2013 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 662 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 22 involved a crash and 45 involved a fire. 25 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineFeb 22, 2019
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Campaign 19V120000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, roof and pillarsDec 29, 2014
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.
A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC112.
Campaign 14V822000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
151 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, May 19, 2022
My steering wheel just started shaking as I turning a corner .. Niw if I go over 60 mph my car wants to jump all over the road.. I’ve been told it’s the steering coupler but a few mechanics.. It dangerous to drive on the freeway.. Im afraid I will crash with my 8 month old son in the car..
Steering, Mar 3, 2022
Car has - low - 41500 miles There is a play in the steering wheel and a " tump- tump" sound can be heard when at a stop and low speeds- while turning the steering wheel.
Steering, Feb 18, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel started making an abnormal noise. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the plastic bearing bushing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,577.
Steering, Feb 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering column would make a popping sound. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Steering, Dec 28, 2021
Has a thud while turning the steering wheel left and right at a stop. Steering wheel shakes and vibrates when droving over bumpy road or train tracks. Steering for now unaffected.
Steering, Nov 28, 2021
Steering system 'clunking' and getting unstable, increasingly 'loose.' Called local Kia service department about six weeks ago but they never returned my call. Contacted live agent online yesterday, hopefully someone will call back. I'm very afraid to drive it.
Steering, Oct 12, 2021
there is a knocking noise in the steering, there is apparently a recall out for this issue on this make and model with similar years.
Steering, Sep 30, 2021
I have a clicking noise in the steering wheel when I’m driving. Turning the wheel to left or right it clicks. This is not safe
Steering, Sep 28, 2021
My steering wheel is making a loud thudding sound when I turn it to the left or right. It started when I was driving on the highway during a road trip. It feels super unsafe and I’m bringing it to the dealership tomorrow. This seems like it should be a recall from Kia and that as car owners, we should not have to pay for this common and serious problem.
Steering, Jul 26, 2021
I had a serious issue with my steering yesterday. When I tried to parallel park my car yesterday, I turned the steering wheel both left and right to try and park and then I heard loud clunking noises in both directions until my steering wheel gave to the point where it could turn all the way around without turning the wheels at all. It's my understanding that others with my same year of Kia soul are reporting the same and starting in 2014, there was a safety recall. 2013 should be included in the recall because had I been driving, I could have been in a very serious accident.
Steering, May 4, 2021
STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLICKING SOUND WHEN STEERING AND ALSO WHILE VEHICLE IS NOT.IN MOTION. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I BELIEVE IT IS THE STEERING COUPLER WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO THE CHANCE OF STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE ARE REPORTING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, BUT I AM SCARED OF DRIVING MY CAR IF IT IS NOT FIXED RIGHT AWAY. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
Steering, Jan 29, 2021
WHEN DRIVING OR IN PARK STEERING MAKES LOUD CLICKING NOISE IF TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS STEADILY GETTING LOUDER AND WORSE. THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. STEERING DOES NOT FEEL STABLE. THERE IS A 2014 KIA SOUL RECALL THAT SEEMS TO BE FOR SAME PROBLEM. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER THE 2013 MODELS
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 4, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR FAILURE, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
Steering, Dec 17, 2020
2013 KIA SOUL IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL. IT MAKES ONE CLICK NOISE ONCE I START TURN THE WHEEL. WHEN I STOP MOVING IT AND TRY TO MOVE IT AGAIN IT CLICKS. VEHICLE MILEAGE: 63,667
Steering, Dec 12, 2020
THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD POP AND MAKE NOISES WHILE DRIVING . THE STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE AND EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL WILL WOBBLE EXTREMELY BAD ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY. THE STEERING COUPLER WAS BAD . COULD NOT GO OVER 55 MPH CAUSE IT WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE BAD .
Steering, Dec 10, 2020
WHEN TURNING MY WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS MY STEERING CLUNKS IN THE COLUMN AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COME APART. I AM SCARED I AM GOING TO LOOSE STEARING CONTROL. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHILE IN A PARKING LOT. IT STARTED A MONTH AGO AND IS GETTING WORSE. I SAW A RECALL ON THIS BUT MY CAR IS NOT AFFE TED AND SHOULD BE.
Steering, Oct 27, 2020
STEERING HAS PLAY AND MAKES A CLUNKING NOICE WHEN TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE MOVING.
Steering, Oct 18, 2020
WHEN IN MOTION THE STEERING MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND MOVING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT . WHEN ENGINE IS NOT IN MOTION IT DOES NOT . THE SYMPTOM APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS THE RECALL DONE FOR 2014 MODEL KIA SOULS ... I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE IN THE RECALL
Steering, Sep 4, 2020
LOUD BUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING
Steering, Sep 1, 2020
I HAVE CLINCKING INSIDE STEERING WHEEL RELATED TO THE PINION PLUG LOSE,CAUSING STEERING TO STUCK AND SHAK CRAZY IN THE HIGHWAY ,I WENT TO DEALER THEY CHARGED ME $189.00 FOR DIAGNOSIS,THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM WITH PINION PLUG PROBLEM BUT THEY WANNA CHARGE ME HEIGHT PRICE WITCH I CAN NOT AFFORD,AND I LEFT WITH UNSAFE CAR.NHTSA HAS TO FORCE THE PROBLEM AS RECALL TO STOP CAR DEALER FOR RAPING US OFF.BY THE WAY THE CAR WAS IN FATAL CRASH WITH THE FIRST OWNER CAUSE IT S TITLE TO BE REBUILD ,I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSE IT BUT YOU CAN FIND OUT,MAY BE THE STEERING WAS A FACT.ASK PREVIOUS OWNER FOR MORE INFOS.PLEASE MAKE STEERING AS A RECALL SOON AS POSSIBLE.THANKS FOR LISTENING TO US.
Steering, Aug 30, 2020
SOMETHING IN THE RACK AND STEERING HAS COME LOOSE. STEERING WHEEL CLICKS WHEN I TURN IT. STEERING IS VERY UNSTABLE.
Steering, Aug 28, 2020
STEERING WHEEL COUPLER ,CAR NOT ABLE TO STEER
Steering, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 20, 2020
MODEL CAR BURNS OIL EXTREMELY QUICKLY REGARDLESS OF MILES DRIVEN, NO LEAKS FOUND BY MECHANIC, PISTONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. STEERING WHEEL MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE THAT STARTED WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
Steering, Service brakes, Aug 5, 2020
THE BRAKES' VACUUM CHAMBER OR A VALVE HAVE GONE BAD. THE PEDDLE IS HARD TO PRESS WHEN VEHICLE IS CRANKED AN BAKING OUT. ALSO, NOTICED WHEN IDLING, THE BRAKE BECOMES STIFF AFTER A SLIGHT DEPRESSION OF THE PEDAL. SOMETIMES THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED AS THE BRAKE PEDAL CANNOT BE DEPRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE START BUTTON TO WORK. OVER TIME, THE FRONT STEERING HAS BECOME LOOSE AND WOBBLILIY, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO OVER CORRECT STEERING TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT, IT SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS THIS SOON.
Steering, Aug 4, 2020
STEERING WHEEL CLICKING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND HAS PLAY IN STEERING.