2013 Kia SOUL

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Kia SOUL has 862 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 10.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: 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. ⚠️ 60 fire reports filed.

60 fire reports 23 crash reports 27 injuries

862

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

10.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

324 complaints

38%

• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MI
• AS I STARTED THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING I HEARD WHAT SEEM TO BE BELT NOISES. AS I DROVE TO WORK, THE NOISES INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND DECELERATED. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY WORKPLACE 5 MILES LATER, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE PAST 2-5 MPH. I CALLED THE KIA SE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 34 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

149 complaints

17%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLE
• 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 NO
• 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 A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

99 complaints

11%

• DURING BRAKING AND HITTING SMALL HOLE IN ROAD I NOTICED THE BRAKES SKIPPING AND BRAKE PEDAL JUMPING UP AND DOWN AS IF IT WAS A POWER DEFECT. I HAD THE SAME EFFECT HAPPEN AFTER BAD RAIN AND APPROACHING A RED LIGHT THE CAR SKIPPED TO THE STOP. WHEN IT SNOWED OUT THE BRAKES REALLY SKIPPED MADE NOISE
• BRAND NEW CAR PURCHASED 04/06/13 AND HAS 2900 MILES AND BRAKES SQUEAK. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEAKING SINCE MAY BUT UNABLE TO LEAVE IT DUE TO LONG PERIODS OF WAITING FOR CAR. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT BRAKES ARE GLAZED AND ITS COMMON AND HAPPENS AND THEY WILL DEGLAZE BUT IT WILL KEEP HAPPENING BE
• MY BRAKES MAKE THIS SCREECHING SOUND WHEN BACKING UP, AFTER HAVING ONLY 2 MONTHS. THEY WOULD ALSO NOT HOLD SOMETIMES. THE 3 MOST FRIGHTENING WAS 1. ALMOST RAN OVER A PERSON, 2. RAN OUT INTO INTERSECT WITH ENTIRE FAMILY IN CAR B 4 STOPPING 3. WITH MY BOYS IN CAR ON WAY TO SCHOOL GOING DOWN HILL BRAKE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 10 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“DURING BRAKING AND HITTING SMALL HOLE IN ROAD I NOTICED THE BRAKES SKIPPING AND BRAKE PEDAL JUMPING UP AND DOWN AS IF IT WAS A POWER DEFECT. I HAD THE SAME EFFECT HAPPEN AFTER BAD RAIN AND APPROACHING A RED LIGHT THE CAR SKIPPED TO THE STOP. WHEN IT SNOWED OUT THE BRAKES REALLY SKIPPED MADE NOISE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

71 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING CODING WAS SOY BASED AND THAT ANIMALS WERE EATING THE WIRES. AS A RESULT, TH
• AFTER OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR A MONTH OR SO, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I TURN ON THE VEHICLE THE RADIO SCREEN WAS HALF FADED OR GONE. THIS IS THE SCREEN THAT ALLOWS YOU TO USE THE HANDS FREE DEVICE ALSO. I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERS AND THEY STATED THAT THE RADIO WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I WAS A BIT CONFUS
• AIRBAG EXPLODED ON IMPACT WITH GAPING HOLES WITH HEAVY SMOKE COMING OUT WITH HOT HEAT CAUSING REDNESS TO MY CHEST AND REDNESS TO MY HANDS AND A BLOW TO MY WRIST THAT CAUSED FRACTURE TO MY LEFT WRIST. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING CODING WAS SOY BASED AND THAT ANIMALS WERE EATING THE WIRES. AS A RESULT, TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

63 complaints

• HI MY NAME IS [XXX], I HAVE A REGISTERED EVENFLO DISCOVERY/ NURTURE INFANT CAR SEAT. THIS CAR SEAT HAS THE SAFETY LATCH THAT LATCHES TO THE NEWER MODEL VEHICLES AND THEN THE BASE. THEN THE CARSEAT LATCHES TO THE BASE. THE CARSEAT BASE AND ALL THEN MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE A GREAT AMOUNT OF DISTANCE A
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN IN
• 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 W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“HI MY NAME IS [XXX], I HAVE A REGISTERED EVENFLO DISCOVERY/ NURTURE INFANT CAR SEAT. THIS CAR SEAT HAS THE SAFETY LATCH THAT LATCHES TO THE NEWER MODEL VEHICLES AND THEN THE BASE. THEN THE CARSEAT LATCHES TO THE BASE. THE CARSEAT BASE AND ALL THEN MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE A GREAT AMOUNT OF DISTANCE A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 862 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: DURING BRAKING AND HITTING SMALL HOLE IN ROAD I NOTICED THE BRAKES SKIPPING AND BRAKE PEDAL JUMPING UP AND DOWN AS IF IT WAS A POWER DEFECT. I HAD THE SAME EFFECT HAPPEN AFTER BAD RAIN AND APPROACHING A RED LIGHT THE CAR SKIPPED TO THE STOP. WHEN IT SNOWED OUT THE BRAKES REALLY SKIPPED MADE NOISE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING CODING WAS SOY BASED AND THAT ANIMALS WERE EATING THE WIRES. AS A RESULT, TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)