines in these cars sit on the edge of the engine-family issues that led to recalls on the following generation. It's usually a top-up-and-monitor situation rather than instant failure, but an engine that's been run low on oil is at real risk, so consumption history matters on a car this age.

Symptoms to notice

  • Oil level dropping between services
  • Ticking or tapping from the top of the engine
  • Blue smoke on start-up
  • Oil light flicker at idle when low

What to check

  1. Check the oil level and colour and ask how much it uses.
  2. Start it cold and listen for tapping that doesn't clear.
  3. Ask for service records showing regular oil changes.

Where to look: 2.0 petrol engine (top end / pistons)

Ask the seller

  • “How much oil does it use between services?”
  • “Any ticking noise from the engine?”
  • “Is the oil-change history complete?”
Other Kia Soul engines and years2 documented issues that do not apply to the one you picked.
Engine, transmission & cooling1

012.0 Nu GDI connecting-rod bearing failure and fire risk

Start from cold and listen for any knock or heavy tick deep in the engine, then rev gently and listen again.petrol2014–2019EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Electrical1

01Soul EV (27kWh) battery degradation and range loss

Ask for a battery state-of-health (SOH) reading and compare the real range against the original figure.ev2014–2019Electrical
OccasionalElectrical $6,000–$14,000 to fix

Does not apply

The electric PS Soul uses a small 27kWh battery, so any capacity loss with age hits usable range hard, and imported examples vary widely in battery health. Watch for reduced range, slower charging and any battery-management warnings. Out of warranty a high-voltage battery is very expensive, so on an EV Soul the battery's state of health is by far the most important number — more than mileage or cosmetics.

Symptoms to notice

  • Noticeably reduced range versus new
  • Slower or interrupted charging
  • Battery / EV-system warning lights
  • Fewer usable bars on the gauge

What to check

  1. Ask for a battery state-of-health (SOH) reading and compare the real range against the original figure.
  2. Confirm any battery/BMS software campaigns were done.
  3. On imports, ask what the odometer and battery health were on arrival.

Where to look: High-voltage battery under the floor; BMS module

Ask the seller

  • “What's the battery state of health?”
  • “What real range do you get on a full charge?”
  • “Were any battery software updates done?”

Kia Soul faults in detail

Narrowed to the Kia Soul · 2009. Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

2.0 Nu GDI Timing Chain StretchMajor · Engine

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Kia Soul’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

Other Kia models

Kia Sorento29 documented faultsKia Sportage28 documented faultsKia Rio23 documented faultsKia Stonic7 documented faultsKia Morning5 documented faultsKia Cerato18 documented faults

Kia Soul buyer questions

Is the Kia Soul reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 8 documented faults for the Kia Soul, the recurring problem areas are engine, electrical, and suspension. A Kia Soul with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used Kia Soul?

We've catalogued 8 known faults for the Kia Soul, covering engine, electrical, and suspension. All 8 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a Kia Soul?

Most single repairs on the Kia Soul fall between $350–$800 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 8 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Kia Soul?

Yes. A Kia Soul inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.