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
662 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Sep 27, 2020
VEHICLE WILL JUST RANDOMLY NOT START. GET IN CAR TURN ON KEY AND NOTHING, LIGHTS, RADIO, ECT ALL WORK, BUT CAR WILL NOT START. SO FAR IF YOU WAIT A SHORT TIME AND TRY AGAIN IT STARTS AND ALL IS FINE. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE BATTERY SO I REPLACED IT AND ALL WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS, AND THEN ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO IT DID THE SAME THING, WOULD NOT START. WENT ABOUT MY BUSINESS IN ANOTHER CAR, CAME HOME ABOUT 1 HOUR LATER, GOT INTO CAR AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND HAS BEEN FINE SINCE. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANYTHING THAT THE DEALER CAN DO. THEY REPLACE DIFFERENT PARTS, BUT IT OCCURS AGAIN. LOTS ON MONEY BEING SPENT AND NO RESULTS TO BE HAD. VERY FRUSTRATING . THIS HAS HAPPEN ABOUT 15 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, BUT IT DOES START IF YOU WAIT AWHILE. AT LEAST MY HAS, BUT I NOTE THAT OTHERS HAVE NOT.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Sep 27, 2020
MY CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING 75MPH WITH 70K MILES THATS ABOUT WHEN A VEHICLE SHOULD BE BREAKING IN NOT BREAKING DOWN. MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE, GAS PLAY. THE RADIO SOMETIMES DOESNT COME ON AND MY ENGINE JUST SOUNDS CLOGGED
Steering, Sep 4, 2020
LOUD BUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING
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
Engine, Sep 1, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING SOUND. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OIL AFTER PULLING IN TO A GAS STATION. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING HOME HOWEVER, THE ENGINE BLEW AND OIL STARTED SQUIRTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED A HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE HOWEVER, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
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.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 19, 2020
WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME MY 2013 KIA SOUL L4 1.6 SUDDENLY LOST ITS POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF OF THE ROAD AND CHECK IT UP INTO A PARKING LOT. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE BACK AGAIN BUT AS SOON I START THE ENGINE A RED LIGHY GOT APPEARS ON THE ON. I GOT HOME AND CALLED A MECHANIC. A MECHANIC DID A COMPUTER SCAN AND THE REPORT FAULT CODE RETRIVAL AND DIAGNOSIS WERE: #1= SYSTEM TO LEAN @ HIGHER LOAD BANK # 1. THEN #2 - FUEL PRESSURE CONTROL LOW. HE REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE IT CAN NOT BE FIXED BY THEM (RECALL) WHEN I CONTACTED KIA THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR ANY GUARANTEE SINCE IT HAS 130K MILES ON IT NOT RECALL COVER, AND I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT AS MY OWN EXPENSE BUT AS I READ IT SHOULD BE COVERED, I'M NOT SURE WHY MY CAR DOESN'T QUALIFY. I HAVE NOT OTHER TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE AND I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY THEEXPENSIVE DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT SO PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP AND ASVISE. THANK YOU.
Engine, Aug 19, 2020
MY 2013 KIA SOUL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING. I WAS TOLD NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH I TOOK CARE OF 2 MONTHS AGO. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND CAR WOULD NOT GO I'VE 40MPH. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 7000 MILES AS REQUESTED. I DID THIS AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIRST 5 YEARS THEN JUST LOCALLY. MY HOURS AT WORK HAVE BEEN CUT BACK DUE TO COVID AND I DO NOT HAVE $5000 DOLLARS. THE SHOP SAID THAT THE ENGINES ARE HARD TO FIND DUE TO THIS BEING A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 1.6 LITER 2013 KIA SOUL. MY KIA HAS 160,000 ON IT BUT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I CONTACTED KIA AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY YET SOLD THESE KIAS KNOWING THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY.
Engine, Aug 12, 2020
MY CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE RECALL AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS FINE BUT I NOTICED IT OFFEN GOT HOT AND IT LIKED TO BURN OIL OR LEAK OIL I HAD TO PUT OIL IN EACH WEEK AND ONE DAY OM MY WAY HOME THE MOTOR BLOW A ROD AND THIS WAS ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID IT WAS FINE THE CAR ONLY HAD 125000 MILES ON IT AND I HAD TO PAY 1700 DOLLARS FOR A NEW MOTOR AND I'M STILL WAITING ON IT TO ARRIVE I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF THE MOTOR OR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE IT FALLS IN THE RECALL LIST OUR CAR HAD ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT THE RECALL WAS LISTING. I WOULD LIKE TO HERE BACK FROM SOMEONE ON MY CONCERNS.
Engine, Aug 6, 2020
WAS DRIVING MY 2013 KIA SOUL AND IT THREW A ROD AND MY ENGINE LOCKED UP. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY TRIED TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT SAID ENGINE FAILURE AFTER THEY REPLACED THE RECALLED CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
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.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 3, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PISTON BLEW WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED OIL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BURN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE STOKES KIA DEALER (202 S GOOSE CREEK BLVD, GOOSE CREEK, SC 29445) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT NO CODES WERE FOUND AND THEREFORE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PURCHASED USED AND DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A REPLACEMENT UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.*DT*DT*JB*DT*AS
Engine, Aug 1, 2020
REGARDING RECALL SC176 THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING AND HAS ENGINE DAMAGE WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE STARTING ON FIRE. HAVE BROUGHT IT TO 2 DEALERSHIPS AND THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO BRUSH IT OFF SAYING NOTHING IS WRONG EVEN THOUGH IT IS OVERHEATING AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATES THAT THERE IS PISTON AND CYLINDER DAMAGE.
Engine, Jul 21, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE LOW POWER STEERING FLUID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OFF THE ROADWAY AND RESTARTED. THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE STATED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,003. *BF *AS
Engine, Jul 17, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL. THE CONTACT DRIFTED INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT STATED SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THE OUTSIDE REAR. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND NOTICE OIL HAD SPILLED ALL OVER THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE PISTON HAD FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER HAGERSTOWN KIA (10307 AUTO PL, HAGERSTOWN, MD 21740 PHONE: (301) 739-7283) FOR THE REPAIRS WHO STATED THAT THEIR FAILURE DID NOT RELATE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 167,000.
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
Engine, Jun 29, 2020
WHILE DRIVING MY CERTIFIED 2013 KIA SOUL ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IT SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUSH IT INTO A PARKING LOT. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND OIL HAD EXPLODED EVERYWHERE SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOME. A MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE THREW A ROD THAT WENT THROUGH THE BLOCK, SO THE WHOLE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND THEY DIDN'T ADVISE OF ANY ISSUES. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE KIA SOUL THEY CONFIRMED KIA WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE BEFORE THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. WHEN I CONTACTED KIA THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL, BUT SINCE THE FAILURE OF MY VEHICLE IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER VEHICLES I'M NOT SURE WHY MINE DOESN'T QUALIFY. I'M CURRENTLY WITHOUT A VEHICLE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I NEED DIRECTION ON WHAT TO DO.
Steering, Jun 25, 2020
STEERING WHEEL CLICKING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND HAS PLAY IN STEERING. *TR
Engine, Jun 15, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND BECAME AWARE OF AN OIL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED GOSSETT KIA SOUTH (2680 MT MORIAH RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38115) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED AFTER 4 DAYS THAT A COST WOULD BE ASSESSED BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A ROD AND THAT REPLACING THE ROD BEARING WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000.
Engine, Jun 6, 2020, crash
THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND ONLY ONES AFTER I ACCELERATE. AND THEN IT GOES AWAY IN A FEW DAYS AND COMES BACK AGAIN. I GET MY OIL CHANGE DONE REGULARLY BUT I STILL KEPT NOTICING BUT IT STILL KEPT HAPPENING. HAPPENED MY ENGINE LIGHT KEY ON DID NOT GO OFF IN THE CAR WOULD START BUT MAKES A SOUND IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENGINE IS MESSED UP. *TR
Steering, Jun 3, 2020
STEERING WHEEL CLICKS WHEN TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT, NO MATTER IF PARKED OR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. SPEEDS OF 65MPH OR GREATER CAUSES WHEEL TO VIBRATE. RESEARCHED AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR SAME ISSUE. THIS NEEDS ADDRESSED BY KIA AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ONE THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. *TR