How to Remove the Second Row Seats from a Kia Soul
The way you’ll remove the second row seats from your Kia Soul depends on the model year—but be sure to follow Jerry’s safety tips!
Written by Ethan Moser
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
To remove the second row seats of your Kia Soul, you’ll either have to unscrew the four Torx nuts in model years that utilize a bolt system, or unclip the underseat attachments in model years that utilize a clip system.
If you’re trying to free up some extra cargo space in your Kia Soul for an upcoming road trip or cross-country move, knowing how to remove your Soul’s rear seat will be invaluable. Thankfully, it’s fairly simple to remove your Kia Soul’s rear seats, regardless of model year—but it’ll take some work on your part!
Hop in because we're here to offer you a step-by-step guide on how to remove your Kia Soul’s rear seats. We’ll tell you everything you could ever need to know about how to safely remove your Kia’s rear seats, all while offering killer tips on finding the best way to cut down your
Kia Soul insurance costs
.
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Can you remove the second row seats from a Kia Soul?
Yes—regardless of model year, the second row seats in a Kia Soul are removable, though some model years use different attachment systems than others. That being said, your Kia’s seats aren’t designed to be removed frequently, so it’s important to be particularly careful when taking them out.
Before you remove your second row seats, take into consideration these safety tips:
- Double-check your airbags. Removing your rear seats can affect the functionality of your rear air bags. This is especially important to know if you plan on traveling with a passenger in the back while the seats are removed. Double check that any rear passengers are wearing their seatbelts properly and consult yourKia Soul’s owner’s manualfor additional information on ensuring your airbags are functioning properly.
- Consider adding a tarp to the floor. Removing your Kia’s rear seat can expose potentially dangerous metal components that could cause injury to passengers or cargo. Consider adding a tarp, rug, or floor cover for added protection while your seats are removed.
- Don’t lose the bolts! If you ever take your rear seats out, make sure that you hold onto your Torx bolts! Without those bolts you won’t be able to reattach your rear seats.
Now that you know what to look out for in terms of safety, you’re ready to remove the second row seats from you Kia Soul! Keep in mind that if you only need a small amount of additional space, your Kia’s rear seats can fold down for additional cargo capacity—but we’ll come back to that. For now, let’s take a look at how to remove your Kia Soul’s rear seats, step-by-step.
How to remove the second row seats from a Kia Soul
Depending on the model year and attachment system, here’s how to remove the second row seats from your Kia Soul:
Bolt System
1. Locate the bolts underneath the seat. Your Kia Soul should have four bolts in total—two in the front and two in the back. The back bolts will be accessible from the trunk of your Soul while the front bolts will be located under the seat, level with the passenger footwell.
2. Remove the bolts. Using a Torx bit, remove both the front and back bolts. Once removed, be sure to place the bolts in a safe place, in case you want to reinstall your rear seats later.
3. Lift the seats out of your Soul. Pull straight up to dislodge your rear seats, then carry the seats out of the car. This method will help you avoid snagging the upholstery or trim during removal.
4. Clear debris from the car and add a floor cover. This bit is optional, but if you aren’t in love with the way your Kia Soul looks after removing your rear seats, you can always throw down a floor cover or rug to boost the SUV’s aesthetic.
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Start earning nowClip System
Not all Kia Soul model years utilize a bolt system. Some use a clip system in which the rear seats are attached to the chassis by clips. Here’s how to remove the rear seats if your Soul uses a clip system:
1. Locate the clips under the seat. To locate the clip system in your Kia Soul, you’ll need to lift the seat of the bench. The clips should be easily visible—they’re composed of a plastic component and a metal component.
2. Release the clips. To release the clips holding down the seats, press on the plastic component with a screwdriver and pull on the metal component until the clips release.
3. Repeat steps 3 and 4 from the Bolt System guide.
And that’s it! With your Kia Soul’s rear seats removed you’ll have greatly increased your cargo capacity, making room for your next camping trip, college move, or just to give the family dog a comfy place to hang out on long car rides.
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How do you put the back seats down in a Kia Soul?
If you don’t need the massively increased cargo capacity allowed by removing your rear seats, you can also fold down the back seats of your Kia Soul to make some extra room.
Some Kia Soul models use a string/strap fold-down system. In these models, locate a colored string or strap between the gaps of the rear seats and pull on the string while pushing on the seat to fold down. You’ll have to repeat this for each of the individual rear seats to fold down the entire back row.
Other Kia Soul models use a button/lever fold-down system. In these models, you’ll have to locate a button or lever, either at headrest level or seat belt clip level. Once located, press/pull on the button/lever to fold down the seats.
How to find affordable Kia insurance
Regardless of whether you pull your rear seats out or not, protecting your Kia Soul with reliable, affordable
car insurance
is an absolute must. Thankfully, it’s easier than ever to save big on the car insurance coverage you need when you shop using Jerry
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FAQs
Does the Kia Soul have removable seats?
Yes! But the Kia Soul’s seats aren’t designed for easy removal, so it’s important to take the necessary safety precautions before removing yours.
4.7
