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, Jul 9, 2019
MY VEHICLE SUFFERED NHTSA RECALL 19V120. KIA DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO INSPECT FOR ANY ENGINE DAMAGE THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED. THEY JUST REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND DID NOT INSPECT FOR ANY ENGINE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUES FOR OVER 3 YEARS AND THEY REFUSED TO SAY ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, IF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DAMAGED IT MAY CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE. WELL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DAMAGED AND THEY REFUSE TO DO A PROPER INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE. I NEED THEM TO FULLY DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE AND INSPECT THE ENGINE. CORPORATE HAS REFUSED TO WORK WITH ME RESOLVING THIS MATTER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO CAUSE ANY ENGINE DAMAGE.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jun 25, 2019
HELLO I HAVE A 2013 KIA SOUL WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES ON IT. LAST YEAR AROUND FEBRUARY MY CARS STEERING COLUMN STARTED HAVING THIS AWFUL RATTLING AND KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM IT. I CAN'T DRIVE OVER 55MPH OR IT GETS REALLY BAD AND LOUD. THIS ALSO CAUSES MY BLINKERS NOT TO WORK PROPERLY ON AND OFF. I HAD SURGERY AROUND THE SAME TIME IT STARTED AND I'M JUST GETTING BACK TO BEING ABLE TO DRIVE. EXCEPT I'M AFRAID THAT THE STEERING IS GOING TO BREAK AND CAUSE A BIG WRECK AND NO THIS ISN'T A WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM THAT YOU KNOW OF? I'M GOING TO CALL THE DEALER TODAY AND GET IT IN TO BE CHECKED. I CAN'T EVEN GET ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF IT BREAKING AND THE EXTREMELY LOUD NOISES IS CAUSES.
Other or unspecified, May 15, 2019
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL, DATED APRIL 12, 2019. PER RECALL, 19V120, TO UPGRADE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT NO COST TO ME. I CALLED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 800.333.4542 AND SPOKE WITH NICOLE WHO ASSURED ME THERE WOULD BE NO COST TO ME. ON MAY 13TH, I VISITED A KIA DEALERSHIP ON 4220 FREDERICKSBURG RD., SAN ANTONIO, TX., AND MADE APPOINTMENT FOR MAY 16TH AND WAS TOLD THAT A DIAGNOSTIC WAS NECESSARY AND COULD GENERATE A CHARGE. LATER THAT DAY I CALLED TO CANCEL THE APPOINTMENT IN CASE OF A CHARGE AND SPOKE TO DANIEL, A CASHIER. TO CONFIRM CANCELLATION, I CALLED AGAIN ON MAY 15TH AND SPOKE WITH EDWARD IN SERVICES AND WAS TOLD THE APPOINTMENT HAD NOT BEEN CANCELLED. I ASKED HIM TO CANCEL AND HE ADVISED ME TO RESCHEDULE SOON DUE TO THE RECALL. I TOLD EDWARD MY CONCERNS ABOUT PAYING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, AND HE SAID THAT IF DIAGNOSTIC WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL, THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE, BUT THERE COULD BE A CHARGE IF THE DIAGNOSTIC FOUND OTHER ISSUES NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. HE SAID HE WOULD CANCEL APPOINTMENT AND I TOLD HIM I WOULD CALL LATER TO RESCHEDULE. HOWEVER, I WILL NOT HAVE THE MONEY ANY TIME SOON TO PAY IN CASE THERE IS A CHARGE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE MILEAGE IN MY VEHICLE IS 53,000, SO I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG I SHOULD CONTINUE DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITHOUT RESOLVING THIS RECALL ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 7, 2019
AFTER A MONTH OF LEASING MY KIA MY ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT KEPT REAPPEARING. SO I WOULD CHECK ALL THE FLUIDS. THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT TURNED OFF AND DIDN'T TURN ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THAN THE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. ALL THE FLUIDS WERE CHECKED. ON A 15 MINUTE DRIVE INTO TOWN IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER NOT APPEARING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. LATER ON IN THE AFTERNOON DRIVING BACK TO THE RESIDENCE THE RADIATOR CAP FLEW OFF INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAKING THE CAR OVERHEAT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER SEEING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GO UP I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WAS LEFT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN I REPLACED THE CAP. IT WAS RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH SO I TOOK THE CAR TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THE CODES READ. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE CAR JUST DIED AND COULD NOT START IT WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. TOOK IT TO KIA AFTER AND WAS TOLD SPARK PLUGS HAD MELTED TO THE ENGINE AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER A YEAR OF SITTING I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE CAR. SO I DID READ WATCH AND REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WHICH ALLOWED THE CAR TO START BUT NOW THE CAR IDLES REALLY ROUGH AND THERE IS SOME WEIRD NOISES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IT ALSO STILL HAS A PROBLEM STARTING.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 26, 2019, fire
IN APRIL OF 2015 I DROVE A HALF HOUR OF HIGHWAY DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT. I PARKED MY CAR (WITH THE IGNITION OFF). WALKED INTO THE BUILDING AND WITHIN 1 OR 2 MINUTES MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. 911 WAS CALLED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT CAR WAS TOTALED. MY INSURANCE CO. HIRED A FORENSIC SPECIALIST TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES. THE SPECIALIST WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS FREAK INCIDENT. I HAVE PICTURES BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO INCLUDE THEM.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 19, 2019
THE BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING. REPLACED BATTERY AND IT KEEPS DYING AFTER A FEW WEEKS. THE DOORS LOCK AND CAN'T BE OPENED WITH THE KEY PROVIDED WHEN THE BATTERY IS DEAD, SO WE ARE LOCKED OUT OF VEHICLE WITHOUT ACCESS TO OPENING THE HOOD TO GET THE CAR JUMPED. THIS IS DANGEROUS. USELESS TO HAVE A KEYHOLE FOR A KEY THAT WON'T WORK WHEN THE BATTERY IS DEAD. THE KEY WORKS ANY OTHER TIME WHEN THE CAR BATTERY IS OK.
Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2018
FAULTY FLEXIBLE COUPLING. NOTICE WHILE DRIVING, CLICKING SOUND IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. DRIVING ON A REGULAR CITY STREET. IT COST $318 TO REPLACE. THIS IS A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS SO IT SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR ALL.
Other or unspecified, Aug 13, 2018
WHEN IT IS EXTREMELY HOT OUTSIDE (I.E. 95 DEGREES) AND I TURN ON THE A/C AND COME TO A STOP, THE CAR OFTEN TIMES WILL LUNGE FORWARD, ABOUT A FOOT, EVEN IF MY FOOT IS FIRMLY ON THE BREAK.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Aug 9, 2018
I WENT ON A TRIP FROM ORLANDO TO KEYWEST WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND I BROKE DOWN. THANKFULLY, I HAD THROUGH INSURANCE FREE TOWING. GOT TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE STORE AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY AND ACCELERATOR AND MULTIPLE ITEMS I HAVE PROOF OF ON PAPER. I BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN AND MY CAR WOULDNT START WHEN I STOPPED TO GET GAS. SOMEONE HAD TO JUMP MY CAR AT THE GAS STATION AND IT HAPPENS ON AND OFF NOT EVERYTIME BUT I HAVE TO PUSH MY GAS AND TURN MY KEY AT THE SAME TIME TO GET MY CAR TO START. IN ADDITION, WHEN I AM DRIVING I HEAR SOUNDS AND BROUGHT IT TO KIA IN KEYWEST. I BOUGHT AN ACCELERATOR FOR $717.54 AND STILL HAVING ISSUES! LUCKILY, I JUST MADE IT HOME TONIGHT WITH MY CHILDREN AND WE ARE SAFE BUT THIS IS STILL AN ISSUE AND AFTER PAYING ALL OF THAT MONEY I AM LIVID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Other or unspecified, Mar 29, 2017
MY BEARING STRUT WAS REPLACED AT 40, 000 MILES AND IT SEEN THEY ARE BACK AGAIN AT 70,000. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH HOLLYWOOD KIA IN HOLLYWOOD, FL ON 4-1-17. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY PREVIOUS COMPLANITS.
Other or unspecified, May 16, 2016, fire
THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT CAUSE AND EXPLODED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN A CAR COMING THE OTHER DIRECTION FLAGGED US DOWN BECAUSE FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER FLAMES WERE ENTERING IN THE CABIN AND IT WAS FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE. THE BRAKES AND ELECTRICAL HAD FAILED SO IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP THE CAR. IT EXPLODED 2 MINUTES AFTER WE WERE ABLE TO VACATE THE VEHICLE.