I have a used kia soul 2012 which I bought 3 years ago. It's steering column has started making strange clicking noises when I turn the wheel left and right. I went to KIA dealership, they inspected the steering column and said it's gonna cost me $1200. They said it's not covered under "recall" policy. I don't have the money to fix it and I drive Uber every day. This problem can cause accident or collision if the wheel column stops working on the road.
2012 Kia Soul: clunking or noise when steering
79 of the 516 complaints about the 2012 Kia Soul describe clunking or noise when steering.
- owner complaints
- 79
- of this car's complaints
- 15%
- typical repair cost reported
- $225
- typical mileage
- 70,000
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? 15 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below
Clunking or noise when steering by model year
What owners say
Steering makes a clicking noise and will pull either direction while driving straight. I took it to the dealership and they want me to pay for the repair. They state that the problem is the steering coupler. To me this is a safety issue, they said my warranty is expired so they wont cover the cost. I am afraid to drive it. It is also making my tires wear to fast and they are new.
premature wear of the motor-driven power steering (MDPS) flexible coupling. This wear causes a "knock" or "clunk" noise when turning the steering wheel, especially at a stop, and may be accompanied by a tight or loose steering feel.
Steering wheel clunks and has "PLAY" when turning left and right. I consider this to be a problem if it gets worse, possible loss of steering completely. Have looked on internet and found this problem is talked about. There are no warning lights or lamps displayed.
My Kia Soul started having play in the steering and sounding clunky when driving. I took it in today to Jeff Eyler Kia on Mitchell Ave Cincinnati Ohio to do recalls and to check this out. They said I should replace the whole steering wheel. Online there are many complaints about this steering problem yet you have not made Kia to recall. It seems that it is a plastic part coupler yet the Kia dealer service is trying to get me to replace the whole column. What is being done about all these complaints. I see on the complaint website there has been 6 accidents and 2 deaths. Please do something.
Steering clicking, vibrations,
The steering flex coupler is worn down, making a loud clicking noise when the steering wheel is moved. The wheel shakes a lot when pressing the brake and the steering wheel begins to shake.
The steering column makes a loud clunking noise when operating the vehicle. Even in park when you turn the wheel you here the noise. When driving there is a definite shaking noise andthe wheel feels very loose which makes steering hard to control. I have made an appointment at the dealership to be inspected and estimate of repair. The car has 43.798 original miles. It is now only driven to keep the battery charged. We are expecting a full explanation of from kia.
The steering wheel began to shake violently at highway speed and when making turns. When stopped, the steering wheel make a clunking noise when moved from side to side. Mechanic said it was a worn flexible steering coupler in the steering wheel power steering unit. The car is dangerous to drive and only has 80,000 miles on it. I am told this issue is common in KIA Souls and should be subject to a recall. ,
Power steering making clicking noise and loose steering
Steering column rattles and makes cracking noise
The vehicles steering wheel makes a clunking sound and there is a lot of play in it. It makes noise from left to right and vibrates at higher speeds. I have to drive with both hands gripping the wheel to hold it steady. I drive on the freeway at least once a week to visit my son and grandkids and now to nervous to drive it as it’s an hour drive. I am a senior and cannot afford to pay out of pocket. I’ve had my 2012 Kia Soul since 2013. I bought it used with 22,000 miles on it. I now have reached the 100,000 mile mark. I paid $20,000 for this vehicle over time and now I need Kia to step up and pay for this defect. Since it’s happening in almost all their cars it must be their fault. I don’t understand why they are not fixing the 2012’s but all other years are covered. That is a mistake that will kill someone soon and then they will have a lot more problems than they are facing now. They recently offered me a steering wheel lock so that my car can’t be stolen, that’s funny cause I don’t think that it would be worth stealing cause the steering is already compromised. Please get them to step up and take care of all their customers as it’s their fault. The part is a little rubber star thing that costs $8.00 but labor is 400 dollars and up. Thank you for listening.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Owner notification
- Partial repair of c-mdps motor, ECU, worm gear and/or steering column housing
- Partial repair of c-mdps motor, ECU and/or steering column housing
- Owner letter
- Request for reimbursement form 2012-2013 my
- Attention: All Dealer Principals
- Attention: All Kia Parts & Service Managers
- Q & a: 2012-2013 my soul and 2014 my cadenza vehicles motor driven power steering (MDPS) flexible coupling...
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2012 Kia Soul steering noise
Is clunking or noise when steering a common problem on the 2012 Kia Soul?
79 of 516 owner complaints about the 2012 Kia Soul (15%) mention clunking or noise when steering. The model year with the most reports is 2012.
How much does it cost to fix clunking or noise when steering on the 2012 Kia Soul?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $225 (median of 9 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2012 Kia Soul?
There are 0 recalls and 15 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2012 Kia Soul
Check engine light 86Stalling 61Engine failure 50Knocking 50Harsh shifting 48Fire or smoke 28Won't start 16Loss of power 14Oil consumption 14Jerking 13No deployment 12Overheating 10Misfire 8Steering lock-up 8Won't shift 7Backup camera 6Hesitation 6Power steering loss 6Grinding brakes 5Fuel smell 5Headlights 5
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2012 Kia Soul?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history