2013 Kia Soul: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 659 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 3 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
659
Complaints
3
Recalls
22
Crash reports
44
Fire reports
25
Injuries
83.8
Severity index
Severity index 83.8 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 145 2013 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2013 Kia Soul ranks 53 of 145 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 63% of its model-year peers. See the full 2013 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 282 | 42.8% |
| STEERING | 150 | 22.8% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 99 | 15.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 71 | 10.8% |
| HYDRAULIC | 67 | 10.2% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 60 | 9.1% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 43 | 6.5% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 27 | 4.1% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 282 of 659 complaints (42.8%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 38 |
| 2019 | 117 |
| 2020 | 71 |
| 2021 | 58 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2023 | 80 |
| 2024 | 112 |
| 2025 | 37 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 17 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V120000 | 22/02/2019 | ENGINE | 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 t |
| 14V822000 | 29/12/2014 | STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | 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. |
| 23V652000 | 25/09/2023 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 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 Con |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.