2014 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Headlights too dim or fail
- 114owner reports
- 68,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Oct 7, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
129 of the 874 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 114 of those describe headlights.
Tick what matches of 114 reports
Headlights on other Soul years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021.
What this problem usually is
Headlight complaints fall into two camps. In one, a headlight goes out, often more than once, or fills with moisture behind the lens. In the other, the lights work exactly as built and the owner still can't see the road at night because the beam is too dim or too short. Owners in that second camp often report a dealer telling them it's normal.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the headlight assembly (97 reports) and the bulb (23 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2014 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 50,000 and 78,000 miles, from the 97 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 service bulletins or notices for the 2014 Kia Soul that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly.
HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on some 2010MY~ vehicles listed on the table below, which may exhibit a bulb connector concern. To correct this concern, replace the connector with a new and improved part.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSBELE152_Rev1: MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH REPLACEMENT FOR HEADLAMP FLICKERING - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the multi-function switch on some 2014MY Soul (PS) vehicles, produced from July 21, 2013 through June 20, ...
TSB - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH REPLACEMENT FOR HEADLAMP FLICKERING This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the multi-function switch on some 2014MY Soul (PS) vehicles, produced from July 21, 2013 through June 20, 2014, which may exhibit intermittent flickering of the low/high beams.
2 more on the 2014 Kia Soul page.
What owners wrote
“Headlights seem to flicker off and on while using turn signals. Dash lights will brighten during the incident as well.”
Filed Oct 7, 2025
“Since September 2015 the car Headlamps malfunctioned. I made several trips to the Dealer and was told they are not able to duplicate my complaint. Presently while driving the headlights will go off and by bumping the multi-Function light switch, they would come back on. Please see attached letter & service detail that was sent to Kia without resolution.”
Filed Jul 19, 2023
“Driver's side headlight flickering on and off at times. Inspected wiring and it looks like the harness socket is burning out. It looks like this is a common problem with this car and can prove to be a safety issue if your lights go out while driving”
Filed Aug 3, 2022
“2014 Kia Soul: Noticed some pretty dim headlights. In checking them out the lens over the headlight has orange peal cracking. On the inside. Took it to Kia dealer where I bought it with a 10 year bumper to bumper insurance policy. They told me it is not covered. To go ahead and call myself and find out. Still waiting for an answer. This is a definite safety issue. I only have 35,112 miles on it. Not happy...”
Filed Mar 6, 2022 · 35,112 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 114 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 245 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 188 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 187 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 87 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 75 reports
- Vehicle fire 57 reports
- Engine leaks oil 39 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 32 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 31 reports