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: other or unspecified
61 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 10, 2023
I was driving along the street when the engine went dead. I shifted into neutral, cranked the engine and restarted the engine. I almost got hit. This has now happened several times with myself and other drivers.
Other or unspecified, May 20, 2023
My vehicle is involved in the vulnerable Kia's lack of a theft immobilizer. I just contacted Kia service to make an appointment for the software update and was advised that my vehicle is not listed on the recall list though I was eligible for a steering wheel lock. I purchased a steering wheel lock in early 2022 because of the news of the KIA vehicle vulnerability due to the tiktok theft instruction video. How can Kia offer recall/software upgrades and exclude the 2013 Kia Soul+? I really would like an explanation. Thank you.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 5, 2023
Unknown tbd
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 5, 2023
Smoke from exhaust, randomly losing power, randomly struggling to start and accelerate
Other or unspecified, Jan 20, 2023
Engine loses power and then stops now car won't start catalytic converter the gas cap the 02 censorAnd the throttle body
Other or unspecified, Nov 4, 2022, fire
Driving down the freeway, and a fireball exploded out the bottom of the car, according to the driver behind us. The fire department were called out, deemed the car unsafe, and disconnected the fuel line. Car towed away.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Sep 15, 2022, crash
I was driving doing about 30 mph and hit a boulder and came to complete stop and my air bags did not deploy. And there is another feature vogue or on star that is spouse to call for help did not go off either.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 10, 2022
2013 Kia Soul randomly turns off. It has 101K miles. No dash or warning lights come on before this happens. Then after it turns off an oil can icon, battery icon and a steering wheel icon with exclamation come on the dash and the air is still on, so its on battery power. I have to put it in park, turn off the ignition and AC and restart the car. The second issue that is happening. It is also randomly struggling to start up. I have bought a new battery thinking it was the issue. Still it randomly has startup cranking issues. The random engine power off has happened while slowing down to go over a speed bump, while idling at a stop lights and while i tried to engage the reverse to backup. It is also randomly struggling to start after these engine power off events. Never consistent. Sometimes it starts right up after the power off and others it takes several cranks before it starts. I have to put it in park, turn off the ignition and restart it. I drive 5 miles to work and luckily don't need to go over 35MPH to get there, but I shudder to think what could have happened if i was going faster and the engine cuts off. I have had it diagnosed at a non Kia reputable mechanic repair shop, where they tested the battery and is shows to be good(Should since it is new). Since it sounded like an electrical issues they tested and cleaned the power and ground cables. They attached the scan tool and checked all the modules on the vehicle and no diagnostics trouble codes were stored in any of the modules. But the problem continues. I have scheduled another diagnostic with a Kia dealership Sept 29, 2022 to see if they can figure this out. This is very dangerous as it happens randomly and disables the car. Like i mentioned I shudder to think what could of happened the times I was on the highway driving at 60-65MPH and the only way to get it turn back on is to put it in park and restart it and hope it starts right away before an accident occurs. Not driving til fixed
Other or unspecified, Jun 17, 2022
I am the second owner of a 2013 Kia Soul that was purchased from Century 3 Kia, in Dec of 2015 with approximately 33,000 miles on it. It now has approximately 99,900 miles on it. During the summer of last year, I began to have problems with the car overheating, stalling, and hearing knocking in the engine. My car was burning oil pretty bad (kept having to change the oil) and it smelled like something was burning in my engine so I took it to the dealership where I purchased it. I was afraid it would catch on fire. They ran a diagnostic on it and said that it was the catalytic converter and quoted me a price of around $3,000 to fix it. I asked if there were any recalls for this issue and they said no. About a week later I took it to my mechanic, after doing a diagnostic check he confirmed that the catalytic converter was defective, and he said that my engine sounded pretty bad as well. He told me that he believed there was a recall on my car and advised me to contact Kia and ask about it. I called Kia and they told me there were no open recalls on my vehicle so I decided to get the least expensive issue taken care of first and had the catalytic converter replaced in July 2021. I became ill shortly after that so the car sat unused for several months. I became ill again with Covid in late November and was hospitalized for two weeks, the car sat unused for several more months. In March of 2022, I tried to drive it around the block but had to turn around because the car was very unstable. I towed it back to my mechanic, who told me it was the engine. My Kia Soul has a 1.6L DOHC GDI GAMMA engine, I noticed that it was the same as the ones that were part of the 2019 recall. I had the same issues with my car as those reported by others. I took very good care of my car and kept up with servicing it. My car should have been included in the recall, it had a faulty catalytic converter which caused my engine to fail. Now I'm forced to pay expenses for a car that I can't drive.
Other or unspecified, Nov 29, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated while making a left turn, she heard an abnormal noise from the steering wheel. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to her destination but noticed the steering noise was progressing. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the flexible coupling to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 19, 2021
On a Sunday our started to turn off at red lights and stop signs. Then a loud pop happened, white smoke came out, and the car died on the interstate. The piston rod had broke and cracked the engine block. We did not even know there was anything going on until the car broke like it did.
Other or unspecified, Jun 27, 2021
1) wiring harness is malfunctioning causing bulbs to prematurely blow. I’m constantly having to replace turn signal bulbs, headlight bulbs, taillight bulbs and break light bulbs. 2) I’ve read many accounts online that this is a common occurrence in the 2013 Kia Soul. 3) this put drivers behind me at risk when my tail lights/break lights fail. Since they are behind me, I have no idea that they have failed because there’s NO warning lights that alert me to the issue. 4) I have left MULTIPLE MESSAGES at MULTIPLE LOCATIONS and PHONE NUMBERS for Kia and their service departments, for over a month and NOBODY HAS returned my phone calls.
Other or unspecified, May 24, 2021, fire
I was driving my car when the inside filled with smoke, I stopped the car in the middle of a busy street and got out and within 20 seconds all the glass blew and my car was completely engulfed in flames. The car was a total loss and kia is not cooperating, they don't even act like they care that their customer almost died and lost everything.
Other or unspecified, Feb 27, 2021
CAR HAS BEEN STALLING RANDOMLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THEN DIFFICULT TO RE-ACCELERATE. THIS OCCURS AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE, NOT RIGHT AFTER STARTUP. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN DECEMBER 2020, THEN SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT, MOST RECENTLY FEBRUARY 24 2021. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO BOTH PERSONAL MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES THEN TO DEALERSHIP. BOTH WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM DESCRIBED. SEVERAL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS WERE TRIED, NEW SPARK PLUGS, RESETTING COMPUTER CODES, ETC. CAR HANDLED WELL BRIEFLY, THEN PROBLEM RESURFACED.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 26, 2021
THE ACCELERATION DROPS OUT AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME. IT IDLES ROUGH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF REGARDLESS OF ISSUES OCCURRING. PEDAL TO THE FLOOR I CAN'T GET MORE THAN 1400 RPMS AND ABOUT 7 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY CAR SEVERAL TIMES UNABLE TO FIND AN ISSUE AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED SINCE IT BLEW UP A YEAR AND A HALF OR SO AGO. EVERYTHING I'VE READ SEEMS LIKE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR IS FAILING
Other or unspecified, Nov 30, 2020
RUBBING OF KNOCK SOUND AND SMOKE FROM EXHAUST THAT SMELLS BAD
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 8, 2020
STALLED WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. WILL NOT START BACK UP SINCE.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Sep 2, 2020
THE PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE IS PEALING AND SHARP THE COATING THAT'S ON THE HANDLE IS COMING OFF. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALWAYS MAKING A HORRIBLE SOUND EVEN WHEN THEY ARE REPLACED
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 12, 2020, fire
WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY ENGINE BLINKED FIVE TIMES AND CAR LOCKED UP BEGAN TO SHUT OFF. GOT OUT THE CAR THINKING I NEED OIL POPPED THE HOOD SAW SOMETHING FALL LOOKED UNDER THE CAR THERE WAS A FIRE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A TOWEL CALLED THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND SAID A ROD BLEW? AND I GOOGLED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT HAPPENING
Steering, Other or unspecified, May 30, 2020
LAST YEAR I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO BILLION AUTO IN IOWA CITY (2 HOURS FROM WHERE I LIVE) TO GET MY RECALL SERVICED. AT THIS TIME MY VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAD IT IN AND OUT IN 15-20 MINUTES AND THEY SAID ONLY HAD TO DO AN UPDATE. WHICH WAS IRRITATING, CONSIDERING I HAD ASKED THEM TO CHECK MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THEY DIDN'T. BECAUSE PRIOR TO THAT A MECHANIC IN MY TOWN THOUGHT SOMETHING COULD HAVE BEEN WRONG WITH IT. WELL HERE I AM IN 2020, AND I WENT BACK TO THIS DEALERSHIP (THIS IS THE ONLY KIA IN MY AREA). LAST YEAR IN MAY THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE MDPS COUPLING. THE LETTER ALSO STATED THAT THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES- I'M RIGHT AROUND 96,500 MILES SO I AM STILL COVERED.I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED TO GET IT FIXED SINCE I WAS EXPERIENCING NOISES IN MY STEERING WHEEL TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT/ AND WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THEY SAID YES, I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE COVERED. SO I TOOK MY CAR UP THERE THURSDAY THE 28TH TO GET THIS SERVICED. ANOTHER WORKER TOLD ME IN PERSON MY COUPLING WASN'T THAT BAD, AND I COULD ALWAYS COME BACK IN THE FUTURE TO GET IT REPAIRED. HE THEN FURTHER TOLD ME THAT MY POWER-STEERING RACK WAS MAKING A LITTLE NOISE TOO, BUT THAT WOULDN'T NEED TO BE REPAIRED FOR ANOTHER 5-10 YEARS.THEN HE CHARGED ME $65 DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FEE, WHICH IS COMPLETELY WRONG. I CALLED KIA COOPERATE, SPOKE WITH NUMEROUS OF FOLKS. I WAS TOLD ON THURSDAY BY COOPERATE THAT THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM MY COMPLAINT. BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SO I CALLED COOPERATE BACK DEMANDING TO TALK TO MY CASE WORKER, [XXX] WHICH SHE HASN'T CALLED ME BACK. I FEEL LIKE THEY AREN'T TAKING ME SERIOUS. I'VE HAD TWO PAST RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND WASN'T HANDLED APPROPRIATELY. I ALSO SHOULDN'T OF BEEN CHARGED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I WANT A REFUND AS WELL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 7, 2020
I WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH A PRIOR RECALL, CONCERNING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND OVERHEATING. (POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A STALL / ENGINE FIRE) I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD RAN THE UPGRADE AND MY CAR WAS MECHANICALLY SOUND. THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR, I HAD CONTACTED KIA OVER MY CAR ACTING STRANGE AND NOT ALLOWING ME TO ACCELERATE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CAR MAXED OUT BETWEEN 25-35 MPH ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS 4 TIMES TO DATE. I KEPT TAKING IT IN AND THEY DONE INSPECTIONS, THE CAR APPEARED IN GOOD MECHANICAL SHAPE. EXACTLY 2-3 DAYS AFTER PICKING MY CAR UP, IT STALLED ON ME AGAIN, RESULTING IN 3 SEMI TRUCKS ALMOST COLLIDING INTO ME. MY SPEED WENT FROM 75MPG DOWN TO 30MPH ON A 70MPH INTERSTATE. AFTER THE UPGRADE, MY ENGINE WOULD RANDOMLY START MAKING A CHIRPING SOUND / TICKING SOUND. SEVERAL MISFIRE CODES PRESENTED THEMSELVES THROUGHOUT THIS TIME AND YET NOTHING WAS FOUND STORED IN THE CARS COMPUTER. KIA STATED IT WAS RECALL RELATED AT ONE POINT AND WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED THE LAST ROUND, THE ENGINE AND CAR STARTED SHUDDERING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND NOW THE ENGINE HAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM IT (THREW PISTON / ROD) AND KIA WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE INSPECTION OF THIS SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. KIA HAS HAD ME PAY SEVERAL TIMES FOR INSPECTIONS AND TOWING TO DATE. HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS AFTER THEY RECEIVED THE ECU LOGIC UPGRADE AND ALSO PRIOR TO RECEIVING IT. KIA STATED THEY WERE NOT EXACTLY SURE ABOUT MY ISSUES AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OTHER REPORTS FROM OWNERS CONCERNING THESE MATTERS. HOWEVER, BBB AND SEVERAL ONLINE SOURCES CAN CONFIRM THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DUE TO THESE SAFETY ISSUES. I HAVE FORUM SCREENSHOTS AND A VIDEO ON MY PROBLEMS. THEY ALL EXCEED 5MB. ANY OTHER WAY TO SEND? *TR
Other or unspecified, Apr 22, 2020
I TOOK MY KIA SOUL IN FOR A RECALL BACK ON MARCH 9TH. ONCE THE DEALERSHIP DID THE UPDATE TO THE COMPUTER PER RECALL INSTRUCTIONS FROM KIA I LEFT WITH MY CAR. WITHIN 5 MIN MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE NOT ALLOWING ME TO GO ABOVE 59 OR OVER 2000 RPM. I HAVE DEALT WITH KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY ARE ADVISING STILL AFTER 6 WEEKS THERE IS NO ESTIMATED FIX DATE AND NO HELP TO ME WHILE I HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE FIXED FROM THE ORIGINAL RECALL.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 9, 2020
CAR STARTED TO CONSUME OIL AND SOME KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. TOOK IT TO DELAND KIA WITH MY RECALL NOTICE RECAL#19V120 .JON AT DELAND KIA STATED HE NEEDED TO DO OIL CHANGE AND GO FROM THERE. HAD OIL CHANGE ON THE 2/24/20 RETURNED 3/7/20 ALMOST NO OIL. HE AGREED IT HAD NO OIL AND NEEDED TO RUN SOME TESTING ON IT . JON STATED I NEEDED TO PAY $99.95 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. WHY WOULD I PAY WHEN IT'S A RECALL. HE STATED MY CAR IS NOT COVERED ON THE RECALL BECAUSE MY CAR HAS HIGH MILES. TOLD HIM THAT'S ABSURD IT IS KIA RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR FAULTY ENGINES AND EQUIPMENT. THAT'S WHEN I ALSO TOLD HIM THE STEERING COLUMN IS CRANKING AGAIN. WHICH WAS A RECALL AND THEY DELAND KIA, CLAIMED TO FIX. JON STATED HE SPOKE TO KIA AND I DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR ANYTHING ONCE AGAIN STATING HIGH MILEAGE. I STATED TO JON IT HAS 154,000 MILES, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE A CAR THAT HAS NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES TO NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. NEEDLESS TO SAY I LEFT VERY UPSET AND MY CAR DID NOT FEEL RIGHT WHEN ACCELERATING. CAME STRAIGHT HOME. ON SUNDAY 3/8/20 I WENT TO THE STORE AND MY CAR STARTED TO RATTLE AND SHAKE AND MAKE NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING IN A NORMAL CITY ROAD ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE I BECAME SCARED AND HAD NO CONTROL OF IT. I WAS ABLE TO PARK MY CAR IN A BUSINESS PARKING AREA AND IT SITS THERE STILL TODAY 3/09/2020. IT IS WEIRD WHEN I CHECKED THIS SITE ABOUT MY VEHICLES RECALL THERE WAS 1 NOW IT HAS BEEN CLEARED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 10, 2019
ENGINE LITE WHEN ON. GOT A RECALL NOTICE. HAD RECALL PERFORMED. RECALL STATE THAT IF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER IT WOULD ALSO BE REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER AFTER RECALL PERFORMED ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SAYING CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. THEY SAY I NEED TO PAY $2000 TO GET FIXED. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT TIME OF RECALL.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 22, 2019
I WENT TO HAVE A OIL CHANGE,THEY TOLD ME MY MOTOR WAS GOING OUT.THEY WOULD NOT DO NOTHING. THEY SAID TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALER. I THEN CALL A KIA SERVES DEALER. SO I AM LOOKING FOR A DEALER IN THE AREA CODE 49022, FOR A PHONE NUMBER.