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, Electrical system, Nov 26, 2018
MY CAR HAS 55K MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED IT OCTOBER 2013. THE STEERING COUPLING JUST WENT BAD AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY $500 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS COMPLAINT SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO BACK UP WITH DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THAT IS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT IT WILL $350 FOR THE REPAIR. I'M CONFUSED... HOW CAN NONE OF THIS BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY? PLUS, I'M STILL WAITING FOR KIA MILES PER GALLON SETTLEMENT FROM 4 YEARS AGO. IF THIS IS THEY WAY THEY OPERATE, I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE.
Steering, Nov 16, 2018
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WHILE MAKING TURNS EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT OR WHILE PARKED IF YOU MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT YOU FEEL A DEFINITE CLUNKING IN THE STEERING. PRIOR TO THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT THE STEERING HAS ALWAYS BEEN SMOOTH. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILE ON IT. I SEE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I SEE A RECALL FOR THE 2014-16, WHY NOT THE 13?
Steering, Nov 9, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT CITY ROAD AT 35 MPH AND MY CAR WEAVED 3 TIMES WITHIN .2 MILE. MY HANDS WERE STEADY AND NOT MOVING ON STEERING WHEEL. IT SWERVED ALL BY ITSELF. . . ZIG ZAG STYLE. THEN IT STOPPED WEAVING AND DROVE STRAIGHT AGAIN.
Steering, Oct 30, 2018
TAKATA RECALL, MY KIA SOUL 2013 MAKE A CLUNK NOISE WHEN WHEEL IS TURN RIGHT AND LEFT AND ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS UNSTABLE WHEN DRIVING AT 30MPH, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE BUT ONLY MODELS 2014 - 2016 WHERE RECALL BY KIA MOTORS, CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SO THEY CAN ADD MORE YEARS FROM THIS KIA SOUL VEHICLE, THANKS
Steering, Sep 21, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE AND UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BONIFACE HIERS KIA, 880 S APOLLO BLVD, MELBOURNE, FL 32901, (321) 951-9595) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS ACKNOWLEDGED; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE 2013 MODEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Steering, Sep 21, 2018
THE STEERING WHEEL OF OUR 2013 SOUL IS MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 31,000 MILES ON IT AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ IT SEEMS TO BE THE RACK AND PINION. I'M WORRIED THAT I WILL LOSE STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM WILL NOT FIX IT EVEN THOUGH ALL THE OPTIMA'S AND KIA SOULS 2014-17 HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I'VE SEEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS HIGHLIGHTING THIS DEFECT GOING BACK TO 2011 SO KIA WAS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE.
Steering, Sep 14, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNSET KIA OF SARASOTA (7777 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, SARASOTA, FL 34231, (941) 308-7707) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000. **TR *JS *JS *JS
Steering, Sep 7, 2018
AT AROUND 69K MILES I HAD A NEW SET OF TIRES PUT ON THE CAR. WHEN I GOT IT BACK ABOUT A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED WHEN I WAS STOPPED A CLICKING NOISE THAT I COULD FEEL IN THE WHEEL. IT SEEMS TO TRACK STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD BUT HAS SOME SLACK IN THE WHEEL ITSELF. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO PEP BOYS AND THEY SAID IT WAS A KNOW KIA ISSUE TO CALL THE DEAL. SO TODAY 9/7/18 CALLED ORLANDO KIA TODAY THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALLS STEERING RELATED BUT THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LOOK. I BET. DOING SOME RESEARCH ITS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND UTUBE THAT THE STEERING DAMPER RUBBER STAR SHAPED DAMPER DISINTEGRATES AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE SLOP IN THE WHEEL. THE PART NUMBER I AM SEEING IS 56315-2K000FFF AND IS LESS THAN 5" AT THE DEALER. OBSERVING DIFFERENT COSTS ONLINE DEPENDING ON MAKE AND MODEL FROM 225$ TO 1800$ TO REPLACE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND FIXED NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
Steering, Sep 6, 2018
ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO I HAD A SLIGHT JERK IN STEERING WHEEL AND IT JUST GOT WORSE, I HEARD CLUNKING NOISE, STEERING WAS LOOSE AND JERKY, UNSTABLE DRIVING. TOOK IT TOO KIA AND THEY DID A PERFORMED A EXPRESS SERVICE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION AND CONFIRMED NOISE AND STATED IT NEEDED A NEW A FLEXIBLE COUPLING AND A NEW EPS MOTOR AND ALIGNMENT. ONLY FLEXIBLE COUPLING WAS REPLACED THROUGH EXTENDED WARRANTY, NO ALIGNMENT OR EPS MOTOR WAS DONE. I HAVE LOOKED THROUGH WEBSITES OF COMPLAINTS AND KIA SOUL 2013 HAS BEEN REPORTED BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. IF I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THE COUPLING REPLACED, BUT MORE IS REQUIRED SUCH AS EPS MOTOR AND AN ALIGNMENT WHICH WAS PURCHASED ALREADY IN APRIL OF 2018. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED AND FIXED ASAP AS A RECALL AS IT IT A DANGER FOR ANYONE TO BE DRIVING A KIA SOUL WITH THIS ISSUE
Steering, May 28, 2018
IN APRIL 2017, I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND SUDDENLY THE STEERING LOCKED AND MY CAR STARTED GOING INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. I BRAKED IMMEDIATELY AND JUST MISSED BEING HIT HEAD ON BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A POLICEMAN HAPPENED TO BE CLOSE BY AND CAME OVER TO HELP. I VERY FRIGHTENED, KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT WASN'T SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT. HE SUGGESTED PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, TURNING THE MOTOR OFF, AND THEN STARTING IT AGAIN. I DID THAT, AND THE STEERING WAS BACK. SO, I PULLED OVER TO A PARKING LOT AT THAT INTERSECTION. AAA HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP (P&L $1702.68 + 7% TX 119.88 = $ 1821.19). I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED; HOWEVER, IN THE PAST MONTH, THE STEERING HAS LOCKED AGAIN TWICE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR (NOT TO MENTION PUTTING MY GRANDCHILDREN IN IT) AND AM PLANNING TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER AND A LOCAL DEALER. I SEARCHED THE VIN ON YOUR NHTSA SITE, BUT NO RECALLS SHOW.. INCIDENTALLY, I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM HERTZ RENTAL SALES (JANUARY 2016).
Steering, May 19, 2018
THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN EVERYTIME IT MOVED EVEN A FRACTION OF AN INCH. AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME WHILE I WAS CHANGING LANES. IT WAS ONLY FOR 5-10 SECONDS BUT IT SCARED ME. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. MY CAR MISSED IT BY A FEW DAYS, LITERALLY. SEVERAL CERTIFIED TECHS, INCLUDING THE KIA DEALERSHIP TECHS ALL CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS SIMILAR TO THE RECALL WITH STEERING COLUMN ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR IT.
Steering, Exterior lighting, May 7, 2018
FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN TO THE CAR DEALER FOR HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER LIGHTS OUT ON THE CAR AS WELLL AND THE STEERING COLUMN IS MAKING CLICKING NOISES.
Steering, Apr 4, 2018
CLUNK NOISE SIMILAR TO RECALL AFFECTING 2014-2016 VEHICLES, STEERING SEEMS LOOSE AND A CLUNKING NOISE IS HEARD , THE NOISE OCCURS IN PARKI OR IN MOTION
Steering, Apr 3, 2018
I SUDDENLY STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WOULD MAKE U-TURNS AND WHEN PARKING INTO A PARKING LANE. AFTER A DAY OR TWO, THE KNOCKING BEGAN TO BE MORE FREQUENT. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR STATIONARY AND THE KNOCKING WILL OCCUR WITH A SLIGHT TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO CAUSING BY WHEEL TO BE VERY LOOSE. I DROPPED MY VEHICLE OFF AT THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY RECOMMENDED THE STEERING COUPLER BE REPLACED. I DECLINED SERVICES AT THAT TIME AND TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ANOTHER KIA DEALERSHIP. ALL I DID WAS PULL INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LANE AND SPOKE TO A SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE EXPLAINING WHAT ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH MY STEERING AND HE IMMEDIATELY SAID " I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO LOOK AT YOUR CAR I KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS; IT IS THE STEERING COUPLER, WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME BUT KIA WILL NOT RECALL THE SOUL MODEL FOR THIS ISSUE." I THEN WENT HOME AND RESEARCHED KIA VEHICLES TO FIND THE OPTIMA VEHICLES HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND WERE RECALLED. I THEN CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800 -333-4542 AND SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT STATING I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AND ASKED WHY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED ON SOULS AS I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND OTHER KIA MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MY INFORMATION WAS TAKEN AND I AM EXPECTING A CALL WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS FROM THE DEPARTMENT PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AFTER 60,000 MILES AND I CURRENTLY 66,815 MILES. I BELIEVE KIA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRODUCT!
Steering, Feb 23, 2018
THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE WITH MUCH "PLAY" IN STEERING AND A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING LOCK. THIS HAPPENS BOTH STATIONARY WITH THE CAR ON IN PARK AND WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT AND SUSPENSION CHECKED AND IT IS NOT APPARENTLY THE ISSUE. APPARENTLY THE STEERING SHAFT BECOMES LOOSE WHERE IT IS COUPLED WITH THE STEERING GEAR/RACK. THIS LOOSE STEERING IS VERY DANGEROUS AS WHEN STEERING AROUND CURVES THE CAR STEERING ACTUALLY PULLS ON THE ROAD SO I NOW GO MUCH SLOWER AROUND CURVES THAN IS POSTED ON SPEED SIGNS TO AVOID LOOSING CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. WHEN I GO OVER UNEVEN ROADS OR BUMPS THE CAR ALSO SHIFTS AND PULLS AS I DO NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. WHEN I BRAKE AT SPEEDS OVER ABOUT 40MPH I NOTICE THAT THERE IS ALSO THIS SAME PLAY IN THE STEERING SO I MAKE SURE I AM CONSIDERABLY A FAR DISTANCE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP SLOWLY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 KIA SOUL AND HAVE NOTICED UPON RESEARCHING ONLINE THAT THE KIA OPTIMA HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY RECALLED FOR REPAIR.
Steering, Nov 28, 2017
STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. 31000 MILES. DEALER SAID IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHAT TO DO?
Steering, Oct 29, 2017
NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN . MECHANIC NOTICED IT AS WELL WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE!
Steering, Power train, Service brakes, Jan 23, 2017
BRAKE SWITCH FAILED. MY BRAKE LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED AND POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED, MAKING THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. COULD NOT GET CAR OUT OF "PARK" WITHOUT USING OVERRIDE BUTTON. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO KIA DEALER. THIS SWITCH HAS BEEN RECALLED ON 1.6 MILLION KIA'S BUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED BUT SHOULD BE ADDED. NOT SURE HOW LONG I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING. I'M GLAD I NEVER USE MY CRUISE CONTROL AS PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDDLE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION. *TR
Steering, Aug 12, 2016
MY STEERING WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON TWICE AND I HAVE COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER STEERING. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S NOT A COVERED REPAIR BUT IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAKES THE CAR A DANGER TO DRIVE
Steering, Nov 24, 2015
THE POWER STEERING GEAR LOCKS UP RANDOMLY. IT MAKES A CLUCKING SOUND AND CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. KIA DEALERSHIP WORKED ON THE STEERING GEAR WITH ONLY 8000 MILES ON IT. IT APPEARED THAT THE GLAND NUT BACKED ITS WAY OFF THE SHAFT WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL CONNECTS TO THE GEAR. THE CAR NOW HAS 12,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. WHEN THIS FAILS THE STEERING CAN DETACH FROM THE STEERING GEAR LOOSING ALL ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR. I NOTICED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE AND THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL 2013 KIA SOULS ON THE INTERNET. BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. IF THE STEERING HAD LOCKED UP ON A LANE CHANGE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT.....UPDATED 12/07/15 *BF; 4/27/18*JB *TR
Steering, Oct 20, 2015
FOR 5 MONTHS THERE HAS BEEN A THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING 2 COMPLETE REVOLUTIONS IE: WHEN PARKING OR TRUNING INTO A DRIVE THRU LANE AND JUST 3 DAYS AGO MY STEERING WHEEL SEEMS LIKE IT JUMPED A NOTCH AND ALTHOUGH ITS STILL DRIVING STRAIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL HAS CHANGED POSITION ABOUT 5 TO 7 DEGREES TO THE LEFT...
Steering, Nov 13, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,336.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Sep 2, 2014
SUDDEN DECELERATION QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER INCLUDING STEERING, BRAKES, COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT-OFF AND DASH INSTRUMENTATION. DEALER FOUND "NO PROBLEM" AND DID NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH OR ANYTHING ELSE. *TR
Steering, Jul 4, 2014
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AS I WENT INTO MY TURN I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING FUNCTION WAS HARD. THE STEERING WHEEL AND STABILITY/ TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON MY PLANNED ROUTE TO WORK. DUE TO THE HOLIDAY THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT OPEN TODAY AND THE VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED TO BE DEPENDABLE IS PROVING TO BE NO LONGER THAT. *TR
Steering, Apr 22, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY VEERED LEFT AND RIGHT AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A GUIDE RAIL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, BACK, AND WRIST INJURIES, A BROKEN FINGER, AND MINOR BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.