2011 Kia Soul Life Expectancy
A well-maintained 2011 Kia Soul should last 15 years—but if it has a steep number of miles on it or has inconsistent oil changes, watch out.
Written by Matthew Lynaugh
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
The 2011 Kia Soul has an average life expectancy of about 200,000 miles, which means it should last you about 14 or 15 years. But if you want your Soul to live a full life and possibly even exceed these numbers, you need to keep up with regular maintenance.
Making quite the statement with its sporty cubic design when it first hit the streets in 2008, the Kia Soul is more than just an eye-catching compact SUV. It was, and still is, an extremely affordable ride that can get you where you need to go for many years thanks to its impressive reliability.
Read on to learn how you can maximize the lifespan of your 2011 Kia Soul.
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How many miles can a 2011 Kia Soul last?
In theory, a 2011 Kia Soul engine can last up to 200,000 miles. The average driver puts roughly 14,000 miles on their vehicle every year, meaning that a regularly driven 2011 Kia Soul has a likely life expectancy of about 15 years.
How long does a Kia Soul engine last?
With
proper maintenance
, a Kia Soul engine should last up to 200,000 miles. The base engine in a 2011 Soul is a 122-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, while a 142-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is available on the Soul +
and Soul !
. Both are very dependable engines, but you will get more mileage on the base engine with 27 combined mpg, compared to the 26 combined mpg of the 2.0-liter engines.
Can a Kia Soul last 500,000 miles?
Anything is possible—but it’s extremely uncommon to see any car rack up that kind of mileage. Despite the stellar 87 out of 100 reliability rating from J.D. Power, there are no reported Kia Souls to pass the 500,000-mile threshold yet.
Average life expectancy for a Kia Soul
Kia claims that a Soul should last 200,000 miles with proper care. There are no formal studies conducted to uncover the actual amount that made it this far, but check out any Kia Forum and you will see plenty of Souls still kicking past 200,000 miles.
So rather than look at potential life expectancy, let’s look realistically at the average life expectancy of a 2011 Soul.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a passenger car in the US has an average lifespan of about 11 years—significantly less than the 14 or 15 it would take to reach 200,000 miles. While Kias, specifically the Soul, are some of the most reliable cars out there, even the super sturdy Soul’s life can be cut short by weak ownership.
The life expectancy of a 2011 Kia Soul depends on:
- Regular maintenance: All it takes is one missed oil change to throw your car’s life expectancy off course. The Souls celebrating 200,000 miles are the ones that remained diligent with oil changes.
- Mileage: If a 2011 Kia Soul keeps its annual mileage below 14,000 miles, you can expect it to be on the road well past 15 years.
- Accident history: Strong reliability ratings can only go so far for a car that’s been through the wringer. If your Soul’s parts have been damaged, it can reduce the car’s overall life expectancy.
There are plenty of 2011 Souls for sale, so if you’re in the market for one, take a look at their mileage first. If you find one well below 200,000 miles, you can expect the car to last you at least a handful of years so long as you take good care of it.
However, if you find a Soul approaching that 200,000-mile mark, you should research its history and have it inspected.
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Kia Soul trunk space
How to extend a 2011 Kia Soul’s life expectancy
It’s certainly no secret—maintenance is the key to a long and happy life for any car.
High mileage Souls aren’t always a bad thing. If they’ve been cared for properly, they can get you from Point A to B long after it is expected of them. Your owner’s manual is your best resource to learn all about the Soul’s maintenance schedule for oil changes, fluid flushes, and brake work.
Common 2011 Kia Soul problems to watch out for
The Kia Souls of the early 2010s have high marks across the board from both critics and customers—but there are still some issues to watch out for. If you own a Soul from this model year, be vigilant for the following problems:
- Unusual engine sounds: Most common on the 2012 Soul, but reported on for several other models, if you hear a ticking noise coming from under the hood, you may need to have your coolant system checked out before the entire engine fails.
- Loose seat belt: A problem severe enough to warrant a recall from Kia, if you notice your seat belt doesn’t tighten up when it’s locked in, you can bring it to a dealer to be repaired free of charge.
- Faulty alternator: If your Soul fails to start even after a jump, you’re probably facing an alternator malfunction. A replacement usually costs around $500 for parts and labor.
- Oil leaks: A common problem on any car, your older Soul may leak due to its oil gasket degrading. Thankfully this is an affordable fix at $50 and can prevent even bigger issues down the road.
- Busted timing chain: The timing chains found on a 2011 Soul ensure the engine operates properly but will need to be replaced around the 100,000-mile mark. The $700 repair may sound like a lot, but it will be worth it to keep your engine in shape.
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FAQs
What warranty does Kia offer?
New Kias come with an industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. If your Kia is within that window, take advantage of Kia’s commitment to care to make sure it stays on the road for many miles to come.
What is the highest ever reported mileage on a car?
The world record currently stands at a mind-boggling 3.4 million miles on a 1966 Volvo 1800S. Irv Gordon of East Patchogue, New York was able to achieve such heights by getting an oil change every 3,000 miles and changing the transmission fluid every 25,000.
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