Used car guide

2011 Kia Soul: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Kia Souls, from 3,189 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,189MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
6,400typical miles a year
4.3×the usual rate for track rod ends

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Kia Souls than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Track rod ends4.3× usual
    Kia Soul
    22.7% All 2011 cars
    5.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 14.1%, against 2.6% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.4× usual
    Kia Soul
    14.5% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Side repeaters3.2× usual
    Kia Soul
    4.2% All 2011 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.8% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 4.7% here, against 10.8% of all 2011 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.9% here, against 7.6% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Kia Soul MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    40% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Kia Soul?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022879Tyres 25%
20211,123Tyres 33%
2020872Tyres 32%
20181,966Tyres 28%
20171,694Tyres 27%
20162,117Tyres 29%
20152,555Brakes 31%
20142,593Brakes 33%
20131,284Suspension 41%
20121,565Suspension 45%
20102,719Suspension 46%
20091,917Suspension 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Kia Souls registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score