2013 Kia Soul Problems, Recalls & Reliability
866 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Kia Soul, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 67/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 119,996 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2013 Kia Soul sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2019, 2022.
Avoid
Where 2013 sits among all Soul years
What owners report
“My boyfriend was driving , we been hearing a ticking sound and engine light came on. We always have are oil change but in a month it's time for more oil.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Soul
“Steering wheel makes a clicking/knocking noise when turning to the left or right.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Soul
“The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Soul
“Was driving down the interstate when all the lights on the dash come on and the car shut down. Has not cranked since.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Soul
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Soul
“Engine rod bearings loose torque and piston break make a hole into block, I fix the engine but my cat converter failed”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Soul
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 461 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 99,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 54,000 and 136,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units…
Led to recall campaign 23V877.
Led to recall campaign 20V088000.
Led to recall campaign 18V907000.
Technical service bulletins
133 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2013 Kia Soul. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2013 Kia Soul reliable?
The 2013 Kia Soul drew 866 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 67/100, scored against the model's worst year (2015).
What are the most common 2013 Kia Soul problems?
The top reported problems for the 2013 Kia Soul are engine (326 complaints), steering (150), and brakes & stability (99).
At what mileage do 2013 Kia Soul problems show up?
Owners most often report 2013 Kia Soul problems around 99,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 54,000 and 136,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Kia Soul have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Kia Soul. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.